The New Jerusalem — Two Holy Cities, Two World Capitals
Jerusalem will be rebuilt — and a second holy city will be built in America.
Jerusalem's Future Restoration
Most Christians who read their Bibles believe Jerusalem has a prophetic future. Isaiah spoke of Zion being established in the last days. Zechariah described Jerusalem as the center of Christ's kingdom. Revelation 21 describes a new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven. Even traditions that spiritualize most Old Testament prophecy tend to preserve some expectation of Jerusalem's future importance.
The Latter-day Saint reading of these prophecies affirms Jerusalem's restoration. Latter-day scripture agrees: the ancient city will be rebuilt, the Jewish people will gather, and Christ will appear at Jerusalem at His second coming — a coming that includes a dramatic appearance on the Mount of Olives, which Zechariah described and the Doctrine and Covenants confirms.
But the restored gospel adds something that no other Christian tradition teaches: Jerusalem is not the only holy city of the last days. There will be two.
The Second Holy City
The Book of Mormon teaches explicitly what Isaiah pointed toward: a second holy city will be built in the last days, and it will be built in America — not as a replacement for Jerusalem, but as its companion. Two capitals. Two centers. Two Zions. Christ will reign over both.
3 Nephi 20:22
“And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.”
Christ is speaking to the Nephites on the American continent. He identifies their land as the site of the New Jerusalem. The New Jerusalem is not Revelation 21's heavenly city descending as a completed divine gift — it is a city the saints will build, in preparation for Christ's coming, on this earth.
Ether 13:3–6
“And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord. Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake concerning a New Jerusalem upon this land. And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come — after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old — but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel. And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph.”
Ether's vision establishes both cities: the old Jerusalem rebuilt for the house of Israel, and a new Jerusalem built upon the American continent for the remnant of Joseph. Two gatherings, two cities, one King.
Where the New Jerusalem Will Be Built
In 1831, the Lord identified the specific location of the New Jerusalem:
D&C 57:1–3
“Hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, who have assembled yourselves together, according to my commandments, in this land, which is the land of Missouri, which is the land which I have appointed and consecrated for the gathering of the saints. Wherefore, this is the land of promise, and the place for the city of Zion. And thus saith the Lord your God, if you will receive wisdom here is wisdom unto you — Behold, the place which is now called Independence is the center place; and a spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the courthouse.”
Independence, Missouri. That is the designated center of the New Jerusalem. The Lord named it specifically, identified the temple lot, and declared it the land of promise for the gathering of the saints in this dispensation.
The saints were driven out of Missouri in 1838–39. The city has not yet been built. But the designation stands. The word of the Lord does not expire. Independence, Missouri will be the center of the New Jerusalem — not in the 1830s, but in the due time of the Lord, before His return.
When It Will Be Built
The New Jerusalem will be built before the Second Coming — it is a preparatory city, not a post-millennial one. Isaiah 2:2–3 describes the mountain of the Lord's house being established “in the top of the mountains” and all nations flowing unto it, with the law going forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. This is a world with two centers of divine governance — the law from Zion (the New Jerusalem) and the word from Jerusalem.
Key References
- D&C 57:1–3 — Independence, Missouri designated as center of New Jerusalem
- 3 Nephi 20:22 — Christ promises New Jerusalem on the American continent
- Ether 13:2–6 — Both cities described: old Jerusalem rebuilt, New Jerusalem for remnant of Joseph
- Revelation 21:2 — The new Jerusalem descending from God; the fulfilled state
- Isaiah 2:2–3 — Law from Zion, word from Jerusalem; two centers
The building of the New Jerusalem is part of the preparatory work of the last days. The City of Enoch will descend from heaven to meet it. The returning translated people of Enoch will embrace the living saints of the New Jerusalem. And then the Second Coming proceeds.
Two Capitals of Christ's Kingdom
The two holy cities are not competing claims. They are the two capitals of one kingdom — the kingdom of God on earth during the Millennium, when Christ reigns personally.
Isaiah's vision of nations streaming to the mountain of the Lord and learning His ways is the Millennium described in advance. The law going forth from Zion — from the New Jerusalem in America — represents one administrative capital. The word going forth from Jerusalem represents the other. Together they govern the earth during the thousand-year reign of Christ.
This is not Latter-day speculation. It is Isaiah, read straight — two centers, one King.
The Millennium and the New Jerusalem
The Millennium does not begin with a pre-built divine gift dropped from heaven. It begins with the work of the saints in the last days — gathering Israel, building Zion, preparing a people and a place worthy to receive their King. The New Jerusalem is the crown of that preparation.
Revelation 21's “new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven” is likely the ultimate, glorified state of the city at the close of the Millennium — the completed, eternal version of what was begun by saints before the Second Coming. The heavenly city and the earthly city are the same city at different stages of its glory.
God is building something. It has a name, a location, and a timing. The saints are part of its construction. And when it is ready, the King will come.