Moses 6:27 - Preachers of Righteousness

Moses 6:27 And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people.

Reading the story of Enoch and the establishment of Zion in his day brings into focus techniques the Lord will use to establish Zion in our day. Prior to the Lord’s second coming to the earth, Zion will be established once more upon the earth. Every time we see this Zion footprint appear in scripture there are characteristic similarities. One of the most notable characteristics is that there is always a preacher of righteousness who initiates the call (for lack of a better word) and around whom holy people gather.

Preachers of Righteousness 

Each time a Zion people arise, they are led by a preacher of righteousness, a man called of God and given power from heaven. Not every attempt to establish a Zion people was successful, in fact, there are few successes, but each occurrence is similar, from the time of Enoch to Noah, Melchizedek, Moses, Mosiah, Jesus, and even Joseph Smith. 

What we will find in common with all of these preachers of righteousness is that 1) they were all called by God directly and spoke with God face to face, 2) they were prophets, seers, and revelators: each called to a ministry to preach and prophesy, reveal new doctrines (or rediscover old ones), and given ability to see things unseen, 3) they each had power given them from heaven to seal on earth and in heaven with power over the elements; and 4) they were all personal examples of righteousness.

ENOCH - A Seer Hath the Lord Raised Up

Foremost is Enoch who established the first city of Zion, to which we all look as an example and await its return to the earth. Without much commentary, I'll let the scriptures describe these men. As he traveled among the people, “the Spirit of God descended out of heaven, and abode upon him. And he heard the voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people” (Moses 6:26-27). He continues: "And I saw the Lord; and he stood before my face, and he talked with me, even as a man talketh one with another, face to face" (Moses 7:4).

The Lord said to Enoch: "Anoint thine eyes with clay, and wash them, and thou shalt see... And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people” (Moses 6:35-36).

Enoch was a man of exceeding faith. His faith in Christ was so great that by simply speaking the word of God “the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course (Moses 7:13). Paul said, "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrew 11:5-6).

NOAH - Perfect in His Generation

Though Noah "prophesied and taught the things of God, even as it was in the beginning," (Moses 8:16) for more than 120 years before the flood came, the people would not hearken to the Lord. Zion was never established during Noah's time in the sense we view Enoch's day, not for lack of trying. Though, in a way, Noah was able to establish a type or example of Zion, where they communed with God and were of one heart and mind. I included Noah in this list of prophets because of his qualifications from the Lord and to demonstrate that it does not take many for the Lord to establish Zion: Noah had only eight souls.

"The Lord ordained Noah after his own order, and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch. And it came to pass that Noah called upon the children of men that they should repent; but they hearkened not unto his words.... And thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and he walked with God, as did also his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Moses 8:19-20, 27).

Paul also commended the exceptional faith of Noah, like his father Enoch: "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith (Hebrews 11:7). Peter also said of Noah, "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly (Peter 2:5 ).

MELCHIZEDEK - The Prince of Peace

Not much is known about the great high priest, Melchizedek. It is believed that he is the same person as Shem, of whom it was demonstrated above "walked with God" (Moses 8:27). The Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis states: "Now Melchizedek was a man of faith, who wrought righteousness; and when a child he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire. And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained an high priest after the order of the covenant which God made with Enoch, It being after the order of the Son of God; which order came, not by man, nor the will of man; neither by father nor mother; neither by beginning of days nor end of years; but of God; And it was delivered unto men by the calling of his own voice, according to his own will, unto as many as believed on his name. 

"And now, Melchizedek was a priest of this order; therefore he obtained peace in Salem, and was called the Prince of peace. And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world; And hath said, and sworn with an oath, that the heavens and the earth should come together; and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire. And this Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the king of heaven by his people, or, in other words, the King of peace." (JST Genesis 14:26-29, 33-36).

MOSES - Like Unto God

Unlike Melchizedek, we know quite a bit about Moses. I'll try to keep it brief here to only that which satisfies the point of this discussion. I would be surprised if there were many who did not know the full history of Moses, or at least many of the major points of his ministry. He was initially called to redeem Israel temporally when he came across the burning bush. Just as Enoch, Moses was given power over the elements. Additionally, Moses "saw God face to face and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence" (Moses 1:2).

Moses attempted to bring the children of Israel to the face of God and establish a Zion caliber people, but the people distanced themselves from the Lord "and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak though with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 19:19-20). Moses "plainly taught...the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God; But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence" (D&C 84:23-24).

God told Miriam and Aaron, "Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold" (Numbers 12:6-8).

Speaking of Zion, the Lord said the following about Moses: "Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel. For ye are the children of Israel, and of the seed of Abraham, and ye must needs be led out of bondage by power, and with a stretched-out arm. And as your fathers were led at the first, even so shall the redemption of Zion be" (D&C 103:15-18).

JESUS CHRIST - The Son of God

I will not list the many evidences of Jesus Christ's authority or calling as a preacher of righteousness, for he is the personification of righteousness. Though he knew his mission was not to establish Zion at the meridian of time among the Jews, he did preach to a hardened generation, much like Noah. And his teachings are the crux of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. These are the terms by which men are judged and the conditions on which they either rise to the spiritual level of Zion or descend to a lower level. 

Though he did not establish Zion (as yet), there is compelling evidence suggesting a Zion-type society was established among the Nephites after the Lord visited the American continent. Nephi writes: "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, there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free and partakers of the heavenly gift (4 Nephi 1:2-3). That sounds pretty close to Zion to me. One thing they lacked was the longevity of Enoch's city of righteousness.

JOSEPH SMITH - Inspired to Move the Cause of Zion

The most recent prophet to attempt to establish Zion is Joseph Smith. Much of his effort went into preparing a people who would ascend to that level of spirituality. The Lord God said to the first six members of the church: “Him [Joseph Smith] have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard. Yea, his weeping for Zion I have seen” (D&C 21:7-8).

The Lord testified, “Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments” (D&C 1:17). Joseph Smith's own words record his first communion with Christ: "I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other--This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him" (Joseph Smith-History 1:17).

It is clear that not only was Joseph called by the voice of God, he was truly a prophet, a seer, and a revelator in the full sense of each title. The Doctrine and Covenants are just some of the many prophesies and revelations he had, and he was a man of vision, seeing and knowing God. Some of his greatest works include his translation and revision of ancient scripture. Much of what he received and revealed related to the building of a city of Zion and the development of a Zion people.

??? - The End-Time Preacher of Righteousness

In days to come, another prophet will arise. The Lord said that this coming servant of God will be much like Moses. "Behold, I say unto you, the redemption of Zion must needs come by power; Therefore, I will raise up unto my people a man, who shall lead them like as Moses led the children of Israel" (D&C 103:15-16). Isaiah predicts a “righteous man” being called in the end-times who will establish Zion and prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. This is foreshadowed in Isaiah's work by several historical characters, most notably Abraham, Moses and David. It is clear that Enoch also foreshadows this coming prophet, as well as the other preachers of righteousness throughout the history of man, including Noah, Melchizedek and Moses. 

“Keep silence before me, O islands; and let the people renew their strength: let them come near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment. Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him rule over kings? he gave them as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow” (Isaiah 41:1-2). 

Again Isaiah writes, “Also, saith the Lord; I the Lord, yea, I have spoken; yea, I have called him to declare, I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous. Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. And thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I have sent him, the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit, who leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go, hath done it” (1 Nephi 20:15-17, see also Isaiah 48:15-17).

The Lord calls this servant to “raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel” and also to be a “light to the Gentiles" (Isaiah 49:6). This is the same servant who will “set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” (Isaiah 11:12), or in other words, he will establish Zion.

As we look forward to the establishment of Zion in these last days, we should keep our eyes focused on the calling by God of a modern-day Enoch, a modern-day Moses, a modern-day preacher of righteousness. Are we prepared to follow such a man?