{"id":41368,"date":"2021-01-31T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-31T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/?p=41368"},"modified":"2021-01-31T11:42:08","modified_gmt":"2021-01-31T16:42:08","slug":"at-home-with-nothing-to-do-try-a-zion-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesandseasons.org\/index.php\/2021\/01\/at-home-with-nothing-to-do-try-a-zion-project\/","title":{"rendered":"At Home with Nothing to do? Try a Zion Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am currently serving as the RS president in our ward. Basically I have spent the last almost year pining and waiting for things to get back to normal, but lately I have been thinking that maybe that is not at all what I want. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait until we can leave the house without masks and can be with people without it, you know, ending in death. But I’m also realizing, what better time to shake things up a bit?<\/p>\n

Firmly believing that if you’re going to do something you might as well do it big, and in honor of this year’s study of the Doctrine and Covenants, our Relief Society is going to put forth a concerted effort this year to create a Zion community, and we want to think outside of the box to do it. For example, many people think Zion is a place where everyone can be accepted, but it’s also a place where people are not free to hurt each other. There have to be some firm boundaries of accepted behavior. How do you see boundaries being implemented while at the same time appreciating diversity? What problematic behaviors do you think are deserving of patience and what ones cannot be tolerated under any circumstances? I have a million questions and I would love to get some ideas from you all. I would truly love to know what you picture when you think of what Zion could look like in your own home\/ward\/neighborhood. What are some specific experiences or ideas of what Zion is\/could be to you? What do you do when another’s idea of Zion differs? Please share your comments to help me think outside of my assumptions!<\/p>\n

(The following is an email I sent out to our Relief Society board to give you some idea of the direction we are going.)<\/p>\n

Sisters,<\/p>\n

I am so excited about this year and to see what comes from it. I have been thinking and praying and fasting about what we can do to facilitate our year of Zion building. There are a few things that we need to consider.<\/p>\n

I think that it is intentional that the teachings surrounding Zion in the scriptures are both specific and vague. There are certain laws that are universal to Zion communities. Service, consecration, kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, generosity, doctrinal understanding, etc. are all necessary and fundamental. These laws are what make Zion work. However, there is a lot that is not taught about Zion\u2014like how do we incorporate diversity? How do we know what and how to give, whether money, time, or other forms of help? What if not everyone in our community agrees with our world view? How do we handle tension and disagreements? There is so much that isn\u2019t specified and I believe that is because our Heavenly Parents and Savior want us to be active participants with them in creation. We are working with them to create a Zion that can meet the specific and varying needs of the specific and varying communities of Christ all over the world. As creators we do not always get to choose the material we get to work with, but we can work with our Heavenly Parents in taking what we have and striving together to make something beautiful. The doctrine that all things can work together for our good needs to be foundational to our work, and this means we will have to be willing to think outside of the box in creative and bold ways. For example:<\/p>\n