NOTES: Nibley, Enoch the Prophet

<p>I recently reread Hugh Nibley's <i>Enoch the Prophet</i> with an eye toward what it has to say regarding Millennial Social Thought (MST). Most of these passages come from the end of the book, and I will relate them here without much comment, just some ideas about Latter-day Saint Zionism.</p><ul><li>Their gathering together is the first step in a long process of withdrawing from a wicked world. (p. 252)</li><li>The interests of the Latter-day Saints in the city of Enoch is not simply a literary or even a scientific one. It is historic and prophetic. The city of Enoch is very much our concern. (p. 255)</li><li>...we are committed to forming as quickly as possible the closest possible partnership with that society. (p. 255)</li><li>Prophets emphasize the moral aspect of Zion, while the Psalms...favor the political. (p. 255)</li><li>...Zion actually has been on the earth in the past and can be enjoyed by the Saints again as soon as they are willing to "return to the original relationship with Yahweh".... (p. 256)</li><li>the only order of society acceptable to God.... (p. 256)</li><li>Zion is any society in which the celestial law is operative.... (p. 256)</li><li>Yachad (lit. unity, oneness) it was a reminder that <i>unity</i> is the first law of Enoch's society by which the Saints are expected to live in every dispensation. (p. 263)</li><li>Until the separation is complete the powers of destruction are held in check. (p. 266)</li><li>The Church itself, never again to be taken from the earth, must ever more closely approximate the Zion of Enoch.... Even though the work is still in its preliminary stages, one is justified in saying "this is the new chapel," when only the foundations are in. (pp. 272-3)</li><li>Let our anxiety be centered upon this one thing, the sanctification of our own hearts.... (p. 274)</li></ul><p>I also ended up with notes to look into the following sources: <i>Journal of Discourses</i> 9:3, 10:306, 15:3, and 17:113; <i>Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith</i> p. 66; Doctrine and Covenants 78, 105, and 119; and "Abraham the Seer" by Martin Buber (1956).</p>