4 Nephi 1

The brief Book of Nephi that which is now called Fourth Nephi includes close to 300 years of history.  It reflects first the doctrine and lifestyle of a "Zion" type society and then follows with a progressive oultine of a fall from this society of happiness to the state where there is great wickedness and unhappiness with almost no apparent good.  I thought I would focus more on the extended period and state of righteousness where people experienced more prosperity and happiness that has ever been experienced on the face of the earth.  In my mind, "Zion" is living according to the laws of the Celestial kingdom on earth.

In doing so, I first need to comment that Mormon shared just a brief summary of some 200 years of happiness and righteousness because, in my mind, that all these good works would be so repetitive that it would become somewhat meaningless to the modern day reader with no warning to repent.  As Mormon reviews 200 years of righteous history, he records in his abridgement that after the Savior's ascension, the disciples continued to preach the gospel and -

"...as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost.
2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.
3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:1 - 3)

It was in a Zion society that all were converted, not just baptized, even to the point they had all things in common.  I don't believe that this meant that it was a "communistic" society, but that everyone was unselfish, shared with their own agency (all made free) , those things they had to the poor and needy.  In such a lifestyle, all cared and loved one another.  No one was esteemed above his neighbor.  It was then in this society that the Holy Ghost magnified the bestowed gifts that each possessed to bless the lifes of all.  And because of that -

"...there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did heal the sick, and raise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of miracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:5)

And thus -

"...the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the land..."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:7)

I note the word "exceedingly".  There are other things that tended to provide such a happy society -

"...they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:11)

The family is where the greatest happiness comes.  And -

"...they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:12)

Happiness continues to be dependent upon principles of the gospel.  And what is most critical to a happy society -

"...there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.
16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:15 - 16)

And because they were all one in unityand love with no classes for -

"There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:17)

In summary, Mormon records of this great time period -

"...how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land."  (Book of Mormon  4 Nephi 1:18)

This is the society that we look forward to in the Celestial kingdom.