Zionomics: Conclusion

THE LADDER

As I consider the currently known economic models related to the gospel, I think I might rank them as follows:

1. Zion.
2. The United Firm (which was also expected to live the law of consecration).
3. The law of consecration.
4. Have more - give more; have less - give less; have none - receive (e.g. Mosiah 18:27). (Without further details about their functioning, it’s unclear whether this referred to the same law as the one we refer to as “consecration,” or a similar but differing law.)
5. Tithing as found in D&C 119.
6. Tithing as altered and marginally practiced in the LDS church. (Though this model isn’t in harmony with scripture, it is included because it is where we are, and we claim it as gospel truth.)

Numbers 2-5 all have types and portions of the highest law in them, pointing upward toward Zion. Number 6 is the sole exception, likely due to being a fabrication of man rather than God. It seems we’ve got some ground to cover before we can claim the title of “Zion.” Not to say we will be required to hit each and every intermediate step, but there remains a large gap between sitting at "6" and rising to be "1."

SUMMARY

To summarize this long-winded series, I agree wholly with Moses 7:18 when considering Zion:

“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”

Zion’s people will be of one heart and one mind—specifically, the Lord’s mind. Or in other words, the Holy Spirit (Lectures on Faith 5:2).

They will dwell in righteousness, keeping all the economic commandments the Lord sees fit to impose upon them, whether in scripture or through covenants, that Zion might be holy (Moses 7:62).

No poor will be among them, because they will be equal in their temporal things (D&C 70:14).

Equality in their temporal things will ultimately come about through their holding all things common. (4 Nephi 1:3) Other preparatory steps will pave the way, such as learning to be free with our substance (Jacob 2:17).

All in Zion will esteem their fellow man as themselves, and show it (D&C 38:24-25).

Covetousness, compulsion and control of substance will be gone. Those in Zion will fully recognize that it is all the Lord’s, and at best, we become joint-heirs with Him (D&C 104:14-18, 55-57; Romans 8:16-17).

Zion’s people will be industrious, laboring for the benefit of everyone, in an economy where money simply has no place. (2 Nephi 26:31)

The people of Zion, being one, will have no compulsion one over the other (D&C 121:34-46), to enforce or keep the economic laws. The Lord will handle breaking of laws and covenants (Acts 5:1-10). The people will choose to participate in the economy of Zion by voluntarily covenant, of their own free will.

And the Millennial success of this model will be due to its status as a byproduct of hearts and minds being united in love for one another and the Lord. The initial establishment of the economy may function as a final refinement of the people, but it will be that successful refinement, making their hearts pure (D&C 97:21), which will maintain the economy through the Millennial reign of Christ, as a natural manifestation of how they are within.

Zion will be God's work, established by His hand, through His invitation. Until it is established, we have plenty of preparatory laws to work on, to refine our hearts and bring our minds in sync with His. As we do this, hopefully we can learn to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead on the straight and narrow path, and be numbered among those blessed to participate in the fulfillment of one of the greatest prophecies in Creation: the final appearance of ZION.