The righteousness in Seth's posterity.

I recently posted about Adam and Eve and their posterity.
I basically said that good and evil have been around since the beginning, and you can clearly see that from the beginning.
At least I hope you can.

In my Institute class, we briefly recapped some of the events in the book of Genesis, the events that show us the good and evil that perpetuated in Adam's posterity.


If you have no idea what I'm yakking on about, quickly look here.
And then look here to read about the wickedness in Cain's posterity.



Here is an example of the righteousness in Seth’s posterity:

Enoch was called to be a prophet, a leader for the people.  He taught the people of the truths of the Fall and of the gospel of the coming Jesus Christ, to inspire them to repent of their sins and wickedness, so they could be redeemed and brought back into the presence of God.

He felt quite inadequate, and he really didn't understand why the Lord would call him.
Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

This is all from the book of Moses:
(You can compare this with the account in Genesis 5:21-24 .. and see what's missing .. )

And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were offended [1] because of him.

And it came to pass when they heard him, no man laid hands on him; for fear came on all them that heard him; for he walked with God.

And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.

Not bad for a humble lad.

And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.

And it came to pass that Enoch talked with the Lord; and he said unto the Lord: Surely Zion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I cursed.

And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever.
(Moses 6:31-32, 37, 39; 7:13, 18-21)


Remember all that extreme wickedness?
“Enoch, however, was faithful.   He “saw the Lord”, and talked with him “face to face” as one man speaks with another. (Moses 7:4)   The Lord sent him to cry repentance to the world, and commissioned him to “baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son, which is full of grace and truth, and of the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son.” (Moses 7:11)
Enoch made converts and assembled a congregation of true believers, all of whom became so faithful that “the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness,” and were blessed from on high.  “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were on one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” [2]

“Please note:  Zion is people; Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion is those who have received the Holy Ghost; Zion is those who keep the commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words, as our revelation recites: “This is Zion – the pure in heart.” (D&C 97:21).
“After the Lord called his people Zion, the scripture says that Enoch “built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even ZION”; that Zion “was taken up into heaven” where “God received it up into his own bosom”; and that “from thence went forth the saying, Zion is fled.” (Moses 7:19, 21, 69) [3]

Note: the people were translated, not the city itself.  Just checking.

Read Moses 7:62-64.  It says that this same Zion which was taken up into heaven shall return during the Millennium, when the Lord brings again Zion; and its inhabitants shall join with the New Jerusalem which shall then be established.

(source)

So, Enoch and his people established a Zion during a period of extreme wickedness.
And the prophets in this dispensation – the last dispensation – have the same goal of establishing Zion.

In fact, OUR charge today is to overcome the wickedness of the world and become a people able to live the laws of Zion.

We need to establish a latter-day Zion in our time, because this is the time before the coming of Christ.  Well, we should establish it nonetheless, but even more so because this is the last dispensation!
AND, our latter-day Zion is to be united with Enoch’s Zion.  Yup.  It will be the Lord’s abode during the Millennium (read that in Moses 7:62-65).


So what will be required of the Saints to establish the latter-day Zion?
Or should I say .. what is required of you and me right this very now?

Well, a scripture in Doctrine & Covenants tell us:
“And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself."  (D&C 105:5)

Brigham Young stated: “If the people neglect their duty, turn away from the holy commandments which God has given us, seek their own individual wealth, and neglect the interests of the kingdom of God, we may expect to be here quite a time – perhaps a period that will be far longer than we anticipate.” [4]

Unfortunately we live in a world that largely rejects the value of Zion.
Mormon, a Book of Mormon prophet, saw our day (poor guy) and said:

Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing.
For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.   (Mormon 8:35, 37)


Babylon has not, and never will, comprehend Zion.

Our world today "stands in marked contrast to the Zion the Lord seeks to establish through his covenant people.   Zion can be built up only among those who are the pure in heart, not a people torn by covetousness or greed, but a pure and selfless people.   Not a people who are pure in appearance, rather a people who are pure in heart.  Zion is to be in the world and not of the world, not dulled by a sense of carnal security, nor paralysed by materialism.  No, Zion is not things of the lower, but of the higher order, things that exalt the mind and sanctify the heart.” [5]

You know it's true.


Do you wish to bring about Zion?
Here are three fundamentals, so we may build Zion wherever we may be: [6]

“First, we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares the soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind.”

“Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other.  There must be unanimity in our decisions and unity in our actions.  … It the Spirit of the Lord is to magnify our labors, then this spirit of oneness and cooperation must be the prevailing spirit in all that we do.  … “Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.” (D&C 38:27)”

“Third, we must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord.  We being by offering a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.”   We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings.   We learn our duty and executed it fully.   Finally we consecrate our time, talents and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit.  … In the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all.”

What are you thoughts on this?


[1] Note “offended” in footnote – see 1 Nephi 16:2 
[2] Bruce R. McConkie, “Come: Let Israel Build Zion”, Ensign, May 1977
[3] ibid
[4] Journal of Discourses, 11:102
[5] Spencer W. Kimball, “Becoming the Pure in Heart”, in Conference Report, Apr. 1978, 122-24
[6] ibid