Letter # 15, December 4, 2008

Dear Enoch,

I think I have figured out how to get more input from you and those you love and inspire. When I began these short letters to you, I was "sort of" inviting you into my dreams, my house, my temple-time, to teach me and instruct me. What an error. I have had insights, and ideas come to me, and I am sure they came from you.

I have learned many things. I have learned that the quest for Zion and establishing Zion is an individual thing, but as Elder Christopherson said in conference, Christ when he comes will be looking for a Zion-people. There needs to be just more than one, more than two, but a "Group of people.". What does that mean?

I have learned that seeking Zion, fulfilling our covenant to give all that we have to build up Zion takes more than just a once-in-a-while thought. It is something constant. It needs to be something that is always in our mind. It is a concept that we should be thinking about each day of the week, every hour, it should influence every aspect of our life.

Since I am so weak, and since I don't seem to do it alone, I have learned from others something that MAY work.

I am creating an additional blog. Stephen Covey, who is a well respected leader in our time, has suggested that we should surround ourselves with others who feel the same as we do, those who have different experiences, those who share our vision and we should hold what he calls a "round table." We need to discuss our common goal in order to learn from each other. We should call upon everyone else to share their thoughts and ideas, which in turn will help each of us learn more. Everyone has different insights, and putting them "on the table" will definitely help us learn.

Therefore, I am creating this blog and inviting anyone who wants to post to this blog their feelings and thoughts to do so. I am sure it will help us all if we read and try to learn from this type of a set up. Enoch cannot visit us all, but he can give each one of us different ideas and suggestions, which if shared will help the whole group. So, please consider giving me your email address, and I will post your address so you can add your feelings and comments as you post your thoughts on creating a Zion and finding a people interested in this common goal.

Therefore, if you would like to share your thoughts, or just read those of others, please go to www.thezionchronicles.blogspot.com

Please do not be afraid or embarrassed to add your thoughts, we are all trying to understand and make progress toward this. Everyone thoughts are welcome and asked for.

Thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving, Letter # 14, November 27, 2008

Dear Enoch,



I would assume that this day would nothing special where you are. You see, we pause today to consider our blessings, try to forget our trials and afflictions and realize how blessed we are. We give thanks, pray, gather with friends and family AND EAT.



I would assume that every day is like Thanksgiving, and even Christmas where you are. But we, in this mortality, need the reason to pause, counts blessings, feel gratitudee, and improve in our lives. It is sort of like our quest to establish Zion. The founding/ruling fathers have specified that the fourth Thursday of November we all express thanks. I sort of wish that the "Eternal Fathers" would create a day once a year to remember, work toward, consider progress, etc in our quest to fulfill this dream of creating Zion.


Rather than once a year, perhaps once a month, or even once a week, or even one hour every day, we need something to remind us about our inner desire to work toward this coveted state.

Why wait for once a year, as we do now to express gratitude, take a whole day to ponder of how blessed we are. Why can't we create our own regular time to remember and dwell upon our desire for Zion?

Three fellow-Saints commented that we cannot purify ourselves. How true. We need the Savior. We need the help of others. We need encouragement from many different sources. And, we also know what we should be doing to work toward this goal, but do we do it? Do we have a list to follow? Are we trying, or is it something that just once in a while hits us over the head, we think about it for a few minutes, an hour, or even a day, then return to our own challenges and forget our overall challenge to purify ourselves, work with others in creating a Zion?

I do appreciate the comments of others, for it gives me input and direction, helps and encouragement also. We all need it. We need help. It took you many years, but as I view the condition of the world, I really don't believe that we have as long as you took to create a city, to create a Zion that our Savior will find as He returns with your City of Zion.

We need to be at work NOW. If it means creating a daily list how we can create Zion in our own lives, purify ourselves, then so be it, make the list. If it requires adding comments to this crazy blog just to remind us of our goals, so be it. Whatever each of us needs, we should dedicate ourselves to make progress toward it each day.

Happy Thanksgiving Enoch. We pause today and remember you, your selfless service, and your successes. Wish us luck, inspiration, and ultimate success. Please send help and direction for we all desire to be involved in those people who are a part of this glorious latter day Zion.

I continue to ponder in my mind....

Brother Enoch,

As I covenanted in the temple to give all that I have, all that I will be blessed with to the cause of Zion, I still wonder if that means I need to first purify myself, and then seek to share with others, or does that mean I should share with others and get their input to assist me.

When you did your for over 300 years, did you spend the first 50 years purifying yourself and then start preaching to others? I am sure it was difficult, but you did it, your had enough following to translate your whole city.

I know we must prepare for a Zion, but I am still researching how. Please give whomever reads this insights and enough nerve to add their comments so we can all glean from each other? Thanks again for taking the time to read this when you are so busy.

Zerin

PS. (Those who wonder where the first letters to Enoch are and would desire copies of them, please send me an email and I shall copy them off and send them to you. seekingtobringforthzion@gmail.com)

Is this an individual goal?

As I review the words of Joseph Smith, I realize that Prophet Smith challenged all to be purified. Zion cannot be built on any other principle. When I recall and try to visualize the condition that existed the two hundred after Christ's visit, I can't help but believe that those wonderful saints were, indeed, purified.

Thus if I want to find "zion" today, then I need to follow Joseph's direction and purify myself. What a challenge. I am far from it.

However, as I listen to others, read conference talks, as I study, I get the feeling that there are others who feel as I do, who want to draw nearer to the Zion we are promised about in the Articles of Faith.

Therefore, I wonder if this is a individual goal, becoming a Zion people or is it something that many people can work toward, helping each other, working together, sharing insights about how to become this kind of people.

Just wondering....

Talking to my good friend Enoch

Dear Brother Enoch,

I am sure in your hundreds of years preaching Zion, you faced many obstacles. I am sure some of your major frustrations was to excite others to your visions and dreams of what is possible. I am sure you totally understood the visions of living in a Zion/Charity society, or with the laws of the Celestial Kingdom. Many years after you were on the earth, for many years following Christ's visit to the Americas, there was this type of living conditions.

I envision that same kind of life in our future. We are living in the last dispensation, and somewhere, someone has to begin in seeking out and preparing for this type of Celestial Condition.

I don't mean to express sadness, nor defeat, I just wanted you to know that in today's world, with the evil influences surrounding us everywhere, it is also challenging.

I continue to dream and anticipate the time will indeed come, and I want to be a part of it. So look down upon me, upon us and consider sending some insights again to help prepare us in our quest. Thanks for understanding.

The other letters to Enoch

I have been called to repentence, (tear tear) that some readers want the other previous letters. If that is truly the feelings of readers, then I shall publish them.

By the way, if anyone wants to invite anyone else to add feelings and follow this blog, it is fine with me.

I FEEL LIKE ENOCH

When I sent out this notice of my goals, I have not had anyone add to my blog, thus I am sure that you, brother Enoch, felt the same way, no one cares.

I envisioned that many would add comments, feelings, and their own desires about becoming Zion. Guess I am going to be like Noah, before the storm. No one listened, thought he was some crazy man, speaking on deaf ears, and going it alone.

I guess I can do that, but I was hoping that someone else would add their comments.

Letter # 13

Dear Enoch,

(First of all, those who are reading this, other than Enoch, sorry to infringe on your privacy, but I must write more to my Brother Enoch to keep this fresh in my mind, solely a personal thing. Just hit the delete button is you so desire.) (By the way, I have begun writing in a blogspot: becomingazionpeople.blogspot.com


I have a dear friend of mine who quoted Hugh Nibley saying

""Zion is a constant in time and place. It belongs to the order of the eternities. We're not making Zion here, but we're preparing the ground to receive it. We must be prepared to receive this glory; we don't produce it ourselves. We must be ready, so that we won't die of shock when we get it." Hugh Nibley
I understand his thought process. He is only thinking of me and my rantings and ravings. The brethren continually tell us that we do have a Zion here. Every pocket of Saints, every congregation is indeed a Zion. The brethren continually talk about the stakes of Zion. I am sure Brother Nibley was referring to the Zion that will come from the Heavens embodied in the City of Enoch which will return. We must be ready for this return, or we will be shocked, we will not be ready to live in that city.

Prophet Joseph said, "We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object..." If we are not of one heart, of one mind, when that times come, we will not be prepared to participate in that glorious day. Perhaps that is where I stand.
I have much to do to become of one heart and one mind. Again, the Prophet says to be purified.

Brother, if that is my quest, how do I start? What did you counsel your people to do to start to purify themselves? I know they needed to become a Zion People for you to take them with you, but what was the first step?

Your inspiration drew me to Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk of October Conference. He directs three steps. 1. Become unified in one heart and one mind. 2. To become individually and collectively a unifed people. 3. To care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate the poor among us.

He also quoted in the D and C "Zion cannot be build unless it is by the principles of the law of the Celestial Kingdom."

He again counsels that each of us should prayfully consider whether we are donig what we should and all that we should with respect to the poor and needy.

I guess the bottom line to what my dear friend is telling me is that the quest for Zion, becoming a Zion people, first must start with the individual. Me. I must do what I can do to be prepared to receive Zion when it returns to earth. I know I am not prepared yet. I know there is much to do. And I know that I cannot speak for anyone else. I know I must evaluate where I am and with your direction or inspiration, I must do what I can do to live the principles of the Celestial Kingdom.

I shall continue to write these letters, for they are for me to improve. I am sending these letters to others to read, enjoy or not. But until I am told not to send them, I shall continue.

I do appreciate you listening to this man trying to follow in your footsteps, trying to find insights and ideas so I can purify myself, become better and work, at least in my own mind to become Zion-like.

Zerin

Dear Enoch, Letter # 12

Dear Enoch,

I have realized that the main purpose of writing these letters is to get ME better prepared to be a Zion person. I know Christ will want to find a community, a group, a "bunch" of people who are seeking Zion, who are living the Celestial Life to welcome Him to earth for His Second Coming.

I have come to accept that I cannot, and should not nudge, encourage, nor try to inspure anyone else about this principle. For the first one that needs to be corrected, changed, motivated I look at each day in the mirror.

I was discussing this with my nephew this past week and we agreed that once in a while, and perhaps daily, we need to ask ourselves what we are doing to become better, perfecting ourselves. There is always more we can do. There are always steps we can make to become more like our Savior, and be "Establish Zion."

But first I must establish Zion in my own heart, in my own life.
That is difficult. I am continuously reminded that I am miles away from realizing this worthy goal. I have much to do.
I watch and recognize that the adversary continually "helps" me become frustrated with life, with my challenges, with my obstacles that seem to be so much more important than seeking Zion. I get "caught up" in just hanging in there with the struggles of life and often Zion goes out the window and I forget about it too long.

So dear Brother Enoch, I have started a blog, for I feel there are others who feel the same as I do, and they can add their feelings and ideas to help me, and if we help each other, then perhaps we can all make progress in working toward purifying ourselves.
In the Priesthood Manual/RS Manual, Brother Joseph also says that the first stop toward creating a Zion on our lives is purifying ourselves. If we keep Zion, that concept in front of us as a goal, then perhaps we can indeed make some progress toward becoming pure in our thoughts, our words, and of course our actions.

Hopefully this blog can help us keep that in front of us to build on each other's commitment to realizing this goal.

Enoch, please understand we all need as much help as we can get, and you are the expert. There are few who receive this letter, so please inspire us to think upon these words, help teach us how to become more pure, closer to the goal Joseph mentioned in creating a Zion people.

Thanks again for reading these humble words, and at least considering how to help us in our main objective.
We will talk later.

Zerin

Start of this Blog

I am new at this, but I feel this might be a way to get us all thinking and working toward this goal. Please feel free to respond, add, correct, or just add your thoughts about this blog. I am sure I need to do much more to make this more effective, but time will let me do that. Thanks for understanding, and let's make this a place where we can go and share ideas and concepts that we all can use to become more Zion-ish.