"For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee."
Sometimes i find it funny how you can hear about something over and over and over again, but until you really are experiencing it, that thing has no real importance to you. I have experienced this, yet again, as I return home from my Moscow international BRANCH.
The first presidency talks about it a lot. You hear it in the ensign, in gospel doctrines, in sacrament meeting, and surely in scripture.
But what does it REALLY mean to build up Zion?
Every Sunday I am surrounded by wonderful people from all over the world. Some members are from the Philippians, some from Africa, Germany, France, the States, and Russia.. and all though we all have different backgrounds and reasons for being here, we all have one thing in common.
The gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we were moved to think about such a glorious thing, our Sunday school teacher offered up his testimony of his purpose in Russia at this time. He reverently explained that right after he got his call to serve here, he began to read Isaiah 54, and was immediately filled with such overwhelming emotions. He knew he was being sent as a direct builder of Zion. He was being sent as an answer from God. and he knew We ALL are sent, as answers from God.
He then pointed out two pictures he had posted on the board. One was of the Kiev temple, and the other of Hitler and the swastika sign. He asked us why we think he had posted these two pictures side by side, after a few responses he called a native Russian speaker to read these lines from Isaiah, "In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. "
Her accent and tone of reverence and gratitude as she read this scripture, combined with the spirit hit me with full force. I AM a Zion builder.
Not too long ago Berlin Germany was darkened by the Iron curtain, president Kimball spoke and said that if people would put Zion in their hearts, Iron curtains would fall. He was right. Now, "Is not our call here to build Zion?"
There is no more communism. People are being freed from oppression and fear. They, and we, can freely build Zion now. In a place, not long ago, others would have never believed possible. We can build Zion not only in our hearts, but as in Berlin, now in Moscow Russia. A city begging for truth and light.
Building Zion is not easy. It takes time, lots of it. It takes patience, and endurance, and faith. We must, if we want to do this successfully, roll up our sleeves and lengthen our cords. Perhaps if you were a boy scout, or a lover of camping, you would know that if you put your stake in the ground only a foot away from you tent.. come rain or wind, your tent would surely be beaten down. This is due to the angle in which your stake was placed. However, if you carry your stake farther from your tent, stretch your cords, in this same storm, your tent will most likely remain strong. We need to do the same for our own personal cords. As Latter Day Saints, no matter where we are going, or where we are now, we need to be always, and continually, stretching our testimonies, our strengths, our talents, and our visions as far as we can! This is our purpose. The Lord is emptying the world of Iron Curtains. The time has come to preach the gospel among all nations & to fill it with houses of peace.
This was the very basis of what was expressed today. I am still amazed at the feelings that were in that room. It was such a straight forward, powerful, call to duty. One that I surely can testify bares truth.
Berlin Germany was ready. Kiev was ready. and now, Moscow is ready. Its time to build a Zion, to build a stake, and in the words of Isaiah, "gather together." This gospel was not meant for only St. George, not only for Utah, or the United States, but for all the world.
Lets Build Zion!
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
(in Russian)
