The Lord said to Oliver Cowdery (D&C 6:6), Hyrum Smith (D&C 11:6), and Joseph Knight, Sr. (D&C 12:6) to “seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion.”  He then said to David Whitmer to “seek to bring forth and establish my Zion” (D&C 14:6).  What is this Zion that He is talking about?

What is Zion?

Throughout the scriptures and the talks given on Zion, you can find many different meanings and attributes associated with Zion.  Each of these can be broken down into two different categories.

1. A city of holiness and righteousness.
2. A person or people that live a high standard of righteousness.

Moses talked about both of these when he talks about Enoch and his people:

18 And 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.
19 And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.

— Moses 7:18-19 (emphasis added)

We see here that he first talks about people and how they were.  Then he talks about the city.  Both of these are referred to as Zion.

The City of Zion

Most of the time, when we hear the word Zion, we are actually thinking about the place.  Not just some random place, but specifically Independence, Jackson County, Missouri (D&C 57:1-3).  This is where the Lord said that He would establish the City of Zion also know as the New Jerusalem (D&C 45:66).  What is the city going to be like?  Here is what the Lord tells us:

66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;
67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.

— D&C 45:66-67

The City of Zion is going to be a place of peace, refuge and safety.  A place where the Jesus Christ will come when He returns (3 Nephi 21:23-25).  The Center place of Zion (D&C 57:3).  A Land of promise (D&C 57:1).  The City of Zion is going to be the place where the Saints of God will gather to meet the Savior at his return.  Notice though, that in D&C 57:3, it is going to be the center place, not the only place.

The People of Zion

For category 2, we need to talk about the people of Zion.  What is a Zion person?  Moses talks about a few of the attributes above.  Here is what he says they are:

• One Heart
• One Mind
• Dwelt in Righteousness
• No Poor Among Them

These are some of the conditions of a Zion person.  Are there more than theses?  Christ specifically mentions one: Pure In Heart (D&C 97:21).  With this verse, we also need to remember what the Savior said in Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”  This is exactly what will happen for those living in the City of Zion.  These are just some of the attributes of a Zion person.

So what is Zion?

I think this question is really about knowing what you are referring to.

First off, Zion is a pure in heart person.  Being pure in heart doesn’t come quickly and it doesn’t come with just a desire, but with patience, longsuffering, gentleness and meekness.  It comes with having a dedication to the Gospel and striving to live by the Holy Spirit.  When we become this type of person, then we are Zion.

Second, Zion is the City of the Living God.  It is the New Jerusalem.  It is the place of safety and security for the Saints as the events of the Second Coming occur.

In order to be a part of the City of Zion, one must also be living a Zion lifestyle.  It is just like in the Celestial Kingdom.  Once can’t live there without being a celestial person.  Zion really is a culmination of the people and the place.