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Any attempt to equate Zion exclusively with the location of the New Jerusalem contradicts the words of Joseph Smith:
"speaking of the Land of Zion, It consists of all N[orth] & S[outh] America but that any place where the Saints gather is Zion which every righteous man will build up for a place of safety for his children…The redemption of Zion is the redemption of all N[orth] & S[outh] America." [1]
The Bible Dictionary has the following definitions for "Zion:"
And what is Zion? In one sense Zion is the pure in heart. But is there a land that ever will be called Zion? Yes, brethren. What land is it? It is the land that the Lord gave to Jacob, who bequeathed it to his son Joseph and his posterity, and they inhabit it, and that land is North and South America. That is Zion as to land, as to territory, and location. The children of Zion have not yet much in their possession, but their territory is North and South America to begin with. [2]
You need not teach that this place is Zion, or that Nauvoo or Missouri is Zion; but tell the people that North and South America are the land of Zion… [3]
And it is not enough for us to embrace the gospel and to be gathered here to the land of Zion. [Pres. Taylor was speaking in Salt Lake City.] [4]
This land, North and South America, is the land of Zion; it is a choice land-the land that was given by promise from old father Jacob to his grandson and his descendants, the land on which the Zion of God should be established in the latter days. [5]
"This is our need today—to plant the standard of liberty among our people throughout the Americas… the struggle for liberty is a continuing one—it is with us in a very real sense today right here on this choice land of the Americas." [note]
"The Americas are the land of Joseph—the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, the land of the Nephites, the land of the Ephraimites who are gathering in the latter days." [note]
Church leaders and scripture have repeatedly taught that Zion, as understood by the Latter-day Saints, applies to the entire North and South American areas.
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