"For the Salvation of Zion"

Plat of the City of Zion, circa Early June–25 June 1833
ink and watercolor on paper, 16⅛ × 12¾ inches
Joseph Smith Papers Documents, Volume 3: February 1833–March 1834

Historical Reflections

“The readings for September begin and end with revelations about the Kirtland Temple. Sections 94 and 95 given in summer 1833 are about the temple’s construction; nearly three years later, in spring 1836, Joseph wrote section 109, the beautiful dedicatory prayer, and he and Oliver received section 110 the glorious revelation of Christ, Moses, Elias, and Elijah on the temple’s altar.

In between the two sets of temple revelations came disaster: the Saints were expelled from Jackson County. The land designated for their Zion was ripped away from them. Joseph was stunned. He had no answer to the question of why. After a period of darkness, revelation resumed, and directions were given for Zion’s Camp. The Camp accomplished little, but gradually it became clear that the way to recover Zion was through the temple. There, the Saints would receive the endowment of power that would enable them to overcome their enemies. Along the way, the work of organizing the priesthood went on. Section 102 explained the workings of the High Council and section 107 is the most detailed revelation we have on priesthood organization.”
- Richard Bushman

Art Companion

This large leaf, measuring about 16 × 13 inches, contains Joseph Smith’s envisoning of the Plat of the City of Zion. Sketched by Frederick G. Williams first in graphite, then inked and painted with watercolor, the map shows the proposed layout for a holy city—streets in light green, central blocks in faint sienna red. Folded and enclosed in a June 25, 1833, letter to Independence, Missouri, the document was an early attempt to visualize how Zion might literally take shape in the world.

For the early Saints, the building of Zion was not just symbolic but a literal concept. This plat, created in response to a revelation that chastened leaders for their lack of progress in gathering and temple-building, became an archetype for future Latter-day Saint city planning. According to the Joseph Smith Papers, it “represents the first detailed master plan for city development by the church’s presidency.” As both document and vision, the plat reflects the command to make places of gathering and worship, showing how heaven’s design could be sketched into earthly streets and homes.

Gospel Questions

1. Jesus chastens His people for failure to build a temple as commanded in Section 95. Contention distracted their focus (D&C 95:10). Has contention ever distracted you from something you knew you should do? How did you resolve the contention and move forward?

2. Education was foundational to the Church from the beginning (D&C 97:3-6; see also D&C 55:4; 88:118; 109:7). How has your life been blessed by education, either your own or someone else’s?

3. Jesus describes the yet-to-be-built temple as "a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and a place of instruction..." (D&C 97:13). How does gratitude play a role in your spiritual learning? (See also: consider the relationship of gratitude and temple instruction when reading Moroni 10:3-5).

For Children and Youth

Hi. When the early church leaders were thinking of what their towns should be like, they imagined places that included schools, homes, stores, temples, and more—all organized into a well-organized grid of buildings and open spaces. In the town or city where you live, you’ve probably never thought of someone creating a master plan for all these things, but LDS pioneer settlers often found themselves in wide open spaces that they could develop from scratch. It was like drawing a town from a blank people of paper. If you could design your own city, what would you put in it?

Gospel Questions

1. Your home is like a temple ("Only the home can compare with the temple in sacredness," Temple, Bible Dictionary). Jesus said that no "unclean thing" should go into the temple (D&C 94:8-9, see also D&C 97:15). How can you help to keep unclean things out of your home?

2. Jesus "chasteneth" those whom He loves (D&C 95:1). One of the meanings of chasten is to correct. When have you felt loved when someone has chastened you? What about the way the situation was handled made you feel loved?

3. Jesus teaches that Zion is "the pure in heart" (D&C 97:21; see also Moses 7:18). What does it mean to be pure in heart? How does being pure in heart help us to feel a Zion community with others? What can you do to make your family feel like Zion? What can you do to help your ward feel like Zion? What can you do to help your Primary class, your quorum or your Young Women's group feel like Zion?

Art Project

In describing the blessings that He will provide to Zion, Jesus says He will "multiply a multiplicity of blessings'' (D&C 97:28). What visual comes to mind for you when you read of a multiplied multiplicity? Think of something that evokes this mathematical image in your mind and display this reminder in a place that will help you remember your multiplicity of blessings. (Johnson Oatman, "Count Your Many Blessings," Hymn no. 241.)