Becoming the Pure in Heart

My quotes come from a talk given by Spencer W. Kimball in 1978 called Becoming the Pure in Heart.

http://lds.org/generalconference/1978/04/becomingthepureinheart?lang=eng&query=redemption+zion

“This day will come; it is our destiny to help bring it about! Doesn’t it motivate you to lengthen your stride and quicken your pace as you do your part in the great sanctifying work of the kingdom? It does me. It causes me to rejoice over the many opportunities for service and sacrifice afforded me and my family as we seek to do our part in establishing Zion.”

The Lord in D&C is trying to teach what Zion means and that the people in Missouri need to keep that pure heart even in their trials and tribulations. The saints were establishing Zion there as we must strive to establish Zion wherever we are. We can do that through service to others and sacrifice like President Kimball talks about. It gives it even greater meaning and importance if you do it individually and as a family.

“This state of affairs stands in marked contrast to the Zion the Lord seeks to establish through his covenant people. Zion can be built up only among those who are the pure in heart, not a people torn by covetousness or greed, but a pure and selfless people. Not a people who are pure in appearance, rather a people who are pure in heart. Zion is to be in the world and not of the world, not dulled by a sense of carnal security, nor paralyzed by materialism. No, Zion is not things of the lower, but of the higher order, things that exalt the mind and sanctify the heart.”

I love this definition of a zion people. These are qualities that everyone should have as we all strive to be more Christlike. That is what we are ultimately striving for, to be pure in heart or perfecting ourselves to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father. We need to always be thinking of others and not get caught up in worldly things. We always need to be striving higher and higher to look up and reach upward towards our Father.

Zion is “every man seeking the interest of his neighbor, and doing all things with an eye single to the glory of God.” (D&C 82:19.) As I understand these matters, Zion can be established only by those who are pure in heart, and who labor for Zion, for “the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.” (2 Ne. 26:31.)

I know that it is not easy to be pure in heart and we may be always striving to build up Zion and we get closer and closer but life happens and our natural men come out and we mess up again and again. Sometimes it feels like we are taking one step forward and two steps back. But I have faith that through Christ and with his help and strength in our lives we can progress and become better people and build up Zion no matter where we are.