The New Jerusalem
Ether 13:2–3
2 For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof;
3 And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord.
Elder LeGrand Richards said:
“I will now add one more thought concerning another great truth that is revealed through the Book of Mormon and that is not understood in the scriptures by the theologians; that is the promise mentioned by Brother Sill concerning the new heaven. John saw the new Jerusalem let down from heaven [see Revelation 21:3, 10–11]. The world has never understood that there were two Jerusalems. They did not know anything about the new Jerusalem, or where it was, or why it should come down from heaven. But we read in the Book of Mormon the words of Ether, who tells us that this is the land of the new Jerusalem, and that it would be established upon this land. Then he goes on to tell how the new Jerusalem would come down from heaven, and that this would not be the old Jerusalem in the Holy Land [see Ether 13:2–3].”
(In Conference Report, Apr. 1967, 22.)
