I See... Practicing Zion

(WARNING: THIS IS THE FIRST POST IN MTE'S LONG HISTORY THAT INCLUDES A PLEA FOR DONATIONS. IT'S NOT FOR ME. PLEASE DON”T GIVE UP; THE BEST PART IS AT THE END)

Connoisseurs of fine scriptural food love to gorge themselves on stories about the city of Enoch. In Moses 7 we learn about the people of that city given the name of ZION, because “they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.”

The Mormon Third Eye sees Zion as a group of sons and daughters of God lacking so much pride and selfishness that they had everything in common, including their worldly goods. In Zion, there is no entitlement mentality; everybody who can work does work, and those who can't are blessed with what they need to live through the generosity of others. There is still sickness and other unavoidable challenges, but those who carry burdens are assisted by others, who out of the kindness of their heart volunteer to help them lift it. Everyone gives freely of their substance because they want to; it makes them feel happy when they willingly sacrifice to bless others. Eventually sacrifice becomes a privilege, and you have a society bursting at the seams with happy people who deem it an honor to help others. No wonder God took the City of Enoch “into his bosom;” the world could not bear that much joy in one place.

Currently, however, except for the occasional fast offering check or priesthood service project, for the most part, we live in an entitlement society. Through our republican system of government, we have elected representatives to administer a system of government that, under the threat of criminal penalty, forces us to help the poor and needy via various taxes and fees. Pride and selfishness rule; many of those who are forced to pay into the system feel entitled to get something out of it; it has become an investment rather than a goodwill offering. Many who can work choose not to, but still feel entitled to what our entitlement society promises. Both the giver and the receiver are robbed of divinely dictated joy.

But all is not lost. There are still a few opportunities out there to at least practice a Zion lifestyle- I found one on Facebook just last week. The young mom of the picturesque Calderwood family has been afflicted with an aggressive brain tumor requiring treatment with massive doses of expensive radiation and chemotherapy. Dad is a hardworking dentist, and mom is a hardworking domestic engineer leading a young family that has always courageously functioned in the world without falling prey to the lure of easy entitlement. They have quickly exhausted their carefully constructed savings, however, and now they are relying on the kindness of friends and strangers to pay for the balance of Lisa's care.

Here is your chance to practice Zion. I exhort all readers to access www.runningwithlisa.com, and for no other reason than that you love God and want to be a tool in his hand in blessing the lives of others, claim your citizenship in a modern-day virtual City of Enoch and make a substantial donation to defray her medical expenses. Remember that this is not a tax or a fee to fund an entitlement, but a free will offering that will naturally bless everyone. Hint: donations that are large enough to drive you out of your comfort zone for a moment and create a little financial pain draw you even closer to Zion.

For a limited time only, the Mormon Third Eye is promoting a matching grant program. MTE promises to match all painful donations with blessings of love, charity, humility, and selflessness. What a deal!