Saturday, April 17, 2021

"Ephraim and the Building of the New Jerusalem"

 

 

Ephraim and the Building of the New Jerusalem

 

Although temple building is going on today at an unprecedented pace, there are yet more temples to be built. As Ephraim continues his tireless work, a great temple will eventually be built in a Divinely designated spot in Jackson County, Missouri. Brigham Young contemplated what would be necessary to build the New Jerusalem wherein the great temple would be constructed. He said,

 

Take the people in the east, west, north, and south who have obeyed the gospel, and, so far as the spiritual gifts are concerned, they are all of one heart and one mind, but not one soul knows how to build up Zion. Not a man in all the realms and kingdoms that exist knows how to commence the foundation of the Zion of God in the latter days without revelation. If the people in the world could sanctify themselves and prepare themselves to build up Zion they might remain scattered, but they cannot, they must be gathered together to be taught, that they may sanctify themselves before the Lord and become of one heart and of one mind. By and by the Jews will be gathered to the land of their fathers, and the ten tribes, who wandered into the north, will be gathered home, and the blood of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, which is to be found in every kingdom and nation under heaven, will be gathered from among the Gentiles, and the Gentiles who will receive and adhere to the principles of the gospel will be adopted and initiated into the family of Fathr Abraham, and Jesus will reign over His own and Satan will reign over his own. This will be the result. (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 12, p. 38, Brigham Young, April 14th, 1867)

 

Some have misunderstood certain passages in The Book of Mormon about the building of the New Jerusalem. They seem to feel that the Lamanites will take charge of the building and the mighty sons of Ephraim will play a supportive role. President Joseph Fielding Smith clarifies the doctrine by saying,

 

Now do the scriptures teach that Ephraim, after doing all of this is to abdicate, or relinquish his place, and give it to the Lamanites and then receive orders from his branch of the “remnant of Jacob” in the building of the New Jerusalem? This certainly is inconsistent with the whole plan and with all that the Lord has revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants in relation to the establishment of Zion and the building of the New Jerusalem . . .

 

That the remnants of Joseph, found among the descendants of Lehi, will have part in this great work is certainly consistent, and the great work of this restoration, the building of the temple and the City of Zion, or New Jerusalem, will fall to the lot of the descendants of Joseph, but it is Ephraim who will stand at the head and direct the work. (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p. 251)

 

When will we return to Jackson County, Missouri and build up the New Jerusalem? The exact date has not been revealed to the rank and file of the Church. We can be comforted to know that we are where we are supposed to be for the present time. Melvin J. Ballard said,

 

He has brought them to the right place. Joseph’s blessings were to obtain above the blessings of his progenitors, even to the utmost bounds of the everlasting hills. It is no chance circumstance that we are here. Notwithstanding all the drivings, the sorrows and distresses, at Nauvoo and Missouri, the difficulties in gathering the Saints form the Old World—these were but God’s providences in gathering his people to the right places. (Melvin J. Ballad, Conference Report, October 1924, p. 29)

 

When we do return, it will be by the invitation of the living Prophet. The Lord described that return to “redeem Zion” in these words,

 

Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power;

 

Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them as Moses led the children of Israel.

 

For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm.

 

And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be.

 

Therefore, let not your hearts faint, for I say not unto you as I said unto your fathers: Mine angel shall go up before you, but not my presence.

 

But I say unto you: Mine angels shall go up before you, and also my presence, and in time ye shall possess the goodly land. (D&C 103:15-20)

 

It is not to be thought that the entire Church will abandon their stronghold in the Ricky Mountains and return to Missouri. Wilford Woodruff recounts a meeting where the Prophet Joseph Smith was quizzing the brethren about their vision of the future of the church and kingdom. He said,

 

On Sunday night the Prophet called on all who held the Priesthood to gather into the little log school house they had there. It was a small house, perhaps 14 feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland, and who had gathered together to go off in Zion’s camp. That was the first time I ever saw Oliver Cowdery, or head him speak; the first time I ever saw Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball, and the two Pratts, and Orson Hyde and many others. There were no Apostles in the Church then except Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. When we got together the Prophet called upon the Elders of Israel with him to bear testimony of this work. Those that I have named spoke and a good many that I have not named, before their testimonies. When they got through the Prophet said, “Brethren, I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mothers lap. You don’t comprehend it.” I was rather surprised. He said, “It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.” There will be tens of thousands of Latter-day Saints who will be gathered in the Rocky Mountains and there they will open the door for the establishing of the Gospel among the Lamanites, who will receive the Gospel and their endowments and the blessings of God. This people will go into the Rocky Mountains, they will there build temples to the Most High. They will raise up a posterity there, and the Latter-day Saints who dwell in these mountains will stand in the flesh until the coming of the Son of Man. The Son of Man will come to them while in the Rocky Mountains.

 

I nave these things because I want to bear testimony before God, angels and men that mine eyes behold the day, and have beheld for the last fifty years of my life. (Wilford Woodruff, Conference Report, April 1898, p. 57)

 

As future prophesied events are contemplated, the mind begins to reel. What would it be like to have the privilege of helping construct the New Jerusalem? Even further, we may be there to welcome the “Lost 10 Tribes” as they return from their nearly three millennia of exile. Not having been privileged to have the fulness of the temple blessings, the sons and daughters of Ephraim will again enjoy a signal opportunity. President Wilford Woodruff described their return and the part Ephraim will play after they return.

 

Again, here are the ten tribes of Israel; we know nothing about them only what the Lord has said by his prophets. There are prophets among them, and by and by they will come along, and they will smite the rocks, and the mountains of ice will flow down at their presence, and a highway will be cast up before them, and they will come to Zion, receive their endowments and be crowned under the hands of the children of Ephraim, and there are persons before me in this assembly today who will assist to give them their endowments. They will receive their blessings and endowments, from under the children of Ephraim, who are the first fruits of the kingdom of God in their dispensation, and the men will have to be ordained and receive their priesthood and endowments in the land of Zion, according to the revelations of God. (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, p. 119. Journal of Discourses 4:231-232, February 22, 1857). (R. Wayne Shute, Monte S. Nyman, and Randy L. Bott, Ephraim: Chosen of the Lord—What is Means to be of the Tribe of Ephraim [Salt Lake City: Millennial Press, 1999], 87-91)