FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE - JUNE CONFERENCE

The following message by President Heber J. Grant was read by President David O. McKay at the June Conference session under the direction of the First Presidency, Sunday afternoon, June 9, 1940.

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While the scripture text itself comes from ancient Israel and Palestine, yet it has a deep and vital meaning to and for us of this land -- the land of Zion, the American hemisphere.

The Law of the Hemisphere

From the very beginning of man's life on earth, there have been comnmandments for our fathers and laws for our mothers that were basic to the peace, prosperity, happiness, and indeed existence, of those who possess the Americas.

One of the great motifs running through the whole Nephitic and Jareditic records is that this land of ours "is a land which is choice above all other lands," consecrated to the blessing of those dwelling thereon while they shall live righteously, but plagued with a curse for them when they shall become ripened in iniquity. This is the law by which God measures His bounties and metes out His punishments to the peoples dwelling in this land.

A first great consecration for blessing came when God planted hereon the Garden of Eden, and placed therein our first parents. The primal curse came to it when 'Adam having fallen that man might be,' (2 Ne. 2:25), God said to him: "cursed shall be the ground for thy sake." (Moses 4:23.)

A Mighty Land

This has always been a mighty land in God's plan. It was in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman that Adam, prior to his death, called the great high priests together and there bestowed upon them his last blessing. The Lord appearing there, his posterity proclaimed Adam to be Michael, the Prince, the Archangel. (D&C 107:53, 54.) It is to that same spot that Adam, as the Ancient of Days, shall come to visit his people (D&C 116), when judgment shall be set and the books opened. (Dan. 7:9 ff; Rev. 20:4.)

It is here on this land that the New Jerusalem shall be built "unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph" ourselves and those others, the literal descendants of Lehi, (Eth. 13:5 ff; 1 Ne. 14:1, 2; 2 Ne. 10:18.) And finally, it is here on this hemisphere that Zion shall be built. (Tenth Article of Faith.) It is this fact and purpose, the building of Zion on this hemisphere, which is Zion, which seem to be the dominant elements in all of God's dealings with them who possess this land, for Isaiah, speaking more than 2,500 years ago, declared that “out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." (Isa. 2:3.)