“Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord”—in sacred high places God teaches us of his ways, how to walk in the path to godhood.
Two Jerusalems—two headquarters—are clearly indicated (compare 3 Nephi 20) using what biblical literary scholars call syntheticorcomplimentary parallelism, suggesting two places. Modern prophets have explained that there are multiple fulfillments of this passage; see also, later in Isaiah, “thy holy cities … Zion [and] … Jerusalem” (Isaiah 64:10).
Several definitions of Zion have been suggested by modern prophets and apostles. Some indicate that “out of Zion shall go forth the law [teaching, doctrine]” with general conferences from the current headquarters.
President Harold B. Lee wrote: “I have often wondered what that expression meant, that out of Zion should go forth the law. Years ago I went with the brethren to the Idaho Falls Temple, and I heard in that inspired prayer of the First Presidency a definition of the meaning of that term ‘out of Zion shall go forth the law.’ Note what they said: ‘We thank thee that thou hast revealed to us that those who gave us our constitutional form of government were men wise in thy sight and that thou didst raise them up for the very purpose of putting forth that sacred document [the Constitution of the United States; see D&C 101:80]… .
“‘We pray that kings and rulers and the peoples of all nations under heaven may be persuaded of the blessings enjoyed by the people of this land by reason of their freedom and under thy guidance and be constrained to adopt similar governmental systems, thus to fulfill the ancient prophecy of Isaiah [and Micah] that “… out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”’” 33
The Prophet Joseph Smith explained: “You know there has been great discussion in relation to Zion—where it is, and where the gathering of the dispensation is, and which I am now going to tell you. The prophets have spoken and written upon it; but I will make a proclamation that will cover a broader ground. The whole of America is Zion itself from north to south, and is described by the Prophets, who declare that it is the Zion where the mountain of the Lord should be, and that it should be in the center of the land. When Elders shall take up and examine the old prophecies in the Bible, they will see it.” 34
Zion is also defined as the city of the living God, the New Jerusalem (D&C 76:66; 84:2; 133:12–13). See also “Israel and Zion in Latter-day Saint Usage,” accompanying 2 Nephi 8:9–10.