If someone says that they are not working to create Zion, don’t spend time thinking about how they can contribute to making Zion happen and isn’t impatient to flee Babylon, my first thought is “why are they even here, then?” And I don’t mean that rudely. It’s a genuine question because when I ask myself that, I think, “To further the work of Zion.” It leads me to wonder how something like Zion can be brought about with others who have no desire bring it about. I believe that is partly why we’ve been seeing such conflict, chaos, and confusion amongst the movement. Perhaps it is naive to assume that all who participate seek to establish Zion.

Joseph Smith recounted that when he and Oliver Cowdery came out of the water after being baptized, they “experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father.”

“Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of.” Joseph then wrote that “After a few days, however, feeling it to be our duty, we commenced to reason out of the scriptures with our acquaintances and friends as we happened to meet with them.”

Shortly after, Hyrum came inquiring after Joseph and in the revelation that Joseph received, the Lord first said that His word (which includes the scriptures) “is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore, give heed unto my word.” He then said that the field was ready and whoever was desirous could harvest “that he may treasure up for his soul everlasting salvation in the kingdom of God; yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God. Therefore, if you will ask of me, you shall receive; if you will knock, it shall be opened unto you.” Then the Lord said “Now as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, Keep my commandments and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Seek not for riches, but for wisdom [which is found in the scriptures], and behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.”

A similar revelation was given for David Whitmer:

“Seek to bring forth and establish my Zion. Keep my commandments in all things, and if you keep my commandments and endure to the end, you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”

And again to Joseph Knight Sr.:

“Now as you have asked, behold, I say unto you, Keep my commandments and seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion. Behold, I speak unto you and also to all those who have desires to bring forth and establish this work, and no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care.”

Zion is prophesied to happen. Denver’s teachings and efforts culminate towards the establishment of Zion.

“We have an opportunity. We have a bonafide, actual offer from God to allow us to be that generation in which the promises get fulfilled. But we have the freedom of choice that allows us to elect to be severed, to be contentious, to be agents of disruption, and to discourage and break the hearts of those who would willingly accept the challenge to repent and follow God…God’s hand is moving again; this is going somewhere. It will eventually culminate in the fulfillment of the prophecies. The trouble is whether we do it or whether it is left for another generation depends upon what we do. And I don’t think religious enthusiasm or religious fanaticism produces it– it’s kindness to one another. It’s taking seriously the things that God asked us to do, and then in a meaningful way, being self-sacrificing and trying to help and lift other people.”

The point of my comment here is to comfort those who feel discouraged and have had their hearts broken despite accepting the challenge to repent and follow God.

Being engaged in the establishment of Zion is a choice. It’s a desire to seek after Zion. Not everyone will have that desire, but that shouldn’t discourage those who are seeking to bring it about. The opportunity has been given to us in this generation and we have the freedom to partake or not. Pay no heed to those who wish not to partake. Those in the large building in Lehi’s dream chose the wisdom of the world over the word of God. They mocked and pointed their fingers at those who used the scriptures to come and partake of the love of God. All those who paid attention to the insults fell away. Do not be ashamed for keeping the covenant by taking the scriptures as your guide. If you leave after tasting the fruit, you will fall into forbidden paths and find yourself lost.

The Lord told Nephi that He would deliver the Book of Mormon to the Gentiles and that His gospel would be written in them which is His rock and His salvation. He then said “I’ll bless those who then want to bring about My Zion; they’ll have the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. And if they continue faithful to the end, they’ll be raised up on the last day and saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb. Therefore, any who proclaim peace, the joyful news, how beautiful shall be their presence upon the mountains (CoC 1 Nephi 3:23)!”

God will bless those who want to bring about Zion with the gift and power of the Holy Ghost. Remember that the oil of the five virgins is the Holy Ghost which is the necessary spirit with which to avoid conflict, envy, strife, tumult and contention.“ To grow into the kind of people God will want to welcome into His dwelling, requires practice, experience and effort (Civilization Paper, 2019).”

Those of us who took the covenant covenanted to use the scriptures as a standard to govern ourselves in our daily walk in life. Therefore, conflict is not inevitable among us, otherwise the Lord wouldn’t command it to be done away with in the scriptures – which we are to use to govern our daily interactions. There are so many of you that are practicing, gaining experience, and making the effort to currently avoid conflict, envy, strife, tumult and contention as the Lord commands. Even just within the last week, I’ve seen this in practice. This reminds me of the third part of the covenant where we agree to “assist all others who covenant to likewise accept this standard to govern their lives to keep the Lord’s will.