The Triumph of Zion: Our Personal Quest for the New Jerusalem

by John Pontius

Popular author and speaker John Pontius has once again written a classic!As the world anticipates its end, we Latter-day Saints are preparing to build the city of Zion. With so much emphasis on building Zion physically on Earth, we sometimes forget that the best place to build Zion is within our own hearts. John Pontius carefully details the importance of Zion in our own lives, opening our eyes to our oft-overlooked obligations and vast privileges.With hundreds of references from the scriptures and the prophets of our dispensation, The Triumph of Zion―Our Personal Quest for the New Jerusalem will guide you in obtaining the blessings of Zion for yourself and your family.

Genres: Religion, Lds, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christian, Church

508 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds us that the city of Zion can't be built until we are a Zion people, which happens individually, one person at a time. I learned the most from the section on unbelief. We can have great faith that something is true, yet not believe that it's true for us. Unbelief is thinking that something is only for a righteous person, not for a sinner like me. This section has helped me to silence the negative thoughts that hold me back from the blessings I could receive if only I would believe I was worthy. This is a deep book for those on a quest to improve themselves spiritually.

[Jeffrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

About 70 to 80% of this book is wonderfully true. Unfortunately, the rest of it is not based on a solid foundation. This is one of the rare cases that I would suggest "throwing the baby out with the bath water" as this book could be very damaging to one's understanding and practice of the gospel. Speaking of many of the subjects that Mr Pontius goes into, general authorities have been know to say: "Those that know what they are talking about - don't talk about it. And those that talk about it - don't know what they are talking about." I could not agree more.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think reading this book is unnecessary. Everything we need in order to be on “our personal quest for the New Jerusalem” can be had by drawing closer to the Savior. I feel like a lot of the author’s interpretations of scripture and gospel scholar quotes was off base and wasn’t confirmed as truth to me. It’s one thing to support a point with scripture but another thing entirely to frame scripture to fit your point.

[Shauna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This pretty much sums up this book: “Those who know what they’re talking about don’t talk about it. And those who talk about it don’t know what they’re talking about.”

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars but I'm in a good mood so I'll bump it up to a 4.

This book teaches us that in order for Zion to be built we have to be a Zion people. I admit, reading this was sometimes discouraging because I was thinking there's no way I can be that good, or people as a whole to be that good, but the last section of the book really broke it down as to what we need to do specifically and that gave me hope. Overall, I learned new things about the gospel, received new insights on certain principles, and really am thinking about ways to live my life differently. The biggest "aha moment" I had was the difference between lack of faith and lack of belief. We can have great faith that something is true, yet not believe that it's true for us. Unbelief is thinking that something is only for a righteous person, not for a sinner like me. I never even realized I was thinking that way and now that I recognize it I hope to change that thought process.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got so much out of reading this book. It's a little heavy and will probably be underappreciated if you're not "all in" as far as the Church goes. But if you are all in, it's a treasure trove of motivation, inspiration, and unique insight for amazing things that are coming that we should be preparing ourselves for now.

[Shane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an AWESOME book!! If you're LDS and want to ponder ideas that you've never thought before then read this book! It's well written and flows pretty smoothly, but most of all the message is fascinating!

[Wendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

John's book Visions of Glory talks about wonderful things you can expect in the future. This book talks about the amazing things we can experience RIGHT NOW! Totally changed my perspective about the scriptures and completely changed my life goals.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good concepts in this book, but it needed a better editor! So repetitive! This book could have communicated the same information with a hundred less pages. But I really liked the concepts.

[Liesl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't speak highly enough of the books John Pontius has written. This is another wonderful book. He does such a wonderful job explaining coming to Christ, and our full dependence on Him. He teaches so well the need for personal revelation and how to listen for it and to learn from it. He constantly puts in scripture and the words of the Prophets as well. This book is about needing to become a Zion people in our hearts, in preparation for the coming of Christ.

From the book:
"Faith, true saving faith, is always centered in Christ. The reason for this is as vast as eternity and all that Christ has done for us, and as small and seemingly tiny as that still small voice that speaks to our soul. To recognize that voice as the actual and literal voice of Christ is to learn one of life's great mysteries. To take that voice as our guide is to learn one of life's great truths - which is that our conscience is never wrong, that love and happiness, joy and peace always flow from such obedience."

Here is a analogy from the book that I really liked:

"If a university worked this way, we would go to our first day of class and the professor would hand us a small, one question quiz. The answer would be on the board for all to copy onto their tests. It would be so easy that it might seem like a waste of time to even attend class. Many would stand up in disgust looking for a "real test " or a real teacher who really knew how to teach, because it couldn't be that easy (see Alma 37:46). Yet, if we exercised a little faith and took the time to jot down the answer and hand in our test, something magic would happen. All of the underlying knowledge that had underpinned and explained that answer would simply flow into our minds. As that knowledge distilled upon our minds, we would be changed, empowered day by day, little by little, bit by bit.
Every day as we attended class, the question and answer would be magically applicable in our lives, satisfying immediate needs and answering pressing questions. Class would be over right after the quiz. No lecture, no explanation, just the quiz. We would return the next day and have the same experience over and over until we rejoiced in and looked forward to each new quiz and the resultant influx of knowledge and the incremental enhancement to our abilities.
The only homework that would be required would be that we apply each new bit of knowledge from class into our lives. If we faltered in our homework and returned to class the next day, the professor wouldn't be there; nothing would be on the board, and we would go home empty handed and unfed. Occasionally we might return in great need, hoping for help with something urgent and frightening; but having failed in our homework, no matter how desperately we searched, our professor would not be in class that hour.
However, as we repented and applied the answers we learned to our daily challenges, our professor would return to class again and welcome us with loving acceptance each time, never unbraiding or criticizing our failures. He would just hand out a new quiz.
As we continued through the course we would begin to view life differently, and our service out of class would rise above our native abilities. Our homework would be a joy, hardly a sacrifice at all.
However, if we failed to show up at class or decided the answer on the board just couldn't be right and wrote something else down or insisted on our own answer, then the knowledge wouldn't flow, and we would begin to forget our lessons of prior days. We would watch some students go from that simple arrogant assertion of self-will all the way to dropping out of class altogether.
As we persisted day by day, our minds and souls would expand until we saw the beauty and power of what this amazing professor was trying to teach us. In time we would become not only educated in what he wished to teach us, but we would also become like him. . .
In a far greater way, this is what Jesus Christ offers us in His divine classroom. He teaches us by providing answers to simple quizzes. "Say your sorry. Drive the speed limit. Tell the truth. Say family prayers". If we do our homework, which is to simply obey and do, then we are changed and gifted with abilities and attributes such as humble acceptance of our faults, prideless repentance, love, patience, faith, and a host of other Christlike qualities that previously eluded us, which simply distill upon our souls. Not only this, but we also begin to understand the underlying truths such that these individual gospel truths and testimonies become "one great whole". By these simple things we are led to greater and greater strengths and sweeter purities until we are worthy to be in His presence. We become perfect by the fact that we are led by Christ, that He is in us and we are one with Him."

I love this because I have seen the same sort of thing in my life. This actually helped me with an issue I just now had. I have been led by the Spirit to work on some things in my life that are seemingly small. I was not feeling led by the Spirit anymore when asking fir guidance. I was feeling frustrated and alone. Then finally I was reprimanded and realized I had already received a while ago what I was to be working on. I have been, but it isn't second nature yet. It isn't who I am yet. When I read this, it reaffirmed my answer, and made sense to me.

As I said, great book.

[Rusty Cannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is just a mechanics thing but this was the first time I've listened to an audio book that permitted faults in the reading (coughs, reflux pauses, etc.).

As for the book itself, the subject is fascinating. I gained great insights on the matter based on thoughts of the author. It felt like quotes and scriptures were repeated often. I sometimes found it difficult to follow the train of thought as presented.

The book helped me to think on things I haven't previously considered and I'm grateful for what I learned! You had to put in effort to pull out the gems though.

[Kambrie Ross · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only read the first 14 pages but didn't want to finish after that as it wasn't very compelling to me. I LOVED his book Visions of Glory, and I feel like that book was mostly spot on with my beliefs. This one, not so much. I felt like some of the conclusions he made were a bit of a stretch. I think it could be faith-building for some, but it wasn't really strumming my truth string.

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hope in troubled times

This will give you hope and direction in what lies ahead. The restored gospel of Jesus Christ is alive and for all those who are willing to be apart of! John is first a follower of Jesus Christ and then a teacher of his work.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful and enlightening book

Brother Pontius is a very powerful writer! Every member of The Church of Jesus of Latter Day Saints should be greatly enlightened and inspired by reading and studying this book!

Thank you Brother Pontius

[jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enlightening

One of my favorite spiritual books. I love this author. He has a way with writing with love and truth providing invaluable information.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long time to get through this book - it’s marked up, underlined and highlighted on nearly every page. There is so much in this that has helped me in my personal spiritual journey beyond any other book I’ve read (excepting the scriptures). I will definitely read again -

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading

Scriptures are brought forth in a new light. He does have a lot of repetition but that was ok. Perhaps those who don't like this book aren't ready for it.

[Sirpa Grierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many interesting quotations throughout the book, making it a treasure trove on the subject of approaching Zion. Pontius has obviously spent many years studying the scriptures and writings of the brethren and understands what it means to be striving to be sanctified.

While I feel the author was a very good man and stalwart member of the LDS church who points the way to Zion I do have some small criticisms and reservations. My biggest reservation is with his focus on the doctrine of translation. I think it is definitely possible but not something that, just like the 12 Nephite apostles at the visit of Christ exhibited, need necessarily be the wish of each of our hearts. When we align our will with that of God, we will each be given specific tasks to complete prior to the Savior's return, only one of which might be serving in a translated capacity. My second comment is that the book really is overly long and would be much tighter with editing. This book would have been much less cumbersome to read with tightening under the hand of an exacting editor.

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

He had some good things to say about the gospel of Jesus Christ. In some respects the book struggled to cope with the vast scope of its subject. The best part of the book and the most significant takeaways for me are about repentance and the light of Christ, and hearkening to the light of Christ. Like his other book Following the Light of Christ into His Presence, that is really the most enlightening subject John Pontius taught about, at least for me.

This book touches on many important doctrinal topics such as fulness of the priesthood, calling and election, translation, and the second comforter, and has some good things to say about them, but in my opinion falls short of conveying an in depth and extremely clear understanding of these subjects. The interested reader will need to go elsewhere to expand and clarify their understanding.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

2013: Awesome book!!! Finally a book that talks about what is important in this life. Becoming a Zion person, a Zion family, a Zion neighborhood, eventually a Zion city. I read this book really fast and kinda jumped around because I only had the book for a week. I will definitely buy this book and study it, more than once.

Second Read 2015: I took my time and read each section carefully marking my scriptures and cross referencing other verses. After all that was done, the book could have been condensed just a bit. Although the message is worthy of repeat, it got a little redundant the second time through. Like any other good book, I gleaned more from the pages the second time through. It is still a book that I own and will refer to it often.

[Rochelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a lot that this book taught me, but perhaps the most profound is this:

"Just as Enoch had to build his Zion to save the righteous from the universal destruction of the flood, we must build Zion in our day to save the righteous from the universal cleansing by fire that will accompany Christ's glorious return."

I love this comparison because it means that if I have Zion in my heart, I will not have to participate in the destruction that will occur. I will not have to be physically affected by it. I will be safe and I will be doing what the Lord wants me to do. I will be doing what I want to be doing, and what I love.

[Swhe641200 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suggested by Kelly Bingham. I enjoyed this book not as much as Following the Light of Christ into his presence. But it is about becoming a Zion People while we are here on the earth. It was deep and gave a lot of insight into living closer to the spirit and the Lord. It we do these things we can have our calling and elections made sure while we are here on the earth. It was good I think I tried to read to read it to fast because he was coming to a fireside and I wanted it finished before he came. It gave a lot on insight to live closer to the Spirit and truly know the Lord.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I defiantly learned some things. I always appreciate getting out my box and I enjoy being challenged. He backs up a lot of what he says with 20 quotes each it seems and I appreciate that. However he will throw random statements in and not back them up at all. For this reason of having several opinions not backed up with any doctrine I have lowered my rating. He also has an unusual obsession with the doctrine of translation. I will have to study this more from another source as I do not come to the same conclusions he does in some instances.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as challenging a book as I have ever read. Challenging in that it made me take a serious look at my life, and decide that I wanted to make some changes and reach higher than I had been reaching. I LOVED this book. I am getting set to read it again. And I'm sure I'll read it many more times after that. Read this book!

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religously specific, this was a very interesting and thought provoking discource on scriptural promises and their attainment. I found it a difficult read personally, but very thought provoking. Personally I found the writing style difficult to read, and that's why I'm rating it lower than I might otherwise.

[Tyler E Toone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly an amazing book! There are so many great references and quotes that it is worth studying. There is a treasure chest full of doctrinal power about building Zion, living a more righteous life, and how to individually become pure in heart. The book may become difficult to comprehend in certain sections, but stay the course and finish it. Building Zion starts with each one of us.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rated this 5 because of the content, not necessarily the author's writing style. It was actually kind of hard for me to get through, largely because there is just so much information that requires meditating on, but it was very motivating.

[W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A more detailed account of Johns other books on following the spirit and becoming a zion people. I enjoyed it, but I liked Following the light of Christ into His presence much better. Different, but better in my opinion.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very heavy read. I read it twice and spent some time studying with it. John Pontius had some very interesting insights that helped me in considering my own life's mission. It's a book that would only be appreciated by a very devout LDS audience.

[Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks, uncle John, for writing a book on a subject that few LDS people think about.