Harold B. Lee, Strengthen
the Stakes of Zion (April 6, 1973):
“For Zion must increase in beauty,
and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened;
yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.”
(D&C 82:14.)
Zion, as used here, undoubtedly
had reference to the Church. At that time there was but a small body of Church
members just beginning to emerge as an organization, after having experienced
harsh treatment from enemies outside the Church, who had then been directed to
gather together in Jackson County, Missouri, which the Lord had designated as
the “land of Zion.”
As though to impress upon these
early struggling members their destiny in the world, the Lord in another
revelation told them this:
“Therefore, verily, thus saith the
Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion
rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn.” (D&C 97:21.)
To be worthy of such a sacred
designation as Zion, the Church must think of itself as a bride adorned for her
husband, as John the Revelator recorded when he saw in vision the Holy City
where the righteous dwelled, adorned as a bride for the Lamb of God as her
husband. Here is portrayed the relationship the Lord desires in his people in
order to be acceptable to our Lord and Master even as a wife would adorn
herself in beautiful garments for her husband.
Bruce R. McConkie, "Come:
Let Israel Build Zion" (February 27, 1977, in Lima, Peru):
Zion has been established many
times among men. From the day of Adam to the present moment—whenever the Lord
has had a people of his own; whenever there have been those who have hearkened
to his voice and kept his commandments; whenever his saints have served him
with full purpose of heart—there has been Zion. . . . Please note: Zion is
people; Zion is the saints of God; Zion is those who have been baptized; Zion
is those who have received the Holy Ghost; Zion is those who keep the
commandments; Zion is the righteous; or in other words, as our revelation
recites: “This is Zion—the pure in heart.” (D&C 97:21.) . . . The gathering
place for Peruvians is in the stakes of Zion in Peru, or in the places which
soon will become stakes. The gathering place for Chileans is in Chile; for
Bolivians it is in Bolivia; for Koreans it is in Korea; and so it goes through
all the length and breadth of the earth. Scattered Israel in every nation is
called to gather to the fold of Christ, to the stakes of Zion, as such are
established in their nations.
