Zion

Recently in class we've been talking a lot about the early days in the LDS Church and how the members tried to create Zion-like communities. They wanted a community where everyone was equal and loving, shared their stuff, gave to the less-fortunate, etc. Sadly, they were never able to make their attempts permanent, but the did try.

This has made me think a lot about our society as whole today in America. A Zion-type community is based on charity, putting others and their needs and wants before you and yours. It's sad to think about, but this ideal seems pretty far away from actually happening in today's culture. Most people think solely of themselves. We can see this pretty clearly with the rises in divorce, abuse, crime, drugs, war, etc. Most people think about themselves and act in a way that benefits themselves alone. Many people even do charitable things (like donating money/possessions to help people) because they get some kind of tax or other benefit out of it. It's a really sickening thing to see so much blatant selfishness in the world.

But, despite the bad things that are going on there's still hope. I thought of the story of Enoch and how the community that he lived in was called Zion and everyone helped each other and put others first. They didn't start out that way, they worked to become that way. If other human beings can work to set aside their differences -- but, not just their differences, to set aside themselves and concentrate on others, then a significant change can be made in this world and we can have Zion-like communities all over.

If everyone knows the good news of the Gospel, learns why they should help others and becomes truly convinced that that's right, then the world will change. So, all we have to do is spread the word.