Zion's Tapestry: Weaving Together the Temporal and Spiritual

Zion's Tapestry: Weaving Together the Temporal and Spiritual

As we delve into the concept of Zion within the Latter-day Saint faith, a rich and intricate picture emerges—one where the temporal and spiritual threads are closely interwoven. While it's true that early church leaders placed significant emphasis on the physical aspects of building a Zion society, they also recognized the essential role of spiritual principles. Let's explore this integrated vision of Zion, supported by the words of those early leaders.

A Spiritual Ideal Beyond Geography

Brigham Young articulated the blend of the spiritual and temporal in Zion: "I will now ask the question, where is the individual who can draw the line and show us that when Jesus prayed that his disciples might be one, he meant a oneness only in spiritual things and that it was not to extend to temporal affairs?" (1874). This statement underscores that Zion, while having a physical location, is deeply rooted in spiritual unity and purpose.

Unity with God and Each Other

Wilford Woodruff in 1867 highlighted the necessity of both spiritual and temporal unity in building Zion: "We have to build up Zion, a temporal work here upon the face of the earth and we have got to establish righteousness and truth... The Zion of our God cannot be built up in the hearts of men alone." This emphasizes that the unity essential to Zion encompasses both practical cooperation and spiritual harmony.

Living the Higher Law

Heber C. Kimball, in 1854, spoke to the intertwined nature of temporal and spiritual matters: "Many wish for the time when President Brigham Young and his brethren will be relieved from attending to temporal matters and attend to spiritual matters altogether. You will have to wait for this until we get into the spiritual world and have to deal with spirits." This quote reminds us that living the higher law in Zion involves both spiritual dedication and temporal action.

A Beacon of Righteousness and Refuge

More recently, Elder D. Todd Christofferson in 2008 expounded on the characteristics of Zion: "Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember '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' (Moses 7:18)." This statement encapsulates how Zion's righteousness is reflected in both the spiritual state and the temporal well-being of its people.

Preparing for the Second Coming

Joseph F. Smith in 1883 linked the building of Zion with preparation for the Second Coming: "So that from the time that the keys of this Priesthood were taken from the earth until they were received by Joseph Smith, no man ever possessed that Priesthood nor the keys thereof with authority to build up the Zion of God and prepare a church or people for the second coming of Christ." This highlights how the temporal work of building Zion is part of the larger spiritual preparation for the Savior’s return.

In conclusion, the journey to build Zion, as envisaged by early LDS leaders, was a comprehensive endeavor. It melded together the temporal aspects of establishing a physical community with the spiritual objectives of fostering unity, righteousness, and preparation for the Second Coming. The teachings on Zion thus present a holistic view, merging the practical with the spiritual in a vision of a divinely guided society.

About the Author

Jesse Fisher is a 7th generation Texan, LDS convert at age 8, served a mission to Germany, graduated in Mathematics Education from BYU, a business owner, and Primary teacher.
Also, he is the author of "Champions for Zion: Remarkable Teachings on Building Zion by Early LDS Leaders" and blogger at BuildingZion.org.