Invest in Utopia Today

Come Follow Me (4 Nephi)

The idea of a perfect society has eluded humanity since our first parents left the original Garden. The Fall didn’t just introduce death to this world; it also introduced the fallen nature of mankind - the disinclination to align desires and actions to eternal laws. Basically, it put us at odds with God.

If one human can’t pull off anything approaching ideal in an individual life, the chances of an ideal society is going to be pretty slim, what with a society being comprised of individuals and all. Even so, there have been two glimmering short seasons of utopian living - like elusive shooting stars flashing briefly, then disappearing across the night sky of history.

The first season was Enoch’s stunning missionary success, which created an ideal society (see Moses 7). It left such an impression on the unwilling and unchanged fallen world that its exit from the planet was followed by the first counterfeit utopian attempt: Babel. The original lie of utopia as peddled by the destroyer always involves offering what God offers - at a discount. Do it your own way - don’t align your will to God’s laws - and still receive the blessings of obedience.

It’s almost like Satan convinces humans that if they all agree more vigorously and unanimously natural law will be suspended.

The second season was the people of Lehi, following the personal ministry of our resurrected God, Jesus Christ. This society didn’t leave the planet, but rather, enjoyed nearly two generations of ideal living: “there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.” (4 Nephi 1:16)

How did they do it? How did a community of humans tame their human natures for nearly two hundred years? What helped them create a utopia?

“…they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift.” (4 Nephi 1:3)

Isn’t that interesting? Satan first whispered the lie to Cain that killing his brother would make him free (Moses 5:33). But true freedom only exists when an individual - and by extension, a collection of individuals - freely choose to govern themselves by God's laws.

More interesting still: historically, societies which have attempted a utopia have failed miserably, with a significant loss of freedom as a most notable hallmark. Yet here, Mormon records that happiness, peace, and prosperity involved freedom as the citizens of this society became "partakers of the heavenly gift."

As humans accept the doctrine of Jesus Christ, they invest in the project of taming human nature - inherent in their bodies composed of "unredeemed earth" (See Melvin J. Ballard, "Struggle for the Soul").

The natural consequence of leaning out of fallen human nature is a leaning into divine nature - inherent in the human spirit with the divine DNA of heavenly Parents.

The apostle Peter wrote:

"According as [God's] divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue;

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped corruption that is in the world through lust.

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

"And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

"And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity,

"For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:3-8)

To invest in the doctrine of Christ is to invest in a program of eternal self-improvement. The power to make such vast changes with mortal limitations is only possible because of the one Human who transcended the limitations. Jesus Christ didn't just execute a perfect mortal life, but suffered the spiritual pain of all humanity to give us power in this project.

Self-improvement is only possible because of Jesus.

Self-improvement is a key feature of living the doctrine of Jesus.

Converted disciples take responsibility for their own lives by investing in the project of self-improvement, aided by Jesus.

A collective of converted disciples, invested in self-improvement, create an ideal society. The entire collective of citizens is invested in the results. There is no force in the equation - could it be utopian if anyone were forced against his will to participate? The only way for it to truly be a utopia is for everyone to freely choose to participate - to be invested in taking responsibility for their own self-improvement with Jesus.

The world calls it utopia, but disciples of Jesus Christ know such a society by another name: Zion. Zion can only exist in a state of freedom - freely chosen by its citizens. And Zion requires priesthood - so saving and exalting ordinances can be administered, binding those citizens in a covenant relationship to Christ. Then, they can access His redeeming power to continue their project of growth and self-improvement.

Mormon records the conditions of the Nephite Zion:

• "...they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God,

• "...continuing in fasting and prayer,

• "...and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord." (4 Nephi 1:12)

• "...there was no contention among all the people in the land..." (4 Nephi 1:13)

• "...because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." (4 Nephi 1:15)

• "And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God." (4 Nephi 1:16)

At some point, when you're converted enough, committed enough - you stop worrying about how your neighbor is weeding his garden. You stop worrying if he's weeding at all. You just weed your own garden, because when you signed up with Jesus, you knew it was an eternal investment with eternal dividends. In fact, if you discover your neighbor's weeding isn't going so well, Jesus may enlist the Holy Ghost to tap you on the shoulder, and invite you to pitch in over there for a little minute.

When Jesus returns to rule and reign for a thousand years, absolutely no one will be forced to be good. Everyone who gets to stay will have chosen to invest in Zion by investing in repentance. Repentance: the lifetime practice of self-improvement with the aid and power of Jesus Christ through covenant.

As President Nelson just reminded us: "It is neither too early nor too late for you to become a devout disciple of Jesus Christ." (Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again," General Conference, October 2024).

Today would be a great day to choose to invest in Zion. If enough people make this choice and this investment, maybe we could get this Millennium thing going already.