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Show 36 a society which could abide His presence. A Zion must be built where the "pure in heart" could gather out of wicked Babylon and be taught the true and virtuous principles of the gospel without the influence of corruption. Joseph said the main object of the "gathering" was to "build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation."^ The establishment of Zion must be complete before the second coming of Jesus Christ. In July of 1831, Joseph Smith revealed the place consecrated for the gathering was Jackson County, Missouri.1? Numerous prophesies from the Bible, Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith declared the necessity of the gathering. It is apparent that Joseph viewed Zion as a haven or refuge during the period of conflict which was about to roll across the land. Zion must be a place where the "elect of God" could stand in safety when the scourges of the "last days" are poured out upon the nations. The prophet recorded a revelation in 1831 to this effect: "Wherefore, seeing that I, the Lord, have decreed all these things upon the face of the earth, I will that my saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion."18 More pointed is an 1838 prophecy declaring :| "the gathering together upon the land of Zion..., may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.nl9 And in July 1839 Joseph declared: I prophesy, that that man who tarries after he has an opportunity of going, will be afflicted by the devil. Wars are at hand; we must not delay;... We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest 20 object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion. With the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County in 1833 and from Missouri altogether in 1839, the millennial hopes of the Church took a |