--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - George A. Langston collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 6 number: 8 published: 1903-06 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'George A. Langston, "The True Zion," *Improvement Era* 6, no. 8 (June 1903): 620–621.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0608unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera0608unse start_page: 620 end_page: 621 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1903-06) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera0608unse publication_year: 1903 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1903, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # The True Zion €20 IMPROVEMENT ERA. At this time, there are no real differences or objects of con- tention about" which the English and French have any real occasion to indulge in disputations; besides, the French really delighted in the general attitude of the English toward the Germans, and they, perhaps, like the English for the same reason that men are often fond of those who have with them a common enemy. During the recent blockade of Venezuela, there was such a pronounced feeling of opposition in England to any united action with Germany what- ever, that the French enjoyed the anti-German sentiment displayed by the newspapers of Great Britain. These royal flirtations are often a source of real amusement, as well as of jealousy and re- sentment. They afford the newspapers abundant opportunity for speculations, while, at the same time, they are not taken seriously by the world at large. THE TRUE ZION. BY ELDER GEO. A. LANGSTON, SALT LAKE CITY. A writer in Munsey's Magazine contributes an article on the noted Zionist movement of Dr. Dowie. He recounts the amazing growth of this movement; the formation of its proselytes, now numbering thousands, into a compact organization; and the splen- did achievement of building their Zion City — still rapidly growing, all of which is attributed to Dr. Dowie's remarkable genius for or- ganization. The writer refers to the surpassing ambition of this self-styled Elijah, which is nothing less than the extension of his theocratic Zion over state, nation, continent — the world. The contributor quoted admits the possibility of this, could Dowie be succeeded by leaders with the same capacity, courage, and power to execute. But with the passing of this man, he sees the downfall of the work which he has so successfully inaugurated. THE TRUE ZION. 621 Asserting it to be founded, as is most earthly power, upon the in- spiration of one man, it is the conclusion of the writer that be- comes of interest to Latter-day Saints, when he says: "Fortunately or unfortunately, no great organizer has ever left his equal as suc- cessor * * * ^ succession of great organizers would mean the millennium —or chaos." How true that statement is, when applied to merely human organizations! But measured by the rule here laid down, have we not in "Mormonism" a pattern of the true Zion, — divinely orga- nized? The most bitter enemies of Joseph Smith admired and marvelled at his capacity for control, and predicted the utter col- lapse of "Mormonism" at his death. Following this event, with what amazement must they have beheld the coming of Brigham Young upon the scene. Displaying ability, zeal and formative powers that if possible out-matched his predecessor, he compacted the forces of Zion, and with strong hand guided her through the threatening perils of dissolution into a growth that is the astonish- ment of friend and foe. There have been six successsions of leadership, and the story is the same. Joseph and Brigham, have gone beyond; but a divine organization does not depend upon the inspiration of one or two great leaders. Reports of the recent annual conference indicate that the true Zion of God now "estab- lished in the top of the mountains," and "exalted above the hills," whose splendors were unfolded to the vision of the prophets, is increasing not only in numbers, but in the faith, earnestness and love of her children, which will yet bring about the "millennium" referred to. Verily, what the Lord doeth, he doeth well.