THE PROMISE OF ZION

 

When the early saints were driven from their homes in Jackson Country, Missouri, in November 1833, they were reduced to the lowest poverty and they were grief stricken because they had lost their homes in Zion.

The failed protection by the Lord against the mobs was the result of one reason: they did not ‘hearken altogether unto the precepts and commandments’ which He had given them (D&C 103:4).

Even though the establishment of Zion failed in the early Church history, the promise of its inheritance stands and Zion’s restoration is still to come.  The Lord has promised this will happen ‘in time’ (v 20) and it will happen under one condition:

“….that day will not come until the members of the Church are willing to keep their covenants and walk unitedly, for until the members of the Church learn to walk in full accord and in obedience with all of the commandments, this day cannot come.

“It may be necessary in order to bring this to pass for the Lord to use drastic measures and cleanse the Church from everything that offends. This he has promised to do when He is ready to redeem Zion (See Matt 13:41).” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, “Church History and Modern Revelation”, 1:484; Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p 251)

This I believe, is the crowning glory of Zion’s redemption:

“….when we go back there will be a very large organization consisting of thousands, and tens of thousands, that will march forward and the glory of God overshadowing their camp by day in the form of a cloud, and a pillar of flaming fire by night, the Lord’s voice being uttered forth before His army…..and His people will go forth and build up Zion according to celestial law.

“The Lord says the banners of Zion shall be terrible….When the Lord’s presence is there…and the Lord’s angels go before the camp, it will be telegraphed to the uttermost parts of the earth and the fear will seize all people…..” (Elder Orson Pratt, “Journal of Discourses, 15:364)…..but the armies of heaven will be protecting the Saints in their return to Zion.”  (“History of the Church”, 2:381; Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual P 250). Can you imagine it?

This return to Missouri to build Zion will be akin to Moses leading the children of Israel to their promised land (v 16). This will be an amazing sight to see but unlike Moses’ expedition which was not selective, the group returning to Missouri will be only those who live the law of the celestial kingdom because only they will be prepared to be led by the presence of the Lord (D&C 105:5)…..because how can you abide the presence of a celestial being if you are not one yourself?

He is our Shepherd of Israel

Who would not see us lost,

Who rescued our souls

Never counting the cost.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: In His Keeping by Yongsung Kim)

THE VINEYARD

 

I had occasion yesterday to reflect on the sad history of the House of Israel and for the first time, instead of the suffering of the people, I saw the anguish and the sorrow of their King. He who had chosen them to be a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people witnessed with heaviness of heart their Egyptian slavery, the Assyrian conquest of The Ten Tribes, the Babylonian captivity of the House of Judah, Rome’s sacking of Jerusalem, the diaspora of the Jews, the holocaust, the wars of the nation of Israel…… it all testified of their suffering, the loss of lives and most especially their disobedience that brought upon them their demise from greatness.

One of my favourite ancient prophets is Jeremiah. The theme of his entire book in the Old Testament is ‘backsliding Israel’. The Lord himself gave this name to His covenant people that He once called a holy nation (Jeremiah 2:19; 3:6,8,11,12,14,22; 31:22; 49:4) because they were ‘bent on backsliding from Him’ (Hosea 11:7). Think of the tragedy of that. When Jeremiah importuned the Lord for their forgiveness, he admitted their ‘backslidings were perpetual’ (Jeremiah 5:6; 8:5; 14:7).

The House of Israel has had its share of suffering for their backsliding but this is what affects me the most….the betrayed and rejected Christ watching in the shadows their unfaithfulness to Him who devised their glorious destiny.

If you want to understand the Saviour’s mercy and love for the House of Israel, study the Allegory of the Olive Tree as found in Jacob 5 of the Book of Mormon.  It attests to His suffering caused by the very people He calls His own. I am not talking about the Atonement but His care despite the dejection He must have felt throughout the history of this world.

In the Allegory of the Olive Tree, the Saviour is represented as the Lord of the vineyard who grieves, preserves, labours, watches and tends to His vineyard constantly. His frantic efforts to ensure the divine destiny of the House of Israel, as represented by the olive trees in His vineyard, can be seen through repetitious declarations of His love and long-suffering:

His desire to preserve the vineyard is mentioned in the parable 11 times; at least 15 times the Lord expresses His desire to bring the vineyard and its' harvest 'unto my own self'; 8 times He says 'it grieveth me to lose the trees of my vineyard'; and 3 times He asks with anguish, weeping, 'what could I have done more for my vineyard?' All this despite the backsliding.

This is the promise of the Holy One of Israel that He will never recant: He will be merciful to the House of Israel and He will ‘heal their backsliding’ (Hosea 14:4). Jacob who engraved the Allegory on the golden plates put it well:  "....how merciful is our God unto us, for he remembereth the house of Israel, both roots and branches; and he stretches forth his hands unto them all the day long….. (Jacob 6:4)

We live in the best period of time of this earth. Ancient Israel are the roots and we, the modern Israel, are the branches. We are the ones through whom the promise is being fulfilled. The scattered are being gathered.  We are the posterity of the backsliders but the backsliding stops with us.

We are the strong of the House of Israel and we will spread the truth that will heal. We are the children of the promise. We are the manifestation of His love and His mercy. We are the chosen, we have the royal priesthood upon us. We will ensure our divine destiny so freely given by the Shepherd of Israel who would not see us lost, who rescued our souls never counting the cost……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)