I have been thinking a lot about Zion lately.

Actually, its been on my mind quite heavily for a while.  Today I was studying about it, and I came across some amazing quotes.  Check them out.

And these are definitely going in my scripture journal.

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‘ (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society course of study, 2007], 186).  D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion, Ensign,” Nov. 2008, 37

The Pioneers were focused on Zion.  They talked of it all of the time.  Do we?

Listen to what President Kimball said about this.  Read this closely.

The vision of what we are about and what should come of our labors must be kept uppermost in our minds as we learn and do our duty. . . . This applies equally to all Church activities. In the fifty-eighth section of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord shares with us a glimpse of this Latter-day Zion:

” ‘Ye cannot behold with your natural eyes, for the present time, the design of your God concerning those things which shall come hereafter, and the glory which shall follow after much tribulation.

” ‘For after much tribulation come the blessings. Wherefore the day cometh that ye shall be crowned with much glory; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand. . . .

” ‘Behold, verily I say unto you, for this cause I have sent you—that you might be obedient, and that your hearts might be prepared to bear testimony of the things which are to come;

” ‘And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand; . . .

” ‘And after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come.

” ‘Behold, I, the Lord, have spoken it.’ (D&C 58:3–12.)

“This day will come; it is our destiny to help bring it about! Doesn’t it motivate you to lengthen your stride and quicken your pace as you do your part in the great sanctifying work of the kingdom? It does me. It causes me to rejoice over the many opportunities for service and sacrifice afforded me and my family as we seek to do our part in establishing Zion.”

Spencer W. Kimball, “Becoming the Pure in Heart,” Ensign, May 1978, 80

In that same talk he said this:

Defining and describing Zion will not bring it about. That can only be done through consistent and concerted daily effort by every single member of the Church. No matter what the cost in toil or sacrifice, we must ‘do it.’ That is one of my favorite phrases: ‘Do It.’ . . .

So… I am pretty confident that if we truly understood Zion – what it is, and what it will be – that we would be laboring for it with all of our heart.  We would talk of it, pray for it and prepare for it.  And we would start with ourselves.

The other day I gave a lesson on Zion.  As I was reading through the scriptures, I was so struck with the beauty of it.  Especially for the center place, or New Jerusalem.

So, I had an idea.  I gave all of my students a list of scriptures, had them look them up, and then had them make a picture of Zion.

They had so much fun doing this – and they tend to read the scriptures a little differently when they are trying to see it visually.

Look how happy they made the people.  And how they focused on their hearts.

The flags are because all nations flow unto it.  One of my autistic students made these.  He walks past a bunch of flags everyday in the halls at school, and he remembers them.  I don’t think any of my other students could have done this from memory.  And everyday, since we made this, he keeps adding more flags.

Which is a very correct interpretation.

As they studied, they learned more and more, and kept adding to the picture.

Just put out your odd and end papers and craft supplies, let them study about it, and let them create.

Many of my students expressed that they could have worked on this for a lot longer than the class time provided.

That is a successful day.

Here is a list of scriptures.  They are on a half sheet so they fit in journals.

The Printout:  Zion