Why did Brigham Young lead the Saints to the Salt Lake Valley?
This is the right place. On July 24, 1847 upon entering the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young declared “This is the right place.” How did Brigham Young know that the Salt Lake Valley was the right place to build Zion? (He had seen it in a vision.) What is Zion? (The place where God lives and is worshipped on earth. Zion is often referred to as the Lord’s people [the pure in heart] or as the Church and its stakes.) “Zion is established and flourishes because of the God-inspired lives and labors of its citizens. Zion comes not as a gift but because virtuous covenant people are drawn together and build it. President Spencer W. Kimball observed, ‘As we sing together “Come to Zion,” we mean … come to the ward, the branch, the mission, the stake, and give assistance to build up Zion.’ Thus gathered in the Lord’s appointed way, Latter-day Saints conscientiously strive to bring forth Zion as the ‘kingdom of our God and his Christ,’ preparatory to the Lord’s Second Coming.” Keith B. McMullin, Lia
