The Saints in 1833 were split between two Zions and were commanded to build two temples to bless God’s people. Doctrine and Covenants 94–97 makes the commandment of building temples a priority. Today, temples are still being constructed across the many places we call Zion. And for those of us not on the building committee, we can still make visiting and honoring the house of the Lord a personal priority.
Segment 1
Scriptures:
D&C 95:1 (Whom I love, I chasten)
D&C 97:5,28 (Multiplicity of blessings)
D&C 94:7 (Wholly dedicated)
D&C 95:6 (Turn to the light)
Segment 2
Scriptures:
D&C 94:1 (Commence the building of God’s house)
D&C 94:3,10,16 (Two buildings)
Moses 7:18 (Pattern of Zion)
D&C 64:21 (God’s plan for the saints in Kirtland)
Segment 3
Scriptures:
D&C 95:1-2 (Whom I love, I chasten)
D&C 136:31 (Bear chastisement)
Words of the General Authorities:
I heard a voice, and I recognized the tone of this voice. It was my own voice, and the voice said, ‘I am the gardener here. I know what I want you to do.’ The bitterness went out of my soul, and I fell on my knees by the cot to ask forgiveness for my ungratefulness…And now, almost fifty years later, I look up to [God] and say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for cutting me down, for loving me enough to hurt me.’ (Hugh B. Brown, “The Currant Bush”, January 1973 New Era, also relayed by D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”, April 2011 General Conference)
Divine chastening has at least three purposes: (1) to persuade us to repent, (2) to refine and sanctify us, and (3) at times to redirect our course in life to what God knows is a better path. (D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”, April 2011 General Conference)
Most of us think that being without sin is the purpose of mortality. It is not! It is to incrementally, line upon line, precept upon precept with God’s help, through the enabling power of the Savior’s atonement to become more like Them. (David A. Bednar, social media post, May 4, 2025)
We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that “great and dreadful day.” (Russell M. Nelson, “Confidence in the Presence of God”, April 2025 General Conference)
Segment 4
Scriptures:
D&C 95:3,8-13 (Build the temple…now)
D&C 88:119 (Organize and prepare the house of God)
D&C 95:4 (God’s strange act)
CR: Isaiah 28:21
Translations:
Strange - nāḵrî (nokree) = Unknown, unfamiliar or foreign (Hebrew)
Words of the General Authorities:
If you have reasonable access to a temple, I urge you to find a way to make an appointment regularly with the Lord—to be in His holy house—then keep that appointment with exactness and joy. I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples. (Russell M. Nelson, “Becoming Exemplary Latter-day Saints”, October 2018 General Conference)
If you don’t yet love to attend the temple, go more often—not less…He wants you to have spiritual insights and awakenings you’ve never had before. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation”, October 2021 General Conference)
Segment 5
Scriptures:
D&C 97:1 (Zion in Missouri is struggling)
D&C 97:15 (God’s glory in His house)
D&C 97:8 (Sacrifice for covenants)
Words of the General Authorities:
Eventually, much of our chastening should come from within—we should become self-correcting. (D. Todd Christofferson, “As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten”, April 2011 General Conference)
Segment 6
Scriptures:
D&C 97:18-28 (The what and where of Zion)
Words of the General Authorities:
We are in the midst of the ocean. A storm comes on, and, as sailors say, she labors very hard. “I am not going to stay here,” says one; “I don’t believe this is the ‘Ship Zion.’” “But we are in the midst of the ocean.” “I don’t care, I am not going to stay here.” Off goes the coat, and he jumps overboard. Will he not be drowned? Yes. So with those who leave this Church. It is the “Old Ship Zion,” let us stay in it. (Brigham Young, “The Power of Evil”, Discourses of Brigham Young, also referenced in Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Chapter 12: Preventing Personal Apostasy, and “Stay in the Boat and Hold On!”, M. Russell Ballard, October 2014 General Conference)
View transcript here.