Israel began to wander from unity that a temple society required. So, a system
of cities and of capital cities began to develop. The capital city had the
tabernacle with temple courtyards large enough to handle tens of thousands of
worthy Israelites to teach and remind them of ordinances that still applied to
the whole Zion society. There still was an outer ring for the multitude that
circled a center ring that was under the priestly Levite administration. Only
worthy members were able to be brought through the priestly courtyard to
participate in ordinances and sacrifices that occurred in the higher priestly
part of the temple with its altar in front of the "Holy of Holies"
Temple Courtyards Changed to Sacred Temple Buildings:
They kept a telestial, terrestrial, and celestial identity and instructions are
given to prepare the people to become a Zion society again. Its priestly
environment band ordinances are designed to bring us back into the Lord’s
presence not only in the life to come but in the present.
A Return to Temple Cities and a Temple Society:
We will once again have two capital cities, the Lord’s cities of new and old
Jerusalem. We are preparing to be the Lord’s people, dwelling with him in his
cities. "It is ordained that in Zion . . . and in Jerusalem . . . shall be
the places for your baptisms of your dead." (D & C 124:35)
". . . Such was in the day of Enoch . . . so faithful were the saints that
the Lord, the Great Jehovah, ‘came and dwelt with his people,’ even as he
will in the millennial era that is to be." (Bruce R. McConkie, The
Mortal Messiah, Vol.1, p.84) "And he spake also concerning the
house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come . . . it should
be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord . . ." (Ether
13:5) There is a parallel of old Zion and new Zion. The Lord will come
and He will dwell in his cities. That means that the highest degree of sanctity
and cleanliness must exist in these cities. It is the same sacredness that any
temple building requires. It will require us to be a "temple society."
Two Headquarters:
"Jerusalem of old . . . 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 heads shall be conferred
‘the richer blessings’." (Joseph Fielding Smith Jr.,
Doctrines of Salvation, Vol.3, p.69 - p.70) "Now there are two cites spoken of
here. As everything cannot be had in so narrow a compass as a letter, 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 13:1-12)" (Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Two 1834-37 p.86)
Signs of the Times, a Preparation:
The conflicts that precede this great era are a refining fire. We are fortunate
to have prophetic indications so that we can prepare ourselves for the future.
As for the land of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, there are specific signs
and even time frames to guide us through future peril. As some see it, a
five-phase era brings us to and through the "Armageddon" scenario.
(1) World Turns Against Israel:
Hasn’t the UN practiced this already? ". . . In a measure never before
manifest on earth, when all nations gather against Jerusalem in the days of the
coming Armageddon. This Nephi knew, and this we know." (Bruce
R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p.435)
(2) Armies of
200,000,000 Gather Against Israel - Two Prophets Hold Them Back: Is that the
size of the army or is it like the army of more than three hundred million
people that was gathered for the Gulf War? Two prophets will hold them back for
three-and-a-half years. (They will have political, military as well as spiritual
influence.) (Revelation 9:16) (Revelation 11:2-4)
(3) Prophets
Killed, Lie Dead Three and a Half Days: A great holocaust ensues where the
prophets will lie dead in the streets for three-and-a-half days. (One third of
the population of Israel as well as two thirds of the population of Jerusalem
perishes.) (Revelation 11:4-12) (Revelation 9:17-18 - see also 16:14-21)
(Zechariah 13:8-9 - see also 11, 12, 13)
(4) Heavenly
Manifestation and Deliverance Follow: The Mount of Olives cleaves in two,
the besieged of Jerusalem are freed. (Zechariah 14:2-5)
(5) Great Healing
Begins: It will take seven months to bury the dead and the instruments of
war will provide seven years of fuel for the survivors. (Ezekiel 39:9-12)
Safety Through Spiritual Strength:
The inspiration that carries us through all of the Signs of the Times comes from
the worthiness to dwell with our God, here and now. "And the LORD will
create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies,
a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon
all the glory shall be a defense." (Isaiah 4:5) In picturing
the "city temple" scene from our own home in Jerusalem, my sweetheart,
Marilyn, said to me, "Daniel, that means you’ll have to have a temple
recommend to carry out the trash!" Our goal is to make our home worthy of
being part of a temple city, always open to welcome our Savior.