Chapter 11

The recent events in Israel and Palestine have caused me reflect on Zion a lot. I don’t think I put much thought into Zion until I read Hugh Nibley’s book Approaching Zion about 10 or so years ago. For me, that book was one of my “whoa” moments in opening my eyes to the world of Mormonism. I thought Nibley was a hard-core Mormon apologist, yet this book was a total slam on Utah Mormon culture and its love of money and non-Zion like behavior. I think he even threw shade on Brigham Young (OK…not really hard to do) and his father (maybe grandfather?) and their not-so-Zion like practices. Basically, what I got out of it was a better realization of the craftiness of Satan in mimicking God’s ways and inverting them to be something more evil, like the analogy of how banks are basically derived from temples and we worship in them.

Since then, I’ve studied more and more about Zion and came to the obvious conclusion…we’re no closer to building Zion than we were 200 years ago. In fact, I think I would argue that we’re even farther away. That’s crazy. 200 years since the Lord gave us the Book of Mormon, a legit seer/prophet (who, unlike others, actually did the things a prophet/seer/revelator does rather than just claim to be one), tons of revelations, priesthood ordinances, and bible elucidations, just to name a few. So where is Zion? Kirtland...fail. Missouri...fail. Nauvoo…fail. Salt Lake…fail. Why did each one fail? What’s holding us back? What are we doing differently to not fail? Better yet, are we even trying?

Zion is one of those places where everybody says they’d love to live, but don’t behave in a way that would allow Zion to happen. You ready to not care about money? You ready to lay all your sins on the alter? I mean all of them, not just the convenient ones you don’t need right now (talking mostly to myself here). You ready to meet the Lord in the flesh, your soul completely laid before Him with willingness to do anything (repeat…ANYTHING) He asks? You ready to sacrifice much more time to helping the poor and needy? One of my favorite Nibley-isms is how he mocked those who think that there will be no poor or needy in Zion. As if the only Zion members will be wealthy, healthy, and beautiful. When I contemplate Zion and try to picture it in my mind, I imagine people of all races, with many struggling to live and relying on the assistance and kindness of others. I think of exactly the kind of people the Lord spent time within His ministry. The meek and humble who have been shit on most of their lives, but still have unwavering faith in Jesus and hope in redemption. Those who have been ridiculed, mocked, scorned, beaten, and cast out of society, yet still love those who despise them. Those who have submitted themselves completely to God and checked their egos at the door.

The more I think about it, the more not surprising it is that building Zion has failed. Where can you find people like this? There aren’t many. Remember, straight is the gate and narrow is the way, and few there be that find it. The Lord said that. I don’t want to speak for Him because I am unworthy to, but I’m pretty sure he neither exaggerates, nor lies, nor misspeaks so I take that quite literally. Few there be that find it. He also taught something else that is relevant to this topic of Zion, which is that it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Again, the Lord means what he says so therefore, I would not expect rich folk in Zion. God or mammon. You can’t serve both. One damning thought to me is when I think about who is wealthy. While I seem to be just an ordinary, middle-class guy, the reality is that I am wealthy in terms of a global standard. If a household makes over $100k a year, they are considered top 7% in the world. If you make above $40k a year, you are in the top 17% so you’re kinda in the rich territory too. That, my friends, means I am rich. It means the vast majority of Mormons in the U.S. are rich. That scares me because my odds just went WAYYYYY down. If there are any rich in Zion, they’d be the unicorns, not the norm. And let’s not forget about the Sermon on the Mount and who the Lord says will be in His kingdom…meek, poor in spirit, mourners, peacemakers, persecuted, etc.

This is why in my mental projection of Zion, I see who I see. It can’t be the wealthy, the prominent, the elevated, the acclaimed. They are not the ones who will build or participate in Zion. Those who elevate themselves above others in any way, cannot be part of Zion. Zion must be pure in heart. Zion must be a group of meek and humble believers who unite through common principles of belief and an abundance of charity. This is why I can’t believe that Zion will be established by a church with billions in its bank account and a group of leaders who are all wealthy in their personal careers and are paid handsomely for their callings. When I was young, my dad served as a bishop. He told me he found it weird that when church general authorities would come through the area, they were always more impressed that he was the president of a large company than anything else. It makes sense because if you look at the church hierarchy, you clearly can’t break in without being wealthy these days. When’s the last time we’ve had general authority called who was struggling to make ends meet? If they’re going to pay them quite well, wouldn’t it make sense to call more men who needed the income? Maybe I’m wrong, but in my heart I don’t believe Zion will spring from the organization that is known as the LDS church. It doesn’t even resemble the church Joseph started to build Zion so unless something drastic happens to turn that ship around, it’s just leading to filthy waters.

I hope to someday see Zion established. Even if I don’t make it due to my own weaknesses, I would love to see a city rise up to counter Babylon. A people with whom the Lord can commune and prepare His coming. I keep my eyes open around the world to see if I can spot groups of people who fit the Zion description. A contrite, repentant, loving, humble, faithful people. I’ll be their biggest cheerleader and will try to hitch a ride over when I’m ready.