D&C 97:18-28

97:18-20 - The IM prefaces the next few verses by asking, “What is the destiny of Zion?” The Lord says that if Zion is righteous, “she shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very terrible. And the nations of the earth shall honor her… And he hath sworn by the power of his might to be her salvation and her high tower.” The IM says, “here the lord says that Zion ‘shall prosper, and spread herself and become very glorious, very great, and very horrible.’ The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: ‘You know there has been great discussion in relation to Zion- where it is, and where the gathering of the dispensation is, and which I am now going to tell you. The prophets have spoken and written upon it; but I will make a proclamation that will cover a broader ground. The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south, and is described by the Prophets, who declare that it is the center of the land. When the Elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it.’ President Brigham Young said: ‘This American continent will be Zion; for it is so spoken of by the prophets. Jerusalem will be rebuilt and will be the place of gathering, and the tribe of Judah will gather there; but this continent of America is the land of Zion.’ Terrible is used to describe Zion because the basic meaning of the word is ‘something that causes terror.’ Zion’s glory will be such that it will strike terror into the hearts of the wicked.” There is a few concepts here that are interesting, first is the idea that Zion will be a powerful, respected force to be reckoned with because right now being a member of the church is so, I don’t know how to describe it, surely no one is worried about offending us, we are not a force to be considered at any point, I guess it’s just something that is so foreign to me that I think “why would anyone, even the wicked, be afraid of us?” I just don’t understand. The other concept that I think is interesting is that the American continent is Zion, and I thought, “well what about the rest of the world? That’s not really fair, but then I remembered, and Brigham Young covered it, is that Jerusalem will be the center point on the other land mass. I don’t know under which umbrella Australia will be under, but I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.

97:21-28 - This is where we get the title of the section from, and gives a more applicable notion of Zion. The Lord says, “Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion- THE PURE IN HEART.” The IM says, “Zion is not only a location but a condition as well. The Lord declares that a person worthy of Zion is one who is ‘pure in heart.’ Hyrum Smith described Zion as ‘the honest and pure in heart that will harken to the everlasting covenant.” I thought that it was in the IM that I heard it, but I guess not, to me this verse indicates that by Zion dwelling in the hearts of those who are pure, then Zion is where ever the pure in heart are found. The Lord promises Zion that “if she sins no more… I will bless her with blessings, and multiply and multiplicity of blessings upon her, and upon her generations forever and ever.” Those who are not trying to “sin no more” “I will visit… with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.” The IM says, “Great and marvelous blessings are promised for Zion, or those who are pure in heart. In this section, the Lord also decrees punishment on the wicked. Even Zion will not escape unless she does the works of righteousness. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: ‘If Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; for His work will go on until Israel is gathered, and they who will not hear His voice, must expect to feel His wrath. Let me say unto you, seek to purify yourselves, and also the inhabitants of Zion, lest the Lord’s anger be kindled to fierceness. Repent, Repent, is the voice of God to Zion; and strange as it may appear, yet it is true, mankind will persist in self-justification until all their iniquity is exposed, and their character past being redeemed, and that which is treasured up in their hearts be exposed to the gaze of mankind. I say unto you (and what I say unto you I say to all), hear the warning voice of God, lest Zion fall, and the Lord swear in HI wrath the inhabitants of Zion shall not enter into His rest.’”