Elder Falabella Teaches the Principles of Becoming a Zion People

Contributed By By Michael Ann McKinlay, Church News staff writer

  • 24 September 2013

Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the Seventy addresses students at an LDS Business College devotional. He taught the students how to establish Zion in their lives.    Photo by Michael Ann McKinlay.

Article Highlights

  • Obedience, unity, and “no poor among us” are the foundational principles of Zion and the principles of the people of God.
  • Elder Falabella explained how to achieve the principle of unity:
  • 1. Let us oft speak kind words.
  • 2. Do not exercise unjust dominion over others.
  • 3. Learn to work in counsel with others.
  • 4. Learn to listen.

“The establishment of Zion has been an objective in every dispensation of the gospel, including ours.” —Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the Seventy

Our Heavenly Father, as a perfect being, has the power to act upon things and not allow things to act upon Him. If we want to be like Him, we have to follow His example, Elder Enrique R. Falabella of the First Quorum of the Seventy said at an LDS Business College devotional held in the Assembly Hall on Temple Square on September 17.

Elder Falabella, with his wife, Sister Blanca Lidia Sanchez in attendance, spoke on how to establish Zion in our lives and about the principles that govern Zion. He explained: “The establishment of Zion has been an objective in every dispensation of the gospel, including ours. The Lord told the Prophet Joseph Smith to ‘seek to bring forth and establish the cause of Zion’ (D&C 6:6). That is our mission today, as it has been since the beginning of time.” He spoke of the three main principles in order to become people of Zion: obedience, unity, and having no poor among us.

“The Church cannot be fully independent unless each of us is independent,” Elder Falabella said. “Independence is based on agency. … Addictions result in the loss of liberty and hence in the restriction of our agency.”

To demonstrate, Elder Falabella explained the theory of a flaxen cord, found in 2 Nephi 26:22, and how Satan can slowly wrap the cord around our neck and reel us into sin. After enough wrong choices the cord can turn into a chain, where it is much easier for Satan to drag us down with him.

“This is why it is so important to live in righteousness,” Elder Falabella said. “We will never succeed in establishing Zion as long as we limit our agency through poor choices.”

Next, Elder Falabella explained four principles that will help us achieve unity, another principle of the people of Zion.

1. Let us oft speak kind words.

2. Do not exercise unjust dominion over others.

“The principles pertaining to human relationships are well defined in the words of the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith: ‘No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned’ (D&C 121:41),” said Elder Falabella.

3. Learn to work in counsel with others.

“You can and must learn from others. Learn to listen, to analyze, and to follow the good advice you receive from others, and you will have more success not only in reaching your objectives but also in helping others to reach success as well,” said Elder Falabella.

4. Learn to listen.

“If you pay attention not only to words but also to what you see and feel, you will find countless opportunities to serve in unity,” he said. “There is a power that emanates from unity. When unity is broken, marriages fail, companies go bankrupt, wars break out, and discord increases.” Elder Falabella encouraged students to know their peers better. “It is when you know someone that you learn about their needs and then you can serve him or her better,” he said.

No poor among us is another principle of Zion, and the Savior is a great example of serving, sometimes without being asked. Fast offerings are a way we can serve those who have less than us while feeling compassion toward them, Elder Falabella explained.

“There is no doubt our Heavenly Father takes very well into account what we have done to bless the lives of those who are in need.”

Through these principles of obedience, unity, and no poor among us, it is possible to establish Zion in our heart.

“These are the principles of the people of God, and it is within us to make it happen,” said Elder Falabella.

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