D&C Section Fifty Seven

Joseph and the other brethren have traveled about a thousand miles across three states to Independence, Missouri. It has taken them more than a month to make the trip. To put it in perspective, it is about the same distance the pioneers traveled coming to Utah. The only difference was, there was more civilization for these brethren than there was for the pioneers. When they arrive in Independence, Joseph says it was a place of degradation, leanness of intellect, ferocity, and jealousy. He said the people were a century behind the times and it was a land without the benefit of civilization, refinement, or religion. Independence at that time was basically a trading post where the Sante Fe and Oregon Trails began. The prophet brought the brethren there as a result of the commandment of the Lord. They came with the expectation that they would learn where the city of Zion would be built. Through the Book of Mormon, they knew that it would be built on the American continent.

In earlier revelations, they learned it was in the west. Seeing the primitive conditions, the prophet prayed asking the Lord when the land would blossom in fulfillment of all the prophecies related to Zion. No doubt, they initially had to wonder if such a place as this would really become Zion. But the Lord revealed in this section that this was the place where the city of Zion would be built and for the first time the Lord teaches that where Zion is, there will be a temple also. The brethren are given three assignments, to set a printing business, to set up a store for supplies and earn money to purchase land, and to purchase land. The assignment to purchase land has not ended as their are men assigned by the church to purchase land in Missouri and specifically land in the Independence area. It seems I read once that the church is the largest single land holder in Missouri.

The principle of Zion will taught more extensively in later sections. And while the saints of the early church never did get to experience Zion or see the city built, these verses and sections will become increasingly important as we get closer to the second coming of the Lord. I would guess we will really sit up and take notice when the church gains possession of the temple site in Independence and begins building a temple there. That should stir a bit of excitement, more than any temple that has ever been built.