Appendix 6

A Prophetic Glimpse of Future Jerusalems

TWO JERUSALEMS: OLD AND NEW

"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. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem" (Isa. 2:2-3; emphasis added).

"Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously" (Isa. 24:23; see also Isa. 64:10; Joel 3:16; Zech. 1:16-17; 3 Ne. 20:29, 33, 46; 3 Ne. 21:23-24; Ether 13:10-11; D&C 133:21).

"The City of Zion spoken of by David, in the one hundred and second psalm, will be built upon the land of America. . . . And then they will be delivered from the overflowing scourge that shall pass through the land. But Judah shall obtain deliverance at Jerusalem. (See Joel 2:32; Isa. 26:20- 21; Jer. 31:12; Ps. 1:5; Ezek. 34:11-13)" (Smith, History of the Church, 1:315).

"I shall say with brevity, that there is a New Jerusalem to be established on this continent, and also Jerusalem shall be rebuilt on the eastern continent (see Book of Mormon, Ether xiii:1-12). 'Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from which Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord, wherefore it could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old'" (Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 86).

"The Lord has said by the ancient prophets, in the last days there should be deliverance in Jerusalem and in Mount Zion. . . And pointed out the location of Zion and commanded the saints among the Gentiles to gather thereunto and build it up, while the Jews gather to Jerusalem" (Woodruff, "A Word to the Wise," 3).

"In 1831, the Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation designating the place called Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, as the center place of the kingdom of God on the western hemisphere. A city called Zion or the New Jerusalem would there be built. There also, the foremost temple to the Lord should be erected. From the temple in Zion the law of the Lord would issue, as the word of the Lord would come from Jerusalem (D&C 57:1-3; Isa. 2:3; Mic. 4:2; [History of the Church,] 1:188.)" (Widtsoe, Evidences and Reconciliations, 395).

"In each land a holy city shall be built which shall be the capital from whence the law and the word of the Lord shall go forth to all peoples.

"Jerusalem of old, after the Jews have been cleansed and sanctified from all their sins, shall become a holy city where the Lord shall dwell and from whence he shall send forth his word unto all people. Likewise, on this continent the city of Zion, New Jerusalem, shall be built, and from it the law of God shall also go forth. There will be no conflict, for each city shall be headquarters for the Redeemer of the world, and from each he shall send forth his proclamations as occasion may require. Jerusalem shall be the gathering place of Judah and his fellows of the house of Israel, and Zion shall be the gathering place of Ephraim and his fellows, upon whose head shall be conferred 'the richer blessings . . .'

" . . . These two cities, one in the land of Zion and one in Palestine, are to become capitals of the kingdom of God during the millennium" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:68-71).

"Both church and state, as the world knows them, will soon cease to be. When the Lord comes again, he will set up anew the political kingdom of God on earth. It will be joined with the ecclesiastical kingdom; church and state will unite; and God will govern in all things. But even then, as we suppose, administrative affairs will be departmentalized, for the law will go forth from Zion [in Jackson County, Missouri], and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem [in the Holy Land]. But, nonetheless, once again the government of the earth will be theocratic. God will govern. This time he will do it personally as he reigns over all the earth. And all of this presupposes the fall of Babylon, and the death of false religions, and the fall of all earthly governments and nations." (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 596).

"And so it shall yet be in a future day when, during the Millennial era there are two great world capitals—one in the Zion of America, the New Jerusalem, whence the law should proceed, and the other in the Zion of old, the Old Jerusalem, whence the word of the Lord shall go forth. Truly the great marvels of the gathering of Israel lie ahead, marvels that shall come to pass during the Millennium" (McConkie, New Witness, 540).

OLD JERUSALEM: ISRAEL

Jerusalem to Be Rebuilt and Inhabited by the Seed of Judah

"At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord; and all the nations shall be gathered unto it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem: neither shall they walk any more after the imagination of their evil heart. In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers" (Jer. 3:17-18).

"Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem. Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem" (Zech. 1:16-17).

"And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again" (Zech. 2:12).

"Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it. . . . In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem" (Zech. 12:2-6).

"And I will remember the covenant which I have made with my people; and I have covenanted with them that I would gather them together in mine own due time, that I would give unto them again the land of their fathers for their inheritance, which is the land of Jerusalem, which is the promised land unto them forever, saith the Father. . . .

"Then shall their watchmen lift up their voice, and with the voice together shall they sing; for they shall see eye to eye.

"Then will the Father gather them together again, and give unto them Jerusalem for the land of their inheritance.

"Then shall they break forth into joy—Sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem; for the Father hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

"The Father hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of the Father; and the Father and I are one.

"And then shall be brought to pass that which is written: Awake, awake again, and put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. . . .

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, all these things shall surely come, even as the Father hath commanded me. Then shall this covenant which the Father hath covenanted with his people be fulfilled; and then shall Jerusalem be inhabited again with my people, and it shall be the land of their inheritance" (3 Ne. 20:29-46).

"And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel. . . .

"And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham" (Ether 13:5, 11).

"We therefore ask thee to have mercy upon the children of Jacob, that Jerusalem, from this hour, may begin to be redeemed; and the yoke of bondage may begin to be broken off from the house of David; and the children of Judah may begin to return to the lands which thou didst give to Abraham, their father" (D&C 109:62-64, Kirtland Temple Dedicatory Prayer).

The City and the Temple

Elder Orson Hyde arrived in Jerusalem on 24 October 1841, to dedicate and consecrate the Holy Land "for the building up of Jerusalem again after it has been trodden down by the Gentiles so long, and for rearing a Temple in honor of Thy name. . . . Let that nation or that people who shall take an active part in behalf of Abraham's children, and in the raising up of Jerusalem, find favor in Thy sight" (Smith, History of the Church, 4:456-59).

Means by Which Jerusalem and the Temple Will Be Rebuilt

"The time is not far distant when the rich men among the Jews may be called upon to use their abundant wealth to gather the dispersed of Judah and purchase the ancient dwelling places of their fathers in and about Jerusalem and rebuild the holy city and temple" (Woodruff, "Epistle," 244; see also Zech. 14:14; Isa. 60:9, 14).

A New Temple

See Ezekiel 40 through 44 for partial blueprints and description of services in the temple.

"I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: my house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 1:16).

"Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord" (Zech. 6:12-15).

"For it is ordained that in Zion, and in her stakes, and in Jerusalem, those places which I have appointed for refuge, shall be the places for your baptisms for your dead. And again, verily I say unto you, how shall your washings be acceptable unto me, except ye perform them in a house which you have built to my name?" (D&C 124:36-37).

"What was the object of gathering the Jews, or the people of God in any age of the world? The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose" (Smith, History of the Church, 5:423).

"I remember, some time ago, having a conversation with Baron Rothschild, a Jew. I was showing him the temple here [Salt Lake City], and said he,—'Elder Taylor, what do you mean by this temple? What is the object of it? Why are you building it?' Said I 'Your fathers had among them prophets, who revealed to them the mind and will of God; we have among us prophets who reveal to us the mind and will of God, as they did. One of your prophets said—'The Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple; but who may abide the day of his coming? . . . ' 'Now . . . will you point me out a place on the face of the earth where God has a Temple?' Said he, 'I do not know of any. . . . Do you consider that this is that temple?' 'No, sir, it is not.' 'Well, what is this temple for?' Said I, 'The Lord has told us to build this temple so that we may administer therein baptisms for our dead . . . 8and also to perform some of the sacred matrimonial alliances and covenants that we believe in, that are rejected by the world generally, but which are among the purest, most exalting and ennobling principles that God ever revealed to man.' 'Well, then this is not our temple?' 'No, but . . . you will build a Temple, for the Lord has shown us, among other things, that you Jews have quite a role to perform in the latter days, and that all the things spoken by your old prophets will be fulfilled, that you will be gathered to old Jerusalem, and that you will build a temple there; and when you build that temple, and the time has arrived, "the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple"'" (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 18:199-200).

Nations Battle against the Jews

See Ezekiel 38-39. Though called by Ezekiel the battle of Gog and Magog, the usual title for this conflict is the battle of Armageddon. This name originated with the site of Har Megiddo, the mount or tel of Megiddo, a fortress city at the western end of the Jezreel Valley where many famous battles were fought in antiquity and which gives its name to the future battle to end this world's history.

"I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. . . . Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision" (Joel 3:2, 14).

"In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon" (Zech. 12:11).

"For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

"Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.

"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

"And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee. . . .

"And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. . . .

"And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance" (Zech. 14:2-14).

"And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" (Rev. 16:16).

"For then, in those days, shall be great tribulation on the Jews, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, such as was not before sent upon Israel, of God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall be sent again upon Israel. All things which have befallen them are only the beginning of the sorrows which shall come upon them. And except those days should be shortened, there should none of their flesh be saved; but for the elect's sake, according to the covenant, those days shall be shortened. Behold, these things I have spoken unto you concerning the Jews" (JS-M 1:18-21).

"He will gather up millions upon millions of people into the valleys around about Jerusalem in order to destroy the Jews after they have gathered. How will the Devil do this? He will perform miracles to do it. The Bible says the kings of the earth and the great ones will be deceived by these false miracles. . . . What will they do? Gather them up to battle unto the great day of God Almighty. Where? Into the valley of Armageddon" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 7:188-89).

The Causes and Description of Armageddon

"Armageddon is a holy war. In it men will blaspheme God. They will be in rebellion against Jehovah. The armies that face each other will have opposing philosophies of life. It will be religious instincts that cause them to assemble to the battle." (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 398).

"There will be political overtones, of course. Wars are fought by nations, which are political entities. But the underlying causes and the moving power in the hearts of men will be their views of religious issues" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 478).

"Armageddon is the hill of the valley of Megiddo west of Jordan on the plain Jezreel. And Armageddon is the place where the final war will be fought, meaning, as we suppose, that it will be the focal point of a worldwide conflict, and also that as a place of ancient warfare, it will be a symbol of the conflict that will be raging in many nations and on many battlefronts. . . .

" . . . All nations are at war; some are attacking Jerusalem and others are defending the once holy city. She is the political prize. Three world religions claim her—Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Emotion and fanaticism run high. . . .

"'And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.' This is Israel of whom he speaks. These are the armies who are defending Jerusalem and whose cause, in the eternal sense, is just. Two-thirds of them shall die.

"'And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, it is my people: and they shall say, the Lord is my God.' (Zech. 13:8-9.) We repeat: It is a religious war. The forces of antichrist are seeking to destroy freedom and liberty and right; they seek to deny men the right to worship the Lord; they are the enemies of God. The one-third who remain in the land of Israel are the Lord's people" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 464-66).

"'And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet be fulfilled.' That which once happened to Jerusalem and its inhabitants shall happen again. . . .

"'And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh . . .'

"'Then let them which are in Judah flee to the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.' Is this the way the saints shall be saved in the last days when two-thirds of the inhabitants shall be cut off and die and only one-third be left: If more than a million were put to the sword in A.D. 70, how great shall be the slaughter when atomic bombs are used?" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 473).

"The kings of the earth and of the whole world will gather to fight the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Their command center will be at Armageddon, overlooking the valley of Megiddo. All nations will be gathered against Jerusalem. Two hundred thousand thousand warriors and more—two hundred million men of arms and more—shall come forth to conquer or die on the plains of Esdraelon and in all the nations of the earth.

" . . . This war will be a religious war. . . .

" . . . We do not speculate as to what nations are involved in these wars. It is well known that the United States and Great Britain and the Anglo-Saxon peoples have traditionally been linked together in causes designed to promote freedom and guarantee the rights of man. It is also well known that there are other nations, ruled by a godless communistic power, that have traditionally fought to enslave rather than to free men. It is fruitless to try and name nations and set forth alliances that are to be" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 476-77).

Two Witnesses, or Prophets, in Jerusalem

"Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation?

"A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers" (D&C 77:15; see also Isa. 51:19-20; Zech. 4:3, 11-14; Rev. 11:3-12; 2 Ne. 8:19).

"We might bring up, also, the declaration of John in relation to the two witnesses who are to prophesy about that period. They are to prophesy three and a half years, and their field of labor will be Jerusalem, after it shall have been rebuilt by the Jews. By means of their prophecies and the power of God attending them, the nations who are gathered against Jerusalem will be kept at bay, these Prophets will hold them in check by their faith and power. By and by these nations overcome the two witnesses and, having finished their mission, they are slain, and their bodies will lie three days and a half in the streets of the city. Then a great earthquake will take place, and these two witnesses will be caught up into heaven" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 16:329).

The Great Earthquake Affecting the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem

"And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the Lord my God shall come, and all the saints with thee" (Zech. 14:4-5).

"And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven" (Rev. 11:13).

"And then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount, and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake" (D&C 45:48).

"For behold, he shall stand upon the mount of Olivet, and upon the mighty ocean, even the great deep, and upon the islands of the sea, and upon the land of Zion.

"And he shall utter his voice out of Zion, and he shall speak from Jerusalem, and his voice shall be heard among all people;

"And it shall be a voice as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder, which shall break down the mountains, and the valleys shall not be found.

"He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;

"And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided" (D&C 133:20-24).

"'And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south . . .' This shall be the immeasurably great earthquake foreseen by John and spoken of by the prophets" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 468).

"'And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel'—this is the mighty earthquake when the Mount of Olives cleaves and mountains and valleys and continents change their shapes.

"The earthquakes and the tremblings and the distortions of the landmasses of our planet shall all take place when and as he comes to dwell again among men" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 484).

The Siege of Jerusalem to End the Final War

"Ezekiel has given us in the 38th and 39th chapters much detail in relation to the great battle which shall precede the coming of the Son of Man to reign. Joel and Daniel also prophesied of these great events.

"One thing we are given by these prophets definitely to understand is that the great last conflict before Christ shall come will end at the siege of Jerusalem. So said Ezekiel and Daniel, and the Lord declared to Joel: 'For behold, in those days, in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem. . . .'

"When the armies gather in Palestine will be the time when the Lord shall come in judgment. . . .

"Zechariah is another prophet who has plainly spoken of these great events. According to his predictions the nations will gather and lay siege to Jerusalem. Part of the city will fall, with dire consequences to its inhabitants, when a great earthquake will come, the Mount of Olives will cleave in twain, and the persecuted people will flee into this valley for safety. At that particular time will the Savior come as their Deliverer and show them his hands and his feet. They will look upon him and ask him where he received his wounds, and he will tell them they were received in the house of his friends—he is Jesus Christ, their Redeemer.

"At that time shall come the redemption of the Jews. Jerusalem shall then be rebuilt and the promises that it shall become a holy city will be fulfilled" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:46-47).

The Savior Appears and Rescues the Jews; They Recognize Him

"In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn" (Zech. 12:8-10).

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends" (Zech. 13:6).

"And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him" (2 Ne. 6:14).

"And then shall the Jews look upon me and say: What are these wounds in thine 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. And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king" (D&C 45:51-53).

"It is true that after you (the house of Judah) return and gather your nation home and rebuild your city and temple, that the Gentiles may gather together their armies to go against you to battle, to take you a prey and to take you a spoil, which they will do, for the words of your prophets must be fulfilled; but when this affliction comes, the living God . . . will deliver you, and your Shiloh will come and stand in your midst and will fight your battles; and you will know him, and the afflictions of the Jews will be at an end, while the destruction of the Gentiles will be so great that it will take the whole house of Israel who are gathered about Jerusalem seven months to bury the dead of their armies, and the weapons of war will last them seven years for fuel, so that they need not go to any forest for wood" (Cowley, Wilford Woodruff, 509-10).

The Second Coming to Old and New Jerusalem Temples

"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts" (Mal. 3:1; see also D&C 36:8; 42:36; 133:2).

Summary of Events During the Last Days of Old Jerusalem

"Suffice it to say, the Jews gather home, and rebuild Jerusalem. The nations gather against them in battle. Their armies encompass the city, and have more or less power over it for three years and a half. A couple of Jewish prophets, by their mighty miracles, keep them from utterly overcoming the Jews, until at length they are slain, and the city is left in a great measure to the mercy of their enemies for three days and a half, the two prophets rise from the dead and ascend up into heaven. The Messiah comes, convulses the earth, overthrows the army of the Gentiles, delivers the Jews, cleanses Jerusalem, cuts off all wickedness from the earth, raises the saints from the dead, brings them with him, and commences his reign of a thousand years, during which time his Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, men and beasts, birds and serpents, will be perfectly harmless and peace and the knowledge and glory of God shall cover the earth" (Pratt, Voice of Warning, 42).

NEW JERUSALEM: MISSOURI

The Nature and Name of the New Jerusalem

"And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God; and the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion" (D&C 45:66-67).

"Yea, and blessed are the dead that die in the Lord, from henceforth, when the Lord shall come, and old things shall pass away, and all things become new, they shall rise from the dead and shall not die after, and shall receive an inheritance before the Lord, in the holy city" (D&C 63:49).

"And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

"And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even ZION.

"And it came to pass that Enoch talked with the Lord; and he said unto the Lord: Surely Zion shall dwell in safety forever. But the Lord said unto Enoch: Zion have I blessed, but the residue of the people have I cursed.

"And it came to pass that the Lord showed unto Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth; and he beheld, and lo, Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven. And the Lord said unto Enoch: Behold mine abode forever" (Moses 7:18-21).

A Temple City with Outlying Stakes

"Let me take the liberty to say to this congregation that the City of Zion, when it is built in Jackson County, will not be called a Stake. We can find no mention in all the revelations that God has given, that the City of Zion is to be the Centre Stake of Zion; the Lord never called it a Stake in any revelation that has been given. It is to be the head quarters, it is to be the place where the Son of Man will come and dwell, where He will have a Temple, in which Temple there will be a throne prepared where Jesus will dwell in the midst of His people; it will be the great central city, and the outward branches will be called Stakes wherever they shall be organized as such" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 22:35).

"Jackson County, Missouri, is the chosen site for the City of Zion. No other place has been or will be appointed for that purpose. All other gathering places of God's people are only Stakes of Zion, holding the outside cords and curtains of the spiritual Tabernacle of the Lord.

"Zion's first Stake was at Kirtland, Ohio; and other stakes were organized in Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa. All these have been abandoned; but many others, since established, now flourish. . . . Zion is greater than any of her stakes" (Whitney, Saturday Night Thoughts, 183).

New Jerusalem Is Also Called Zion

"The teachings of the Book of Mormon, and the truths made known through revelation in the present dispensation, regarding the Zion of the last days, while agreeing with the Biblical record as to the general description of the situation and the glories of the city, are more explicit in regard to location. In these scriptures, the names Zion and New Jerusalem are used synonymously, the latter designation being given in honor of the Jerusalem of the east" (Talmage, Articles of Faith, 316).

"At the Second Coming, 'the Lamb shall stand upon Mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty four thousand, having his Father's name written on their foreheads.' (D. & C. 133:18; Rev. 14:1-5.) The Mount Zion spoken of is identified by latter-day revelation as the New Jerusalem to be built in Jackson County, Missouri. (D&C 84:1-4.)" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 855).

The Location of New Jerusalem

"[America] is the cradle of humanity, where life on this earth began in the Garden of Eden. This is the place of the new Jerusalem. This is the place that the Lord said is favored above all other nations in the world. This is the place where the Savior will come to His temple. This is the favored land in all the world. Yes, I repeat, men may fail, but this nation won't fail. I have faith in America; you and I must have faith in America" (Lee, Ye Are the Light of the World, 351).

Jackson County Was the Site of the Garden of Eden

"It is a pleasant thing to think of and to know where the garden of Eden was . . . In Jackson County was the garden of Eden. Joseph has declared this, and I am as much bound to believe that Joseph was a prophet of God" (Brigham Young, in Journal History of the Church, 15 March 1857, 1).

"The spot chosen for the garden of Eden was Jackson county, in the state of Missouri, where Independence now stands; it was occupied in the morn of creation by Adam and his associates who came with him for the express purpose of peopling this earth" (Heber C. Kimball, in Journal of Discourses, 10:235).

"In accord with the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith, we teach that the Garden of Eden was on the American continent located where the City Zion, or the New Jerusalem, will be built. . . . When Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, they eventually dwelt at a place called Adam-ondi-Ahman, situated in what is now Daviess County, Missouri" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:74).

Adam-ondi-Ahman Priesthood Conference/Sacrament Meeting

As Daniel the prophet foresaw, there will one day be a large gathering of high priests and righteous souls in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, the greatest congregation of faithful Saints ever assembled in the history of the world. It will be a sacrament meeting. The Ancient of Days (Adam) will come, and those who have held keys in all dispensations will report on their stewardships. The Lord Jesus Christ will come and assume the reins of government. The world will not know of this conference, and members of the Church in general will not know of it. Some of those attending will be Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Elijah, John the Baptist, Peter, James, John, Moroni, and "all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world" (D&C 27:14; see also 27:4-13; 116; Dan. 7:9-14; Matt. 26:29; Smith, History of the Church, 3:386-87; Smith, Way to Perfection, 289-91; Doctrines of Salvation, 3:13-14; McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 578-79, 587).

"Yes, there will be wrenching polarization on this planet, but also the remarkable reunion with our colleagues in Christ from the City of Enoch. Yes, nation after nation will become a house divided, but more and more unifying Houses of the Lord will grace this planet. Yes, Armageddon lies ahead. But so does Adam-ondi-Ahman!" (Maxwell, "O, Divine Redeemer," 10).

Conditions for the Building Up of Zion

Those who help build up Zion, the New Jerusalem, will be prepared and worthy; they will be obedient and united (see Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 9:137; McConkie, New Witness, 586, 596).

Zion will be built only by conforming to the law of consecration (see the following in Journal of Discourses: Orson Pratt, 2:261; Brigham Young, 2:299; George Q. Cannon, 13:97; Orson Pratt, 15:361; Lorenzo Snow, 16:276; George A. Smith, 17:59; Wilford Woodruff, 17:250. See also Snow, Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, 168; McConkie, New Witness, 618).

Men and Angels Will Work Together, and Jesus Will Manifest Himself

"Men and angels are to be coworkers in bringing to pass this great work, and Zion is to be prepared, even a New Jerusalem, for the elect that are to be gathered from the four corners of the earth and to be established an holy city, for the tabernacle of the Lord shall be with them" (Smith, History of the Church, 2:260).

"We look forward to the day when the Lord will prepare for the building of the New Jerusalem, preparatory to the city of Enoch's going to be joined with it when it is built upon this earth. We are anticipating to enjoy that day, whether we sleep in death previous to that, or not. We look forward, with all the anticipation and confidence that children can possess in a parent, that we shall be there when Jesus comes; and if we are not there, we will come with him: in either case we shall be there when he comes" (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 8:342).

"[The Lord] will return them to Jackson county, and in the western part of the State of Missouri they will build up a city which shall be called Zion, which will be the head-quarters of this Latter-day Saint Church; and that will be the place where the prophets, apostles and inspired men of God will have their head-quarters. It will be the place where the Lord God will manifest Himself to His people, as He has promised in the Scriptures, as well as in modern revelation" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 13:138).

"We talk of returning to Jackson County to build the most magnificent temple that ever was formed on the earth and the most splendid that was ever erected; yea, cities, if you please. The architectural designs of those splendid edifices, cities, walls, gardens, bowers, streets, etc., will be under the direction of the Lord, who will control and manage all these matters; and the people, from the president down, will all be under the guidance and direction of the Lord in all the pursuits of human life; until eventually they will be enabled to erect cities that will be fit to be caught up—that when Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath, and be prepared to associate with those from above" (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 10:147).

The Redemption of Zion Is Not Understood

"The Lord acts with us as we act with our children, to some extent. He does not tell us everything. I suppose that if the early Elders of this Church could have seen all that we had to pass through and the length of time that would elapse before the redemption of Zion was achieved, they would have fainted by the wayside and have felt that human nature could not endure such trials.

"I know, in my early recollections of the teachings of the Elders, they imagined, judging from their remarks, that it would be only a few years before Zion would be redeemed. When we were coming to these valleys, I happened to be present when some of the Twelve Apostles were talking concerning the future, and the recollection of that conversation is in my mind now; and I know that, though they were inspired men and filled with revelation, they did not conceive, as we now can conceive, of the events that would take place before Zion would be redeemed. It was necessary, seemingly, according to the mind of the Lord, that they should be encouraged with the hope that their efforts would result in complete triumph" (Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:41).

Construction of the New Jerusalem

For the manner of construction and durability of Zion, and the moderate size of the expanding cities of Zion, see Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 13:313; also Orson Pratt, 15:365; 21:152-53; History of the Church, 4:453; Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 3:282-83 note.

New Jerusalem Built and Inhabited by the Seed of Joseph

"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you" (3 Ne. 20:22).

"But if they will repent and hearken unto my words, and harden not their hearts, I will establish my church among them, and they shall come in unto the covenant and be numbered among this the remnant of Jacob, unto whom I have given this land for their inheritance;

"And they shall assist my people, the remnant of Jacob, and also as many of the house of Israel as shall come, that they may build a city, which shall be called the New Jerusalem.

"And then shall they assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.

"And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst" (3 Ne. 21:22-25).

"Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land.

"And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel.

"And that a New Jerusalem should be built upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph, for which things there has been a type.

"For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not.

"Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away. . . .

"And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel" (Ether 13:4-10).

"And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim. And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy. Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows" (D&C 133:32-34).

"And the graves of the saints shall be opened; and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem; and they shall sing the song of the Lamb, day and night forever and ever" (D&C 133:56; see also D&C 42:9, 62, 69; 103:16-18).

"If we are not Jews we are not required to go to old Jerusalem, but we are required to build up a Zion; that is spoken of as well as the building of Jerusalem" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:67).

"First, a remnant will be converted; second, Zion will be redeemed, and all among the Gentiles who believe will assist this remnant of Jacob in building the New Jerusalem; third, a vast number of missionaries will be sent throughout the length and breadth of this great continent, to gather all the dispersed of his people in unto the New Jerusalem; fourth, the power of heaven will be made manifest in the midst of this people, and the Lord also will be in their midst, in the character of a shepherd, and he will lead Joseph as a flock, and he will instruct and counsel them personally as he did their ancient fathers in the days of their righteousness" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 17:302).

"In addition to the rebuilding of the Jerusalem of old, the latter-days are to see the initial building of a New Jerusalem on the American continent, a city which like its ancient counterpart will be a holy city, a Zion, a city of God. (3 Ne. 20:22.) This New Jerusalem is to be built by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Jackson County, Missouri, is the spot designated by revelation for its construction. (D. & C. 28; 42:8-9, 30-42; 45:66-67; 52:2, 42-43; 57:7, 44-58; 84:2-5.) It shall be built when the Lord directs. (Doctrines of Salvation 3:66-79; D. & C. 124:49-54.)" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 532; Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:247-51).

Zion Established throughout America

"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 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 Zion where the mountain of the Lord should be, and that it should be in the center of the land. When Elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it" (Smith, History of the Church, 6:318-19; Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 9:138; 12:229).

The Unique Temple in New Jerusalem

"There . . . we expect to build a temple different from all other temples in some respect. It will be much larger, cover a larger area of ground. . . . Will it be built in one large room, like this tabernacle? No; there will be 24 different compartments in the Temple that will be built in Jackson County. The names of these compartments were given to us 45 or 46 years ago" (Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 24:24).

"The Latter-day Saints are building temples and believe that the time will come when they will be called on to build the great temple which shall grace the New Jerusalem, or City of Zion, the capital city of God on this continent" (Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:246).

"This great prophecy [Isaiah 2:2-4], as is often the case, is subject to the law of multiple fulfillment. 1. In Salt Lake City and other mountain locations temples, in the full and true sense of the word, have been erected, and representatives of all nations are flowing unto them to learn of God and his ways. In this connection and as part of the general fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, is the fact that one of the world's greatest genealogical societies has been established in Salt Lake City—a society to which people of all nations come to do the ancestral research which must precede the performance of vicarious temple ordinances. 2. But the day is yet future when the Lord's house is to be built on the 'Mount Zion' which is 'the city of New Jerusalem' in Jackson County, Missouri. (D. & C. 84:2-4) Mount Zion, itself, will be the mountain of the Lord's house in the day when that glorious temple is erected. 3. When the Jews flee unto Jerusalem, it will be 'unto the mountains of the Lord's house' (D. & C. 133:13), for a holy temple to be built there also as part of the work of the great era of restoration. (Ezek. 34:24-28.)" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 518).

Purposes of Millennial Temples

"What are we going to do in these temples? . . . In these temples we will officiate in the ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ for our friends , for no man can enter the kingdom of God without being born of the water and of the Spirit. We will officiate for those who are in the spirit world, where Jesus went to preach to the spirits as Peter has written [1 Pet. 3:18-20]" (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 13:329).

"In the Millennium, when the kingdom of God is established on the earth in power, glory and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that has so long prevailed is subdued, the Saints of God will have the privilege of building their temples and of entering into them, becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God, and they will officiate for their dead. Then we will see our friends come up and perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here. . . . And we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them. Then man will be sealed to man until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene. This will be the work of the Latter-day Saints in the Millennium" (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 15:138-39).

"When the Savior comes, a thousand years will be devoted to this work of redemption; and temples will appear all over this land of Joseph,—North and South America—and also in Europe and elsewhere; and all the descendants of Shem, Ham, Japheth, who received not the gospel in the flesh, must be officiated for in the temples of God, before the Savior can present the kingdom to the Father, saying, 'It is finished'" (Wilford Woodruff, in Journal of Discourses, 19:230).

The Ten Tribes Will Return

See Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-34; Orson Pratt, in Journal of Discourses, 18:67-68; McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 320, 324; New Witness, 520.

The City of Enoch Will Return

"And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord" (Ether 13:3).

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself.

"And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;

"And the general assembly of the church of the first-born shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch" (JST Gen. 9:21-23).

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name" (Rev. 3:12).

"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. . . . And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God" (Rev. 21:2-10).

"Now many will feel disposed to say, that this New Jerusalem spoken of, is the Jerusalem that was built by the Jews on the eastern continent. But you will see, from Revelation xxi:2, there was a New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband; that after this, the Revelator was caught away in the Spirit, to a great and high mountain, and saw the great and holy city descending out of heaven from God. Now there are two cities spoken of here" (Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 86).

"We have no business here other than to build up and establish the Zion of God. It must be done according to the will and law of God, after that pattern and order by which Enoch built up and perfected the former-day Zion, which was taken away to heaven, hence the saying went abroad that Zion had fled. By and by it will come back again, and as Enoch prepared his people to be worthy of translation, so we through our faithfulness must prepare ourselves to meet Zion from above when it shall return to the earth, and to abide the brightness and glory of its coming" (Brigham Young, in Journal of Discourses, 18:356).

"When Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath and be prepared to associate with those from above. The people will be so perfected and purified, ennobled, exalted, and dignified in their feelings and so truly humble and most worthy, virtuous and intelligent that they will be fit, when caught up, to associate with that Zion that shall come down from God out of heaven" (John Taylor, in Journal of Discourses, 10:147).

"Ether the Jaredite, and John the Revelator, separated by more than six centuries of time and prophesying on opposite hemispheres, each saw the New Jerusalem come down from heaven, 'prepared' says the Jewish apostle, 'as a bride adorned for her husband'" (Talmage, Articles of Faith, 317).

"The Church in this day teaches that the New Jerusalem seen by John and by the prophet Ether, as descending from the heavens in glory, is the return of exalted Enoch and his righteous people; and that the people or Zion of Enoch, and the modern Zion, or the gathered saints on the western continent, will become one people" (Talmage, Articles of Faith, 318).

"What is the interpretation of Revelation 21:1,2 with reference to the New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven? . . . The prevailing notion in the world is that this is the city of Jerusalem, the ancient city of the Jews which in the day of regeneration will be renewed, but this is not the case. We read in the Book of Ether that the Lord revealed to him many of the same things which were seen by John. . . . In his vision, in many respects similar to that given to John, Enoch saw the old city of Jerusalem and also the new city which has not yet been built, and he wrote them as follows: [see Ether 13:2-11].

"In the day of regeneration, when all things are made new, there will be three great cities that will be holy. One will be the Jerusalem of old which shall be rebuilt according to the prophecy of Ezekiel. One will be the city of Zion, or of Enoch, which was taken from the earth when Enoch was translated and which will be restored; and the city Zion, or New Jerusalem, which is to be built by the seed of Joseph on this the American continent.

"'And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.

"'And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;

"'And there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest'" [Moses 7:62-64] (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:103-6).

"This New Jerusalem on the American continent will have a dual origin. It will be built by the saints on earth and it will also come down from heaven, and the cities so originating will be united into one holy city" (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 532).

"Enoch and his people, being translated, were taken away from the carnal and evil society of the world. But they went with the promise that when the earth was cleansed and made new, they would return again. Speaking of the latter days, after the restoration of the gospel, the Lord said to Enoch: 'Righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.' The New Jerusalem in Jackson County will be built before the Second Coming" (McConkie, New Witness, 590).

Land Masses Become One and Earth Returns to Paradisiacal Glory

"And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided" (D&C 133:24).

"When the Millennium is ushered in, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. It will be renewed and will receive again its paradisiacal glory. The islands and continents will come together again, and there will be one land mass, as it was in the days before it was divided. It will become a terrestrial sphere. As it was baptized in water in the days of Noah, so it shall be baptized by fire in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ. The entire vineyard will be burned and the wicked will be as stubble" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 356-57).

"'And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.' Surely this has reference to the continents becoming one land again" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 381).

"This is the time when the earth's land masses shall unite; when islands and continents shall become one land; when every valley shall be exalted and every mountain shall be made low; when the rugged terrain of today shall level out into a millennial garden; when the great deep shall be driven back into its own place in the north. It is no wonder that the earthquake shall exceed all others in the entire history of the world" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 397).

"In this day of burning there will be the new heavens and the new earth of which the revelations speak. The earth will become again a paradisiacal or terrestrial sphere. It will be renewed and be as it originally was in the day of the Garden of Eden" (McConkie, Millennial Messiah, 536; see also 413, 623).

The Celestial Jerusalem

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb. 9:24).

"And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

"And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.

"And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.

"And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

"And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.

"And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev. 21:22-27).

"And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever" (Rev. 22:5).

"After the close of the millennial reign we are informed that Satan, who was bound during the millennium, shall be loosed and go forth to deceive the nations. Then will come the end. The earth will die and be purified and receive its resurrection. During this cleansing period the City Zion, or New Jerusalem, will be taken from the earth; and when the earth is prepared for the celestial glory, the city will come down according to the prediction in the Book of Revelation" (Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions, 2:105).