KnoWhy #247 - Why Do the Prophets Speak of Multiple Jerusalems? (Ether 13:3-6)

In Ether 13, Moroni continued his abridgment of the writings of the Jaredite prophet, Ether, starting with Ether’s prophecies regarding what would happen in the future upon the lands which were given to the Jaredites as “a choice land” (Ether 13:2–4). Ether declared that this land, understood to be located on the American continent, “was the place of the New Jerusalem” (Ether 13:3). Over the next few verses, Moroni presents Ether as having spoken of three holy cities—three Jerusalems—which are apparently distinct: 1. The New Jerusalem to come down from heaven (Ether 13:3) 2. The Jerusalem of ancient Israel (Ether 13:5) 3. A new Jerusalem on the American continent (Ether 13:6) . Moroni used Ether’s words to emphasize how these holy cities will play an important role in the last days, as the earth is renewed before Christ’s millennial reign and also after the Millennium when the earth is once again renewed, or transformed, into a celestial realm (Ether 13:3–8).