I wanted to add confirmation to what brian and abijah said. It's true that it will be built after the great tribulations but before Christ's coming (because that's where he will go to, and use his seat as. That's according to one source.) This is also...well I thought it was in the D&C but I had trouble finding it. In fact I was listening to it yesterday and heard it. What I also found interesting about it was the story of the Kirtland and Nauvoo temples being built in the midst of turmoil are sort of parables of it. It's quite interesting that this verse will in the future apply to the temple of New Jerusalem and not just Joseph Smith's days and it was meant to be a foreshadowing all along! Check this out;brianj wrote: ↑January 13th, 2018, 9:47 pmI don't think we can build the city before or at the start of the coming tribulations. Some land owners would refuse to sell, Satan would inspire other people to buy up the land for other purposes, and still others would be inspired to use all the effort they can to block issuance of construction permits.abijah wrote: ↑January 13th, 2018, 8:55 pmI agree with this. I think there is a distinction between the "latter days" and the "last days", and I believe the transition will be very tangible. Though I'm unsure as to how this aligns with the 6th and 7th seals, I reckon the building of Zion, whether in Missouri or Israel, will be a last days event, most likely commencing around the time of the tribulation. I think speculation for specific dates/years is a vain attempt, one simply needs to watch and be prepared for when the time comes.brianj wrote: ↑January 13th, 2018, 8:33 pm There are many modern prophecies of great social unrest in the US, North America, and the world. Actually, 'social unrest' is putting it way too mildly. This will be a period of great destruction and cleansing. After this period of cleansing, or perhaps during this time, construction of Zion will commence.
When's this period of cleansing going to begin, and how will the faithful be preserved? Those are the big questions we don't have answers for.
Doctrine and Covenants 109:5
5 For thou knowest that we have done this work through great tribulation; and out of our poverty we have given of our substance to build a house to thy name, that the Son of Man might have a place to manifest himself to his people. (So that we could show the widow's mite before the Lord comes back.)
Doctrine and Covenants 29:8
8 Wherefore the decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall be gathered in unto one place upon the face of this land, to prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked. (This verse you have to be tricky interpretting because gathered into one place could mean just that or it could mean into 'the stakes of Zion'. But there's also verses about people being sent to build up the waste places of Zion...and if there are waste places it could mean there are places that aren't quite ready yet or not strong enough.)
"...and they shall sing the song of the Lamb day and night..."
D&C 45
66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;
67 And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion.
68 And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.
70 And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.
71 And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.
72 And now I say unto you, keep these things from going abroad unto the world until it is expedient in me, that ye may accomplish this work in the eyes of the people, and in the eyes of your enemies, that they may not know your works until ye have accomplished the thing which I have commanded you;
73 That when they shall know it, that they may consider these things.
74 For when the Lord shall appear he shall be terrible unto them, that fear may seize upon them, and they shall stand afar off and tremble.
75 And all nations shall be afraid because of the terror of the Lord, and the power of his might. Even so. Amen.
(But if its built after the great tribulations then why would those last verses of D&C 45 be necessary.)
One tricky thing about scriptures is that you want several about a topic together so you don't get confused. One scripture will say the Saints will build it, but another will say Enoch and his people will built it, and so on. So you have to fit them together. And some scriptures have repeating patterns like another gathering of people around it.