WHERE HAS ZION FLED?, Chapter 15 of Holy Priesthood Volume 5

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WHERE HAS ZION FLED?, Chapter 15 of Holy Priesthood Volume 5

Pages 216 to 224

For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled: we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land. . . . (Jer. 8:19)

What conditions result when true prophets are no longer found on the earth? What happens to the Zion that God’s prophets have encouraged the Saints to establish for thousands of years? Zion is lost!

Failure to create a Zion was constantly repeated in ancient Israel. Worldly influences have had a powerful effect upon those church and political leaders who should have led the people away from the influences of Babylon, so “the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of his anger the king and the priest.” (Lam. 2:6) There was no divine intervention to prevent them from leading the people astray. Kings, priests, and prophets fell into temptation and were overcome, and they lost their Zion.

It is written in the Book of Mormon that “the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money, they shall perish.” (2 Nephi 26:31) Nephi was not just talking to common folks, but leaders who were supposed to labor to build up Zion. The Lord has instructed, “And your whole labor shall be in Zion, with all your soul, from henceforth. . . .” (D & C 30:11) Business concerns, corporation affairs, and worldly matters should be only a small part of the activities of leaders in Zion. They should not depend on the labors of others for their support, but as Alma said, “He also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.” (Mos. 18:24)