ZIONWORKS NEWS FOR APRIL 24th, 2025
WHY DID ADAM OBEY GOD?
Adam and Eve were given their privilege to think and act for themselves in the Garden. With that privilege and freedom, they made some mistakes and they grieved and suffered sorely for them. God said that he gave man(kind) his intelligence in the day that He created him. That’s amazing to think about; God granting us with the intelligence to comprehend both large and small aspects of the universe, the mind, and somewhat of the veil that separates earthly life from heavenly life. That’s an amazing and huge responsibility and privilege to place on us. Most, and probably all of us, have caused some real heartbreak and other damage to ourselves and others in the process of playing with a combination of knowledge, privileges, curiosities, emotions, excuses and temptations. None of us are near perfect and we fear our own propensity for mismanaging our personal resources, freedoms and responsibilities. God won’t take these freedoms away, so life will always be full of heavy responsibilities. A universe of knowledge and power entrusted to the stewardship of each of us is hard to imagine, but here it is in our hands.
Adam made some boo-boos with these powers and privileges and our hearts go out to him because we’re just like him when it comes to mistakes. Over a period of a lot of years, he did gain wisdom, responsibility and stewardship. So, when he was asked why he obeyed God, he didn’t describe his line of examination or reasoning; he simply said something like, “Because God said.” None of his privileges of thought and self-determination were forfeited by giving this answer.
So…maybe all of us think similarly…that when by trial and error, we realize that even with our powers of thinking, reason and rationale that we can’t out-think God, maybe we will think and act with the philosophy of “Because God said.”
God said to get out of Babylon. Do we need a line of ration to say, “OK, I’m on it because God said”? No. Although there are lots of historical and current reasons that support God’s directives, we can waste our lives trying to discover all of them while the opportunity passes. The scriptures have given God’s word and his specific directives for establishing his kingdom on the earth. “Get out of Babylon.” “Be not partakers of her plagues” is powerful reasoning and warning. It’s easy to see what circumstances plague those who entangle themselves in the commerce and culture of Babylon. Though the particulars of Zion’s cooperative operation are difficult to formulate, they are carefully explained in scripture. There is a topical concordance with explanations that is a great help called the Zionworks Preparation Guide. It gives details on how to gather to Zion, how to consecrate our surplus, how to work cooperatively and what the needs are that Zion must fill. The guide is not comprehensive because the Kingdom is interwoven in scripture from the beginning, but it is a good fundamental resource. A continual study of scripture will provide a continual growth of understanding of the kingdom. Ask for the Preparation Guide; it’s free.
The directions for operating Zion must come from Jesus and on his terms. They cannot and must not derive from man, though the desire for Zion must burn in the hearts and energies of its people.
ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF THE KINGDOM ON THE EARTH
From 0 AD to approximately 194 AD
4 Nephi 1-26
“And it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost. And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another; And they had all things common among them, therefore they were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; And all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus. And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly, in the land: yea, insomuch that they did build cities again where there had been cities burned; yea, even that great city Zarahemla did they cause to be built again. But there were many cities which had been sunk, and waters came up in the stead thereof; therefore these cities could not be renewed.
And now behold it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceeding fast, and became an exceeding fair and delightsome people. And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them. And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the Law of Moses, but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft, both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land, but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus. And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; And surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God: There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God; And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceeding rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.”
Beginning around 36 years after all had been baptized and lasting for another 158 years, miracles, prosperity and delightful times blessed this successful and growing group, as chronicled above. Then pride and arrogance began to creep in, many diverse churches sprang up that were contemptuous of the gospel and persecuted the “true church of Jesus Christ”. Nephites and Lamanites became separate enemies. Non-Christians taught their children to hate Christians. Secret oaths and covenants of the Gadianton organized crime and governmental syndicate were re-established. Both Nephites and Lamanites became wicked. Following was what was recorded as a great division. There is now, in our day, a great division forming on the earth already attended by miracles on one side and contempt for Christ on the other. Pray. Strengthen yourself in the Lord. Rejoice. Worship.
“And it shall come to pass that the Lord shall commence his work among all nations, kindreds, tongues and people to bring about the restoration of his people upon the earth. And with righteousness shall the Lord God judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth. And he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. For the time speedily cometh that the Lord shall cause a GREAT DIVISION among the people; and the wicked will he destroy; and he shall spare his people, yea even if it so be that he must destroy the wicked by fire.” 2nd Nephi 12:87-90
-----------------------------------------------
CALENDAR NEXT MEETING: This coming Sunday, April 27th at 2:00 pm at Central Branch, 919 S. Delaware, Independence. On the agenda: Fellowship, Watchman’s Report, working and planning for The Kingdom, praying together. All are welcome. Coming soon to be announced: Gardening field trips, special presentations, cooperative purchases.
CONTACT
With Christ and his love as our bond,
Your brothers and sisters at Zionworks News
