. Quote some
scriptural passage on the gathering. 3. Where was the first gathering
place? 4. Locate Kirtland. 5. Tell about Joseph's first visit to Kirtland.
6. Who was Newel K. Whitney? 7. When did most of the Saints move to
Kirtland? 8. Tell what you can about Orson Pratt? 9. Name some of his
books. 10. What high position did Sidney Rigdon hold? 11. Why did he leave
the Church? 12. Tell about Thomas B. Marsh.

CHAPTER XII.

THE LAND OF ZION.

The Book of Mormon (13th chapter of Ether) tells us that this land of
America is a "choice land above all other lands;" and the Lord has said
that the people who lived here must serve him or in time be destroyed. This
you will remember was proved so often in the history of the Nephites.

Strictly speaking, the whole of America is the land of Zion, but the Lord
revealed to Joseph that there should be a "center place," where a great
city should be build which should be called the city of Zion, or the New
Jerusalem. This city will be the capital or in the center of a large
district of country full of people who serve the Lord. A grand temple will
be built in the central city, and the glory of the Lord will rest upon it
by day and by night. Then shall there be peace in the earth for a thousand
years, and the Saints will be busy working to save all the people who live
or have ever lived on the earth. Jesus with his angels will no doubt visit
the earth from time to time to look after his work at this glorious period.

Now all this was to have a beginning, one of these small beginnings we have
spoken about.

June 7th, 1831, the Prophet Joseph received a revelation instructing him
and twenty-eight other elders to go on missions. They were to travel two
and two by different routes through the Western states, preaching the
gospel and building up the Church on the way. They were to meet in the
state of Missouri about a thousand miles from Kirtland and there hold a
conference. At this time, if they were faithful, the Lord would reveal to
them the location of the central place and the spot where the temple should
sometime stand.

The brethren went on their missions as they had been instructed, and Joseph
and his party arrived at Independence, Missouri, about the middle of July,
1831. Oliver Cowdery and the other brethren who had been sent on the
mission to the Indians, you will recollect, stopped at Independence. They
were very glad to meet Joseph and his companions again.

S