“Lesson 69—Doctrine and Covenants 57: How the Lord Builds Zion,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual (2025)
“Doctrine and Covenants 57,” Doctrine and Covenants Seminary Teacher Manual
Lesson 69: Doctrine and Covenants 51–57
Doctrine and Covenants 57
How the Lord Builds Zion
As the Lord revealed more about Zion to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Saints felt anxious and excited to be part of such a community. Once it was revealed where Zion was to be built, the Lord instructed certain individuals to begin establishing the community. This lesson is intended to help students feel a greater desire to become the Lord’s people by building Zion.
Possible Learning Activities
Zion
Consider showing a picture of the Savior.
Imagine you had the chance to live near Jesus Christ.
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What traits does He have that would make it enjoyable to live near Him?
Now imagine what it would feel like to live in a community full of people who strive to follow the teachings and example of Jesus Christ. An example of such a community occurred during Old Testament times with the people of Enoch.
Consider showing a picture of Enoch and his people and asking students what they know about this account in the scriptures.
Read Moses 7:18, looking for the traits of these people.
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What problems do we face today that would be solved or minimized in such a community?
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What do you think it took for these people to get to this point?
Take a moment to think about how living in a more Christlike way like the people of Zion could bless your life. As you study today, look for teachings that can help you better understand what you can do to help establish Zion around you.
The city of Zion
To help the students understand the context for the verses they will study today, read or summarize the following information. You could also read Saints, 1:118–19.
Shortly after the organization of the Church, many of the Saints became excited about establishing a community of Zion like Enoch’s people. The Lord had promised that there would be a city of Zion built up in the last days (see Doctrine and Covenants 45:65–71; Moses 7:62).
In June 1831, the Lord commanded Joseph Smith and a group of elders to travel about 800 miles (1,287 km) from Ohio to Missouri, where they would hold a conference and learn about the land of their inheritance (see Doctrine and Covenants 52:1–2, 5). The revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 57 was received when Joseph Smith and the elders arrived in Missouri in July 1831.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 57:1–3 to see what the Saints learned.
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Where did the Lord indicate the city of Zion would be built?
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What does verse 3 help you understand about the significance of the temple to the Lord?
Students may have questions about the Savior’s teachings in verses 1–3. It may be helpful to explain that the efforts of the Saints in the 1830s to establish a city of Zion in Independence, Missouri, were unsuccessful due to persecution. By 1838, the Saints were driven out of Missouri by their enemies.
Although the Lord has promised that there will be a future city of Zion built upon the American continent (see Articles of Faith 1:10), today we are counseled to build up Zion wherever we live by striving to live righteously and establishing the Church throughout the world (see “Zion,” Topics and Questions, topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).
Establishing the city of Zion
In the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 57, the Lord gave directions to some individuals to start building Zion.
One way you might help students learn from the following verses is to put them into groups of four and divide the verses up between group members (verses 6–7, 8–10, 11–12, 13–14). Each group member could identify the individual or individuals being addressed and what they were asked to do. Students could then share their findings with their group members.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 57:6–14, looking for what the Lord asked each of them to do.
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Why do you think the Lord asked different people to do different tasks?
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What does this teach us about the way the Lord builds Zion, His kingdom, on the earth?
Help students identify this principle: The Savior builds up Zion by using our individual abilities.
Explain that these men went to work and accomplished what the Lord asked them to do. Sacrificing much, they “planted” (see Doctrine and Covenants 57:8, 11, 14, 15) themselves in Missouri, a place without many conveniences on what was then the western border of the United States of America.
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How can it help us to understand that the Savior builds His kingdom in this way?
The Lord will likely not give you the same assignments to build up Zion as the individuals mentioned in these verses. However, He does ask us to build up Zion today. Through His prophets, He has encouraged us to build Zion wherever we live (see D. Todd Christofferson, “Come to Zion,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2008, 38).
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What are some ways you can establish Zion around you today?
You could invite students to think of specific aspects of their lives in which they can establish Zion, such as at home, in their ward or branch, at school, or in their other interactions.
As part of this discussion, consider using one or both of the following examples. Invite the students to think about how these examples help them better understand how they can build Zion around them.
Watch “Eyes to See” from time code 4:54 to 6:54 and “The Needs before Us” from time code 6:03 to 8:10. Both of these videos are available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Eyes to See
Sister Craig teaches that with the help of the Holy Ghost we can learn to see others and see ourselves as the Savior does.
The Needs before Us
Sister Oscarson teaches us to serve those closest to us: our families, friends, ward and community members. The essence of living the gospel is service.
Building Zion around you
Consider inviting the students to share experiences they have had or know about in which they or others have helped to establish Zion. Invite them to share the blessings they experienced because of these efforts.
Help learners intentionally strive to be more like Jesus Christ: As students share these experiences, they may identify ways that they or others are becoming more like Christ. For more practice on how you can point out ways they are becoming more like Christ, see the training “Observe Christlike attributes in students and share what you’ve noticed in ways that inspire them to continue to be like Him,” found in Teacher Development Skills: Focus on Jesus Christ training.
Then invite the students to answer one or both of the following questions in their study journals.
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What have you learned or felt about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ through your studies today?
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What have you felt prompted to do because of what you have studied?
If not too personal, invite a few students to share their thoughts. Testify of the truths you have discussed, and invite students to act on any promptings they may have had through the Holy Ghost to build Zion.