A Huge Nibblet

Hugh Nibley died a few years ago. He was probably the most notable Mormon scholar of all times. I've found though, that many people are intimidated by his books. Maybe it is that they average 1200 pages. Maybe it is that most of them have about 26,000 footnotes. Or maybe people just get scared away by his deep titles. Whatever it is, I think there is tons that can be learned from him. So, for my next few posts, I am going to to cover a few topics that he covers--just not in as much detail, and presented in a little more friendly manner. Hopefully someone can still learn from the old scholar.

What About the Last Days? What Does Zion Have To Do With It?

One of the most common questions LDS scholars are asked is what is the order of events in the Last Days. What is going to happen first? Then what? Will this happen before that? Many people don’t realize it, but Joseph Smith gave us an easy outline of major events in the Last Days. “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.” That’s it! That is how things are going to play out in the last days. That is the exact order, of things defined by The Prophet.

The midpoint and focus of the whole operation is Zion. Zion is the great moment of transition, the bridge between the world as it is and the world as God designed it and meant it to be.

What is this ideal Zion like? In the last days, we are told, it will be a place of refuge in a doomed world. "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; . . . and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, . . . and it shall be called Zion" (D&C 45:66-67). At that time, "every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety" (D&C 45:68).

The wicked shall say that Zion is terrible. Terrible because it is indestructible. Her invulnerability makes her an object of awe and terror. As Enoch said, "Surely Zion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I cursed" (Moses 7:20). So Zion was taken away and the rest destroyed. Zion itself is never in danger; on the contrary, it alone offers safety to the world, "that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth" (D&C 115:6).

It would seem that Zion enjoys the complete security of a bit of the celestial world and that nothing can touch it as long as it retains the character. But celestial order it must be. Zion cannot be built up "Unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom" (D&C 105:5). It must at all times be holy enough to receive the Lord himself in person. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation" (Psalm 132:13); "Behold mine abode forever" (Moses 7:21). Zion is heaven. It is where God lives.