Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

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Here is a blessing for those who seek to build Zion in the latter days: 

“And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be” (1 Nephi 13:37). 

This single verse about the establishment of Zion is couched between two passages about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon (verses 35-36 and 38-39). Curious, isn’t it? 

I am reminded of a quote from Joseph Smith. He taught: ”Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion? We have none; for without Zion, and a place of deliverance, we must fall;” (TPSJ, p. 71). 

To me, this implies that without the Book of Mormon we cannot have Zion (i.e. the pure in heart) or deliverance. What a powerful thought to ponder. Think of what the Book of Mormon teaches about unity and contention; humility and pride; consecration and selfishness; charity and hard-heartedness; truth and error; refuge and insecurity. If we could just follow the patterns of Zion taught in the Book of Mormon, we would be so much closer to realizing it. 

We need the Book of Mormon; the Book of Mormon is, in a sense, a roadmap for Zion.

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