Church History Matters

Episode 149: D&C 97 CFM - The Coming Trouble for Zion - E36B (September 1–7)

Released: August 27, 2025
Hosts: Scott & Casey

Episode Overview

This episode explores Doctrine & Covenants Section 97, focusing on the escalating difficulties for the Latter-day Saints in Missouri during summer 1833. Scott and Casey analyze the Lord’s instructions and warnings concerning Zion, the challenges of building a temple, and the broader “Zion Project.” They weave together scriptural text, historical accounts, and personal insights to illuminate why persecution came, what was expected, and what these lessons mean for Latter-day Saints today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Why Missouri?

• Theological Reasoning: The Lord deliberately sends His people into challenging environments to promote their growth, not to punish them.
  • “He puts people in deliberately difficult situations because that pressures us to grow. And he's not doing it to torture us. He's not doing it to be mean.” — Casey (00:07, 30:38)
• Historical Setting: By summer 1833, over 1,000 Saints resided in Jackson County, Missouri, leading to increased tensions with local settlers.
• The Stakes: The attempt to build Zion becomes “the most important project”—not about buildings or land, ultimately, but about the people themselves. (00:29, 21:51)

2. Troubles in Zion—First Major Persecution

• Parley P. Pratt documents mob violence and state-sanctioned persecution breaking out in July 1833.
  • Church print shop destroyed; Book of Commandments copies saved by Mary Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins.
  • Saints forced to sign an agreement to leave Jackson County by January 1, 1834 (05:00–06:30).
• Communication lag between Missouri and Kirtland meant Joseph Smith was prophesying danger before learning details, showing prophetic foreknowledge (06:30).

3. Section 97: Compliment, Critique, Compliment

• Commendation First: The Lord acknowledges the humility and integrity of many Saints in Zion.
  • “Many of them are truly humble and are seeking diligently to learn wisdom and define truth.” — Scott, quoting D&C 97:1–2 (06:35)
• Dramatic Testimonies: Under mortal threat, Book of Mormon witnesses steadfastly declare their faith:
  • “Though the mob kill us, yet we must die declaring its truth.” — Oliver Cowdery, recounted by William McClellan (08:21)
  • Hyrum Page refuses to deny his testimony even under brutal attack. (08:55)
• Persecution Drivers: A complex interplay of Saintly shortcomings, bigotry, and political anxiety among locals; not a simple matter of collective sin (10:51–11:56).
  • “It’s more complicated than that… there’s bigotry, as you said, and there’s also many good Saints who are doing really good things and the Lord is pleased with them. But it’s a mix.” — Scott (11:41)

4. School in Zion: Preparedness Amidst Crisis

• Parley P. Pratt leads a “School of the Elders” in Missouri, mirroring Kirtland’s School of the Prophets.
  • Classes held outdoors, often with great sacrifice (barefoot, walking miles).
  • Emphasis on teaching and spiritual gifts—a positive amid escalating crisis (12:40–14:31).

5. The Lord’s Rebuke and Commandments

• Ominous Warning:
  • “The axe is laid at the root of the trees…” — D&C 97:7, quoted by Scott (14:55)
• The Saints are warned to unite and build the temple, but compliance is lacking.
  • Parley P. Pratt: “This revelation… was not complied with … therefore the threatened judgment was poured out to the uttermost, as the history of the five following years will show.” (16:54)
• Specific instructions for building the temple given; failure to act leads to missed blessings (17:04–19:41).

6. The Meaning of Zion

• Conditional Promises: Had the Saints obeyed, Zion “shall prosper and spread herself… nations of the earth shall honor her…” (19:41–21:01)
• Key Scriptural Insight:
  • “Zion is the pure in heart.” — D&C 97:21
  • The land is secondary—the people are the heart of Zion (21:51–22:41).
  • “The Lord’s not just building a temple here; the Lord’s building us.” — Scott, paraphrasing the “Prophet of the Restoration” movie (21:51)
• Hosts debate whether Zion’s location remains eternally fixed or if its true essence is in its people (“not yet” vs. “not ever” on rebuilding in Missouri) (23:19–24:41).

7. Warnings, Silver Linings, and Consequences

• The Lord’s warnings include rebuke, pestilence, and affliction, but he concludes that if repentance occurs, blessings will flow—symbolized by acceptance of the Saints’ offerings (24:41–26:23).
• Historical consequence: Joseph Smith’s January 1833 letter pleads for repentance and warns that if Zion fails, “the Lord will seek another people, for his work will go on until Israel is gathered…” (33:51–37:16).
• God’s “wrath”: Interpreted as Him withdrawing protective blessing, allowing enemies to act (37:16–37:59).

8. Why the Difficulties? A Divine Pattern

• The Lord uses trials as a crucible for growth—drawing parallels to ancient Israel and quoting Thomas Paine:
  • “What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly.” — Thomas Paine, quoted by Scott (31:13)
• The challenge is intrinsic to the gospel path:
  • “Persecution is still part of being a church member. When a person joins the church, they have to expect persecution. It’s not easy… Our message isn’t that it’s going to be easy. It’s that it’s going to be worth it ultimately, that what we have to do is great and will affect others for good in the world.” — Casey (30:38, 31:08)
• The historical and scriptural record consistently shows that God’s people rarely, if ever, find the path easy (33:05–33:30).

9. The Zion Project—Ongoing Lessons

• Despite the Saints’ failures, the Zion project continues; the Lord “doesn't give up on us.”
• Ongoing tensions about interpretation and application for modern Saints; discussion previews deeper exploration in following episodes (37:59–38:50).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The most important project is the people.” — Scott (00:29, 21:51, 26:23)
• “He puts people in deliberately difficult situations because that pressures us to grow.” — Casey (00:07, 30:38)
• “What we obtain too cheaply, we esteem too lightly.” — Thomas Paine, quoted by Scott (31:13)
• “Though the mob kill us, yet we must die declaring its truth.” — Oliver Cowdery, as recounted by William McClellan (08:21)
• “Zion is the pure in heart.” — Doctrine & Covenants 97:21, repeatedly highlighted (21:51, 22:41)
• “Persecution is still part of being a church member… Our message isn’t that it’s going to be easy; it’s that it’s going to be worth it.” — Casey (30:38, 31:08)
• “If the Saints had really turned around and gone with all their heart and mind to build the temple, they could have been okay… It’s so tempting to do some what-ifs here.” — Casey (24:41)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 00:00–01:13 – Introduction; setting the theme: Danger in Zion and temple-building urgency
• 02:21–06:30 – Historical context: Parley P. Pratt’s account, violence, and destruction in Jackson County
• 06:30–08:55 – Section 97’s gentle beginning; Book of Mormon witnesses’ steadfast testimony under threat
• 10:51–12:40 – The origins of persecution; local political/social factors
• 12:40–14:31 – The School of the Elders in Missouri: spiritual preparation amid crisis
• 14:55–17:04 – Lord’s rebuke; missed opportunities and Parley P. Pratt’s lament
• 19:41–22:41 – Promises to Zion; essence and meaning of Zion (land vs. people)
• 24:41–26:23 – Conditional warnings and silver linings
• 26:23–33:30 – Controversies: Why Missouri? Divine patterns in crucible trials
• 33:51–37:59 – Joseph Smith’s prophetic warning; God’s wrath as withdrawal of protection
• 37:59–38:50 – Ongoing consequences; the Zion project as a living principle

Final Takeaways

• The call to build Zion was—and remains—a fundamentally spiritual project. The Missouri persecutions were not simply the result of Saintly failings, but a crucible designed for growth and refinement.
• Persecution and opposition are recurring features of the Lord’s work, teaching that the things of greatest value demand the highest sacrifice.
• The story of Zion in Section 97 is one of warning, hope, and ongoing relevance—challenging every generation to build a people “pure in heart.”

“We have not given up on Zion, nor will we ever. But it’s taking on a different shape than we ever thought it would…” — Scott (37:59)