This was originally the name of the upper part of Jerusalem. The city was built upon a high rock, with four hills, Zion, Acra, Moriah and Bezetha. The hill on the south-eastern side was called Zion. It was also known as the City of David, because he built his palace there. (Ps. 2:6).
Immediately north of Zion was Acra. Between the two was a high wall. Moriah, supposed to be the hill on which Abraham was about to slay Isaac, is to the east of Acra. It was the site of the temple. Jewish rabbis hold that the altar of burnt offering of the temple stood on the very spot where the altar of Abraham was built. Zion and Moriah were connected by means of a bridge and a terrace. To the north was Bezetha which was joined to the city of Agrippa.
But Zion also stands for the entire City of Jerusalem (11).
In the Pearl of Great Price we learn more about Zion. “Zion” is the name which God gave his people, because they were of “one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there were no poor among them.” (Book of Moses 7:18) Then Enoch built a city and called it Zion, adopting the name which God had given his people. It was the city of Holiness. (v. 19)
This city being built, Enoch seems to have had the hope that it would remain forever, the habitation of God. But the Lord enlightened him on that point. He said that he had blessed the inhabitants of Zion, but not the residue of the people. He, furthermore, showed Enoch all the inhabitants of the earth, and that he had taken Zion up into heaven, for they were the righteous inhabitants of the earth. (v. 21) The process of transferring the people of God from the earthly to the heavenly Zion did not belong exclusively to the time of Enoch. It was to be continued from generation to generation. For, Enoch beheld angels descending out of heaven bearing testimony of the Father and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion. (v. 27) It is in this way that the Lord has taken Zion to his own bosom, “from all the creations, from all eternity to all eternity.” (v. 31)
Enoch saw in his vision that he and the inhabitants of Zion were with the Father:
“And behold, Enoch saw the day of the coming of the Son of man in the flesh: and his soul rejoiced, saying: The Righteous is lifted up, and the Lamb is slain from the foundation of the world; and through faith I am in the bosom of the Father, and behold, Zion is with me.” (v. 47)
But Zion will return to earth. The Lord assures Enoch that the time shall come, after a period of darkness and great distress, when righteousness shall be sent down from heaven, and truth come forth out of the earth. At that time the “elect” will be gathered out from the four quarters of the earth, to a place which the Lord will prepare, where his people may be looking forth for the coming of the Redeemer. For the tabernacle of God will be there, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. There, the inhabitants of the heavenly Zion will meet the “elect,” who are the inhabitants of Zion on earth:
"And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shalt thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be mine abode, and it shall be Zion, which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made; and for the space of a thousand years the earth shall rest.... And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he [God] dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is fled. (69)
In the Book of Mormon we have mainly three great truths concerning the Latter-day Zion: (1) That they who shall seek to bring forth Zion “at that day”—which evidently is the day in which we are living—are blessed (2 Ne. 28:21).
A very large portion of the Doctrine and Covenants—the greatly inspired literary gem of our age—is devoted to the people and city of Zion. The student might read carefully the following passages, beginning with Section 21:7. This revelation was given the day the Church was organized. It tells us that the Prophet Joseph Smith was inspired to further the cause of Zion. That, then, is the mission of the Church.
Further: Zion, we read, shall rejoice upon the hills at the time of the salvation of Israel (36:24, 25). Zion shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the Saints, and the glory of the Lord shall be there (45:66, 67). Independence, Missouri, is the center place of Zion (57:4, 5; 58:13, 50, 57; 59:3). The Saints were to obtain an inheritance in Zion (64:30), but not the rebellious (64:35). Kirtland designated a city of the stake of Zion (94:1; 96:1-9; 97:10, 18, 19, 25). The pure in heart are Zion (97:21), and they shall return to Zion (101:18). A parable concerning the redemption of Zion (101:43-66). Revelation relating to the salvation and redemption of the Saints who are scattered on the land of Zion (103:1-18). Zion can be built up only by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom (105:2-11, 13, 14, 32, 34). The bishops are judges in Zion (107:74). A prayer for Zion (109:59). The “strength” of Zion explained (113:7, 8). Meaning of, “Zion loosing herself from the bands of her neck” (113:9, 10). Far West, a holy city in the land of Zion (115:6-11). Baptism for the dead in Zion and in Jerusalem (124:36). Zion sanctified by the law of tithing (119:5, 6). The Saints among the gentiles to flee to Zion (133:9-12). The voice of the Lord in Zion (133:21-25). Zion to be redeemed (136:10, 18).
The Lord hath forsaken me, my Lord hath forgotten me. In the Hebrew text the first clause is, “Jehovah hath forsaken me”; the second is, “Adonai hath forgotten me.” But both these names refer to the same divine Person. The Lord, in the following paragraphs shows how impossible it is that he should forget his people.