The lands of the Western Hemisphere were divided following the flood. “In [Peleg’s] days was the earth divided” (Genesis 10:25; see also D&C 133:23–24). After the flood waters receded from the Americas, “it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord” (Ether 13:2). The Lord kept this choice land in reserve for people to come and build a Zion society. Prior to the flood Enoch had built a Zion society and it apparently was upon the land of America. The people were called “Zion” by the Lord “because they were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). “Zion, in process of time, was taken up into heaven” (Moses 7:21). The land of the Jaredites is the place where that city will return and will be called the New Jerusalem (Ether 13:3). To whom, or where it will come, will be designated later in this chapter.
The other Zion society that Ether saw upon the land of America was the days of Christ (v. 4). This could refer to the Nephite society in the Meridian of Time (4 Nephi), or it could refer to the millennial reign of Christ. The reference to New Jerusalem suggests the latter.
Ether also saw the city of Jerusalem from whence Lehi came as being “built up again, a holy city unto the Lord” (Ether 13:5). The Old Jerusalem has never been a Zion City since the days of Lehi, therefore, Ether’s prophecy must refer to a latter-day rebuilding of Old Jerusalem. Joseph Smith said: “It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, etc; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance” (TPJS, 286).