Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
Hyrum L. Andrus
All rights reserved
The Instructor, 1962 pgs. 266-267
Moroni informed Joseph Smith that certain preparatory developments
must precede the Millennium, including the preaching of the Gospel
unto all nations, the gathering of Israel, and the preparation of a
people for the reign of Christ.1 To achieve fully the latter, the Prophet
later explained that a righteous political order must eventually be
developed under the priesthood, capable of securing peace,
prosperity, and freedom for all men.2 A concise statement of these
topics is given below.
The Gathering of Israel
Joseph Smith announced that God had "set his hand again the
second time" to gather and establish Israel.3 The modern remnants
may be classified as the Latter-day Saints, the Jews, the American
Indians, the lost tribes of Israel to return as a body from the North,
and remnants of all tribes mixed among the people of the earth. Israel
will be gathered to two great centers: the old Jerusalem and the City
of Zion (New Jerusalem), to be built in America. The remnant of
Joseph and those identified with them will possess the western
hemisphere, while Judah returns to Palestine.4 Those from the North
will come initially to Zion, but will receive an inheritance around the
old Jerusalem.5 Eventually the Saints will inherit the whole earth.
The prophets envisioned Israel's redemption as an era of new
revelation, when fishers and hunters would gather and seek out the
scattered remnants amid great judgments upon the nations.6 While it
commenced with the Restoration of the Gospel, Israel's redemption
will come largely after the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. In that
day of the Lord's power, when His fury is poured out without measure
upon the wicked, His Spirit will rest upon the scattered remnants, and
they will be gathered and saved.7 They will then worship their God
(Jesus Christ) in the true way, while Israel's divine social, economic,
and political order is developed upon the earth.
Zion
Ephraim, the birthright tribe, must be gathered first; and by his
ministry the inhabitants of Zion must be established upon the law of
God. From Zion deliverance will then go to all Israel.8 While Lehi's
seed will participate in building the New Jerusalem, the majority of the
Indian people will thereafter be converted and gathered.9 Meanwhile,
amid great upheavals and geographic disturbances, the tribes from
the North will come to receive their blessings from Ephraim.10
The New Jerusalem will be established fully upon Israel's social,
economic, and political lawa system capable of uplifting the poor
and establishing justice and freedom among menas an ensign or
standard to the world.11 Only by the practice of Zion's law (including
the Law of Consecration and Stewardship) can the Saints be
sanctified for Christ's advent among them to fulfill His promise: "...
And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea,
even I will be in the midst of you."12
While warfare and turmoil prevail among the wicked in that future
day, the New Jerusalem will be "... a land of peace, a city of refuge,
[and] a place of safety for the saints ..."13 Eventually, by Zion's
influence, peace will prevail upon the western hemisphere. Wrote
Parley P. Pratt, representing the Twelve:
The City of Zion, with its sanctuary and priesthood, and the glorious
fullness of the Gospel, will constitute a standard which will put an end
to jarring creeds and political wranglings, by uniting the [peoples] ... of
North and South America in one great and common bond of
brotherhood; while truth and knowledge shall make them free, and
love cement their union.14
Christ's Reign on Earth
During His appearances in Zion and later at Jerusalem, Christ will
establish His government on earth. He will officially be given
"dominion"15 at Adam-ondi-Ahman. From there His political law will
be extended abroad until the decadent nations gather at Jerusalem to
oppose its influence. There, in the "valley of decision"16 (so named
because of the issue to be decided), there "will commence a struggle
in which the fate of nations and empires will be suspended on a
single battle."17 Victory by the Jews, through the advent of Christ, will
change the political order in Europe and Asia, as Jerusalem will then
become "the great center and capital of the old world."18 The corrupt
power until all men understand its saving truths; and its sealing
powers will be utilized to organize fully the human family for eternity.
Zion will spread abroad until the earth is united into one grand system
of union and love, while peace and freedom reign. For all this the
Gospel has been restored, and the Saints are charged with the
sacred obligation of teaching and practicing its divine truths.
1