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Zion - Ancient and Modern

     In the early revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord 
reiterates the counsel that the Sainte should seek to bring forth and establish 
the cause of Zion. That great challenge has never been rescinded. The 
Prophet Joseph Smith said, 


     "The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the 
people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, 
priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have 
looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we 
live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have 
sung and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died 
without the sight; we are the favored people that God has made 
choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory; it is left for us to 
see, participate in and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory, 
"the dispensation of the fullness of times, when God will gather 
together all things that are in heaven, and all things that are 
upon the earth, even in one," [History of the Church, 4:609-10; 
hereafter cited as HC.] 


    Zion is defined as "the pure in heart,” but this statement needs to be 
placed in proper context. The "pure in heart.” are those who are sanctified 
and who receive the blessings of the sanctified – the blessings of the 
Comforter. Thus, Zion consists of a body of people who have embraced the 
gospel, have been regenerated by its divine spiritual powers, and have in 
this way become pure in heart to the degree that they can see God, that is, 
receive the blessings that relate to the Second Comforter.