10th Article of Faith
“That Zion shall be built upon this the American continent…”
Hugh Nibley: “When I was in high school everybody was being very smart and emancipated and we always cheered the news that some scholar had discovered the original story of Samson or the Flood or the Garden of Eden in some ancient nonbiblical writing or tradition. It never occurred to anybody that these parallels might confirm rather than confound the scripture—for us the explanation was always perfectly obvious: the bible was just a clumsy compilation of old borrowed superstitions.
As comparative studies broke into the open field parallels began piling up until they positively became an embarrassment. Everywhere one looked there were literary and mythological parallels. Trying to laugh them off as ‘parallelomania’ left altogether too much unexplained.
We could forego the obligation of explaining it and content ourselves with contemplating and admiring the awesome phenomenon for its own sake were it not for one thing – Joseph Smith spoils everything.” (Timely and the Timeless pg. 129)
And the Lord did test Abraham and commanded him to sacrifice Isaac, his only son with his wife Sarah. And on the third day, Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw Mt. Moriah afar off.
Abraham knew this area, it was called Salem and he once paid tithing to Melchizedek the King of Salem. However, now the city and the king were no more. They had been translated into the bosom of Zion.
Centuries later the once glorious city of Salem is inhabited again and given the name of New Salem. The word for new in Hebrew is Jeru. Within the area of Jerusalem there was another mountain known as Zion or Mt. Zion.
The prophet Micah predicted the destruction of Jerusalem and its associated Mt. Zion, which took place in 70 AD at the hands of the Romans, and then announced a condition that will exist in the last days. Another mountain of the Lord will be established and this is to be called Zion. This time, however, the two places are mentioned separately in the prophecy. (Micah 4:1)
It is important to note, that from this time on in prophecy, post 70 AD, whenever Zion and Jerusalem are used, they are in plural form and separate from each other.
Joel adds his testimony that “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem.” (Joel 3:16)
Zephaniah breaks forth into song and explains that the daughters of Zion will be singers and the daughters of Jerusalem will yell a lot: “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel… ” (Zephaniah 3:14-16)
Zechariah explains in the last days that ‘…the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.” (Zechariah 1:17)
James E. Talmage explains the difference: When the people of the house of Jacob are prepared to received the Redeemer as their rightful king, when the scattered sheep of Israel have been sufficiently humbled through suffering and sorrow to know and to follow their Shepherd, then He will come to reign among them.
Then a literal kingdom will be established, wide as the world, with the King of kings on the throne; and there will be TWO capitals of this mighty empire. One capital in the east and one capital in the west.
New Salem or Jerusalem will be the capital in the east. However biblical commentary concerning the Zion of the last days, as separate from the ancient city of Salem and the reestablished city of Jerusalem of the east, is silent regarding the geographical location of this second latter-day capital of Christ’s kingdom.
The bible however, is not silent!
Isaiah teaches us: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.”
A mountain in ancient scripture means a temple. The Rockies are ‘in the top of the mountains’, and part of the ‘ancient mountains’ and the ‘everlasting hills’ as prophesied by father Jacob on the head of Joseph while in Egypt. (Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:15)
The world turns a mocking ear to our 10th Article of Faith when we quote that Zion, the New Jerusalem, will be established on this, the American continent. Specifically, Jackson County, Missouri. How is it that this deep doctrine provides such a stumbling block to the apostate world of Christianity?
Paul explained it 2000 years ago in an epistle to Timothy “Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:7)
Both Micah and Isaiah quoted the 10th Article of Faith even longer ago when they prophesied: “…for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 2:3; Micah 4:2)
Out of the capital in Jerusalem shall go forth the word, the scriptures, and the religious capital of the world where Priests and Priestesses rule and reign. It is where a new temple will be built in the very place where Melchizedek’s city of Salem was translated; on the exact spot where Abraham sacrificed Isaac; where Solomon built his temple, where Herod rebuilt another temple, and where Jew and Christian await another great temple’s building prior to the Lord’s coming.
And when He descends from His throne above, the inhabitants of modern-day Jerusalem will look upon Him and say: “What are these wounds in thy hands and in thy feet? Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.” (D&C 45:51)
And out of the capital in the west shall go forth the law. The secular power is ruled over by Kings and Queens, heirs to the throne. Where a constitution is the law of the land. A document inspired by God and put forth into law by the hands of “Wise Men.” It is the land of Joseph who was separated from his brothers and his record is another witness of Jesus Christ to both Jew and Gentile.
For those of you who have lived in the Wasatch front and listened to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on Sunday mornings, the following broadcast epitaph should sound comfortingly familiar as coined by Richard L. Evans, an apostle of Jesus Christ: “Again we leave you, within the shadows of the everlasting hills, may peace be with you, this day and always.”
As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so will Jesus the Christ return to usher in the millennium as he touches the top of Mt. Olivet to rescue the Jews from utter destruction and then continue His triumphant return to the Americas, from east to west where he will visit the New Jerusalem and herald the existence of another set of temples.
The elucidation of modern-day revelation is only transcended by the glory of Him whose church we are adherents. I thank Thee O God for the prophet Joseph Smith!
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
