successive generations come and go as here others have supposed that they were only partially changed so that death could have no power over them; conjecturing that the change was similar to that received by the three Nephites, mentioned in the Book of Mormon, and that they will not receive a full change until the coming of Christ, or the last day: Others suppose them to have been changed from mortality to immortality. We have no revelation to decide directly which of these suppositions is correct; although we are inclined to believe that the latter supposition is the most probable. But this is a subject which does not immediately concern us, as a matter of importance; God is willing for us to know all about the Zion of Enoch, and about many other things that are good, and great, and glorious, just as fast as we will prepare our hearts to receive knowledge: and it is only on account of our darkness, unbelief, and disobedience that many mysteries are withheld from us. To suppose that the inhabitants of the city of Enoch have been caught away to some other planetary body, and that they have there continued to multiply a fleshly offspring, would necessarily involve the idea of mortality and death; for we know of no revelation that indicates that a fleshly offspring could be derived from immortal parents. If therefore, a fleshly offspring are begotten in the Zion of Enoch, then mortality and death reign among them; and generation must have succeeded generation; and there has been time enough for them to have peopled several worlds as large as this. On the other hand, if they were immortal, their offspring must have been spirits; and as in this condition none of their children could multiply, the increase would be far less. Indeed, a city containing four hundred thousand inhabitants, consist ing of an equal number of immortal males and females, would require about three hundred thousand years to people one world with the same number of inhabitants as have already come upon our globe; that is, suppo sing the rate of increase to be two hundred thousand per year. However far the Zion of Enoch may be from the earth's appointed orbit, it is certain, according to the promise of God, that it will return again to the earth at the second coming of Christ. We can hardly believe that this city was taken away beyond the limits of the Solar system; for if it had been carried with a velocity of one mile per minute, it would have required upwards of five thousand years to have gone as far as the planet Neptune : and with that velocity it would have required over ten thousand years to go there and return. As an immortal body has the power of rendering itself invisible, it is reasonable to infer that a city wrought upon by the pow er of God, and changed in its nature, could be rendered invisible, and still be within our immediate vicinity. One of the most beautiful characteristics of the antediluvian Zion, was that "they were of one heart and one mind, and there were no poor among them," a perfect union of sentiment and feeling: no bitterness-no hatred no slandering or reviling-no defrauding or taking the advantage one of another-no person seeking to aggrandize himself by heaping up riches while others were poor-no selfishness or pride-no hypocrisy or af fectation: but every one loved his neighbor as himself-every one studied the welfare of the whole-every one considered himself as only a steward over the things committed to his charge: it was all considered the Lord's, and ready to be appropriated for any purpose which the Lord should direct. They were equal in earthly things, therefore the Lord made them equal in heavenly things. Nothing short of continued revelation could ever have brought about an order of things so perfect. Such union was strength and power; such oneness was after the order of heaven: the powers of the earth could not hold them-the laws of nature could not retain them: their faith laid hold on immortality-on eternal life—on the powers of heaven-on heavenly things; the veil was parted and could no more to eye when the Lord shall bring be closed-the city of Zion fled from again Zion." Yes: when the Lord earth to heaven there to be reserved until a day of righteousness should come, when the earth should rest; then shall they return to their native land and their city with them; then shall be fulfilled the words of Isaiah: "Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye brings again the Zion of Enoch from heaven to earth the watchman of the Latter day Zion shall see eye to eye with the watchman of the Zion from heaven: then shall ancient and modern saints embrace each other, and their hearts shall be full of joy; for the Lord himself will be there, and He will comfort his people for evermore. LATTER-DAY ZION. BY THE EDITOR. The Latter-Day Zion will resem-kings of the earth thy glory. When ble, in most particulars, the Zion of the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall Enoch it will be established upon appear in His glory. He will regard the same celestial laws-be built up- the prayer of the destitute, and not on the same gospel, and be guided by continued revelation. Its inhabitants, like those of the antediluvian Zion, will be the righteous gathered out from all nations: the glory of God will be seen upon it; and His power will be manifested there, even as in the Zion of old. All the blessings and grand characteristics which were exhibited in ancient Zion will be shown forth in the Latter-Day Zion. As the Zion of Enoch was caught up by the powers of heaven, so will the Latter-Day Zion be taken up into the cloud when the heavens are opened and the face of the Lord is unveiled at His second coming. As the building up of Zion in the last days is to be a work of so great a magnitude, it will not, we trust, be uninteresting to our readers if we refer to some of the ancient prophecies relative to it; especially as the day is at hand when the Lord has laid the foundation and commenced the fulfilment of the great work. The Psalmist, speaking prophetically, exclaims, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For He hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; to declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms to serve the Lord." (Psalm 102: 13-22.) From this we learn that the building up and the favouring of Zion was not to take place in that age, for it is expressly declared, that what was then written was for the benefit of "a generation to come." That it had no reference to the Christian Church built up in the days of the apostles, is certain from the declaration that, "When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in His glory." It was to be a work, therefore, immediately preceding the glorious appearing of our Lord. It will be a work in which the power of God will be so marvelously displayed, that it will excite the attention of whole nations and kingdoms to that degree, that they will actually gather together among the people of Zion to serve the Lord. One object they will have It is very evident from this that there will be a glory and power con. nected with the establishment of the house of the Lord, that will be sufficient to cause whole nations and kingdoms to flow unto it. They flow to the mountains where the house of the God of Jacob is erected, because they can there be taught in the ways of the Lord, and receive information that is impossible for them to receive in their own lands. In Zion a law will be given by the Great Law Giver, which will be for the government of all nations; and all nations will have to submit to that law, or be destroyed from the earth for the "Lord will rebuke strong nations afar off." The law for the government of all nations will go forth from Zion the same as the laws for the government of the United States now go forth from Washington. Zion will be the seat of government, and her officers will be far more respected, and have far more influence, than those of any government upon the earth; all nations will yield the most perfect obedience to their commands and counsels. There will be no party politicians, and party newspapers to speak evil of them, as they now do of the President and highest authorities of this nation: a word from them will control all the inhabitants of the earth as one man. This great influence and high respect will not be obtained by swaying the sceptre of tyrants-by binding the people down with the strong arm of oppression; but it will be because of their righteousness, and their faith in God, and because their power is given to them from God; and they act, and speak, and counsel, and command in His name and by His authority; and, therefore, the nations must obey or incur the displeasure of Him who governs all things, according to His own will and pleasure. 66 The Lord says, concerning Zion, "And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousnessthe faithful city." (Isaiah 1:26.) "I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors reighteousness." (Isaiah 60: 17.) When the Lord restores the judges, counsellors and officers of Zion, after the same order as in the ancient Zion, or among Israel, He will choose good and righteous men who can be entrusted to direct the governmental affairs of every nation under heaven, who will see that the laws issued from Zion are properly respected and obeyed. Ambitious politicians are now striving, contending, and exerting all their power in order to obtain the presidential chair or a seat in Congress. If they can only arise high enough to preside over this nation for four years, they think it wonderful honor. 0 fools! how little do they know what true honor is! We would rather be honored with the office of deacon, among the high and honorable people of Zion, than to be elected President of the United States; for the latter is but a momentary office, expiring at the close of four short years; while the former will endure for ever; or rather, he who honors the office of deacon, and faithfully discharges the duties of the same, will receive a crown, and kingdom, and power, and authority, and greatness, and honor, and glory, that will never have an end: and even in this life the days will come that deacons in Zion will be more honored and more respected, than any emperor, king or president, now ruling among the nations. Before Zion can partake of the glory and honor promised to her, she will be hated, afflicted, and despised by the wicked and because she does not, at first, give heed in all things to the word of the Lord, He will chasten her, and for a moment hide His face from her, and forsake her; and she will be as a wife of youth, forsaken and grieved in spirit. And in the midst of her affliction she will exclaim, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me." But the Lord saith, "Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." (Isaiah 49 14, 15.) All the shame and reproach which she has suffered from her enemies will be wiped away: hence, Isaiah says, Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed; neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of Hosts is His name; and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; the God of the whole earth shall He be called. For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness.ill I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy redeemer." (Isaiah 54: 4-8.) : Though Zion has been driven by these United States, and been persecuted, hated, and despised, let her not be discouraged, nor faint-hearted, nor afraid; for God will surely remember His kindness towards her, to bring to pass all that is written. As the Lord has "sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so hath He sworn that he would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee." And again for the encouragement of Zion in her affliction, the Lord says, "for the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed : but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my people be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee. O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colours, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children." (Isaiah 54: 9–13.) When the city of Zion is built up in Jackson county, in the state of Missouri, with all the precious stones spoken of in the above quotation, it seems that they will be no more "afflicted and tossed to and fro and not comforted." Mob violence will no more prevail against them, providing that they.continue in righteousness. For the Lord says, "In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror: for it shall not come near thee." (verse 14.) Their enemies no doubt will even then seek their overthrow, but they will be completely disappointed. "Behold they shall surely gather together, but not by me, whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake." (Verse 15.) Should the enemies of Zion even invent new weapons of warfare, and think to prevail against her by that means, it will be useless for them to try it; for the Lord says. "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Verse 17.) and because in all their tribulation they have held fast the truth. And therefore, will the Lord place them, as the head of the nations; and instead of being compelled to labor and toil to The Lord will not only deliver build the walls of Zion, and to take Zion from all her enemies, but He care of their flocks and cultivate the will actually make all nations serve earth, the Lord will cause this to be her, as will be seen by the following done by strangers. “And strangers quotation :—" And the sons of stran- shall stand and feed your flocks, and gers shall build up thy walls, and the sons of the alien shall be your their kings shall minister unto thee: plowmen and your vinedressers. But for in my wrath I smote thee, but in ye shall be named, The Priests of the my favour have I had mercy on thee. Lord: men shall call you, The MinTherefore thy gates shall be open con-isters of our God." (Isaiah 61: 5, 6.) tinually; they shall not be shut day The children of Zion having been nor night; that men may bring unto robbed and driven from county to thee the forces of the Gentiles, and county and from state to state, and that their kings may be brought.-even from the United States, and havFor the nation and kingdom that will ing suffered the loss, time after time, not serve thee shall perish; yea, those of their houses, and lands, and of their nations shall be utterly wasted."- hard earned labors, the Lord will "The sons also of them that afflicted compensate them by giving them the thee shall come bending unto thee; riches of the Gentiles; hence, He and all they that despised thee shall says "ye shall eat the riches of the bow themselves down at the soles of Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye thy feet; and they shall call thee, The boast yourselves. For your shame ye city of the Lord, The Zion of the shall have double; and for confusion Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 60: 10, they shall rejoice in their portion : 11, 12, 14.) therefore in their land they shall possess the double; everlasting joy shall be unto them." (Isaiah 61: 6, 7.) "Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breasts of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron." "Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee." (Isaiah 60: 9, 15, 16.) O how great must be the glory and power of the Lord to cause kings to rise up and leave their native country to visit Zion! The forces of the Gentiles will come to her as a flowing stream whose waters cease not, day nor night they will come like clouds flying, and like doves seeking refuge in their windows from storms and tempests. What a change of sentiments and feelings there must be, to cause those who have despised the saints to bow themselves down at the soles of their feet! if any nations are too stubborn or too proud to show this respect, and to serve Zion, they will have the alternative of being destroyed and utterly wasted. But why does the Holy One of Zion confer this honor upon his people? Because they have patiently submitted to every kind of insult and abuse that the Gentiles could heap upon them for the truth's sake: because they have been "afflicted and tossed to and fro" by their enemies; Contrast this glory, and honor, and majesty, and greatness, and riches with the past and present condition of Zion; and then let her sons shout |