City of Enoch
Enoch, son of Jared, was the seventh patriarch in Adam's line, born in Cainan. Information on Enoch is scanty in the Bible. Pseudepigraphical sources allude to Enoch's power and authority, and especially his visions. The best and most reliable information on Enoch and the city he founded is found in the Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses, translated and received by revelation through Joseph Smith.
Adam ordained Enoch to the Melchizedek Priesthood. Enoch was called of God to be a prophet to a wicked people.
- And he heard a voice from heaven, saying: Enoch, my son, prophesy unto this people, and say unto them—Repent, for thus saith the Lord: I am angry with this people, and my fierce anger is kindled against them; for their hearts have waxed hard, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes cannot see afar off;
- And for these many generations, ever since the day that I created them, have they gone astray, and have denied me, and have sought their own counsels in the dark; and in their own abominations have they devised murder, and have not kept the commandments, which I gave unto their father, Adam.
- Wherefore, they have foresworn themselves, and, by their oaths, they have brought upon themselves death; and a hell I have prepared for them, if they repent not;
- And this is a decree, which I have sent forth in the beginning of the world, from my own mouth, from the foundation thereof, and by the mouths of my servants, thy fathers, have I decreed it, even as it shall be sent forth in the world, unto the ends thereof.
- And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?
- And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.
- Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you (Pearl of Great Price, Moses 6:27-33 [1]).
The Lord commanded Enoch to anoint his own eyes with clay. When Enoch did so, he beheld great visions.
- And he beheld the spirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the natural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people (Moses 6:36).
Enoch continued to see visions as he fulfilled his calling. He is known for his visionary experiences.
Enoch established a city called Zion (meaning "the pure in heart") which, as a result of Enoch's ministry, was comprised of righteous people. They lived the law of consecration, and as a result, "there was no poor among them (Moses 7:18). Enoch's people were completely united in living the celestial law of God in a telestial world. Enoch "saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually" (Doctrine and Covenants 107:49). The Lord even dwelt in the city of Enoch and taught Enoch's people there. The Book of Moses describes the manifestations of priesthood power in the city:
- And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him.
- The fear of the Lord was upon all nations, so great was the glory of the Lord, which was upon his people. And the Lord blessed the land, and they were blessed upon the mountains, and upon the high places, and did flourish.
- And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.
- And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion (Moses 7:13, 17-19).
Enoch and the people of Zion became so righteous that the Lord translated them and took their city to heaven after 365 years (Moses 7:69). Enoch was 430 years old at that time. The city of Enoch thus attained a terrestrial glory.
- And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he 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.
The Lord promised Enoch that his posterity would remain upon the earth, which it did through Enoch's son Methuselah. Methuselah was left on the earth when Enoch and his people were translated, in order to continue the bloodline through which Noah would come (Moses 8:3-4). Methuselah was Noah's father.
The city of Enoch will return to the earth after the Second Coming, at the start of the Millennium, becoming part of the New Jerusalem that is to be built in what is now Jackson County, Missouri in the United States.
- And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.
- 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 (Moses 7:62-64).
