For Zion must increase in beauty

[Avatar4321]

Today's lesson from the manual included the following section:

 

Quote

 

The Lord states: “For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments.” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:14.)

Here the Lord declares another great purpose of a stake: to be a beautiful emblem for all the world to see. The phrase “put on her beautiful garments” refers, of course, to the inner sanctity that must be attained by every member who calls himself or herself a Saint. Zion is “the pure in heart.” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21.)

Stakes of Zion are strengthened and Zion’s borders enlarged as members reflect the standard of holiness that the Lord expects of His chosen people.

 

 

Seems like a new concept to me that we are supposed to be beautiful. What does it mean exactly?

[VideoGameJunkie]

It means I am pretty and should feel pretty. Just kidding. I think it means we're supposed to show more love because love is beauty.

[Crypto]

1 hour ago, VideoGameJunkie said:

It means I am pretty and should feel pretty. Just kidding. I think it means we're supposed to show more love because love is beauty.

Love, and Charity are certainly important aspects to developing Sanctity.

[CV75]

6 hours ago, Avatar4321 said:

Today's lesson from the manual included the following section:

Seems like a new concept to me that we are supposed to be beautiful. What does it mean exactly?

"Beautiful" also means of a very high standard, or excellent. I suppose it could also mean pleasing to the spiritual senses and spiritually minded.

[Jeanne]

When I saw the title of this thread...I was worried we were talking about lipstick again...so relieved.

[Ahab]

He defined the beauty of Zion as righteousness, which I think of as the goodness in someone who is always outwardly doing good things.  So Zion or the people of Zion are not only pure in heart, internally, but also doing or should be doing good things.

And of course as anyone knows who keeps trying to do good things, there are always more good things to do regardless of how many good things they/we have already done.

 

[The Nehor]

It means the obesity epidemic is not a good sign.

[Avatar4321]

2 hours ago, The Nehor said:

It means the obesity epidemic is not a good sign.

was it ever a good sign?

I think being healthy is one of the blessings attached to living a Christ like life. And while obesity isn't always a matter that comes from our choices we probably have more control of it than we admit

[Avatar4321]

4 hours ago, Ahab said:

He defined the beauty of Zion as righteousness, which I think of as the goodness in someone who is always outwardly doing good things.  So Zion or the people of Zion are not only pure in heart, internally, but also doing or should be doing good things.

And of course as anyone knows who keeps trying to do good things, there are always more good things to do regardless of how many good things they/we have already done.

 

and there is something beautiful about righteous people.. They radiate the spirit

[The Nehor]

1 hour ago, Avatar4321 said:

was it ever a good sign?

Look up the fat acceptance movement. Many people are trying to convince themselves it is.

[hagoth7]

Quote

4 hours ago, Avatar4321 said:

and there is something beautiful about righteous people.. They radiate the spirit

 

Often.

But not always. Even for the purest heart:

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/ot/isa/53.2?lang=eng#1

[telnetd]

On 14/12/2015 at 1:36 AM, Avatar4321 said:

Seems like a new concept to me that we are supposed to be beautiful. What does it mean exactly?

Verse 17 of D&C 82 deals further with this.  The heading notes also points to section 75.

Gail