We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
The prophecy of the literal gathering of Israel has been fulfilled. The Jewish people have their own state again for the first time in millennia. So it makes me wonder why the LDS Church adopts its members into the tribes of Israel. This sort of spiritual restoration of the Ten Tribes if it can be called that is , if not in opposition to the literal gathering, at least superfluous to it. I have not received a patriarchal blessing, at least in part, because I am concerned about the spiritual and ethical ramifications of such an adoption. And in all honestly, assuming our priesthood has the God given authority to adopt people as sons of Abraham, I suppose myself more suited to the house of Ishmael. Latter Day Saints are in a unique position to bridge the gap between Israel and Ishmael, and now that the state of Israel has been literally restored the real work of spiritual reconciliation between the two great houses must begin.
The promise of a New Jerusalem is as old as the Revelation of John. It is the unique vision of Mormons that Zion will be built upon the American continent. When Smith first made this claim, he was treated with contempt by those outside the church. This contempt escalated to violence against the faithful and led to heavy persecution and eventually expulsion from Missouri where Joseph believed Zion would be founded. The violence has subsided, and Mormons have returned to the center of the North American continent, but we still wait for Zion. Perhaps the city for which we are looking isn’t a literal one but a community of faithful followers of Jesus Christ. I am increasingly convinced that this is the case. But perhaps we will find Zion on earth as this prophecy envisions. In either case, we must wait for God’s plan to unfold.
With all Christians, Latter Day Saints await the return of Jesus Christ. This return will mark the end of the world as we know it, and we are beginning to see the signs of this great change across the globe. These changes are among the principal reasons that I believe we are in the Latter Days. I prefer that term to the notion of Last Days because I believe we are seeing a new beginning rather than an end of everything that we know. The personal reign of Jesus Christ is another prophecy for which I expect the fulfillment to be spiritual more than literal. The promise of a political messiah was not what the prophecies of the Old Testament pointed. So, I am forced to wonder if the second coming will again be more of a spiritual revolution than a fleshly one. I await the Kingdom of God and believe that Jesus Christ will be the ruler of that kingdom, but do not believe the exact nature of God’s government will be known until it arrives. As Paul puts it, “we know in part, and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away” (1Cor 13:9-10).
This same principle applies to my hope for paradisiacal glory. There are many amazing prophecies of what the new earth will be like. I hope to live to see those prophecies fulfilled, but I am not impressed with people who wish to over-interpret those simple visions and imagine that they can describe in detail what has not yet occurred. It is not that I doubt the gift of prophecy, but rather that I am suspicious of those who think that prophecy is as accurate a discipline as history. I also worry that some negative ancient prophecies will become self-fulfilling. If, for instance, Armageddon is not intended to be a fleshly revolution, but people are determined to make it one, then God’s plan for a new earth may be delayed while Christians willfully engage in an unnecessary war. Our fragile home has already seen enough bloody battles in my opinion, but we continue to fall short in the spiritual warfare that will bring the prophecies of a new earth to fruition more quickly. I continue to pray for a peaceful solution to our current spiritual crisis and feel confident that paradisiacal glory can be a reality through the grace of God.
Latter Day Sinner 