'Seek to bring forth and establish. . . Zion' An individual quest
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Since the early days of the Church in this dispensation, Latter-day Saints have been told to "seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion." (Doctrine and Covenants 6:6.)
"That can only be done through consistent and concerted daily effort by every single member of the Church," declared President Spencer W. Kimball during the April 1978 welfare session of general conference. President Kimball then suggested "three things for which we who labor for Zion must commit ourselves."
"First," he said, "we must eliminate the individual tendency to selfishness that snares the soul, shrinks the heart, and darkens the mind. . . . It is incumbent upon us to put away selfishness in our families, our business and professional pursuits, and our Church affairs. . . .
"Second, we must cooperate completely and work in harmony one with the other. There must be unanimity in our decisions and unity in our actions. After pleading with the Saints to 'let every man esteem his brother as himself' (Doctrine and Covenants 38:24), the Lord concludes His instructions on cooperation to a conference of the membership in these powerful words:
" 'Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.' (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27.) If the Spirit of the Lord is to magnify our labors, then this spirit of oneness and cooperation must be the prevailing spirit in all that we do. . . .
"Third, we must lay on the altar and sacrifice whatever is required by the Lord. We begin by offering a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit.' We follow this by giving our best effort in our assigned fields of labor and callings. We learn our duty and execute it fully. Finally, we consecrate our time, talents, and means as called upon by our file leaders and as prompted by the whisperings of the Spirit. In the Church . . . we can give expression to every ability, every righteous desire, every thoughtful impulse. Whether a volunteer, father, home teacher, bishop or neighbor, whether a visiting teacher, mother, homemaker, or friend — there is ample opportunity to give our all. And as we give, we find that 'sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven!' (Hymns no. 147.) And in the end, we learn it was no sacrifice at all."
