Come to Zion, come to Zion: Utah park abounds in religious references

ZION NATIONAL PARK — Zion is a unique national park where visitors receive a limited biblical and Book of Mormon education as part of their standard tour — whether they want it or not.

That's because Zion is steeped in religious overtones — since the park's essential history and many of its names come from scripture.

Ride the Zion shuttle buses and audio recordings recite to all passengers some of this religious history of the park, referring to the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

For a few minutes, its reminiscent of a Temple Square tour. You'd be hard-pressed to find another national park so steeped in religious references.

Lest anyone jump to the conclusion that all of Zion National Park's named features stemmed from influences by Utah's predominant religion — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — don't overlook that three of the park's most popular features are not Mormon-named.

Angels Landing, a popular hiking destination, was named by the Rev. Frederick Vining of Ogden in 1916. He believed angels would never land on nearby Great White Throne — a seat for deity — but would instead reverently pause at the foot, to pay their obeisance, from Angels Landing.

Vining is also credited with naming the Great White Throne.

Most times he's also credited for naming the Three Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac and Jacob), though Claude Hirschi, an early Mormon stake president in the area, is also said by at least one source to have affixed those titles.

Kolob Canyons and Kolob Arch get their titles from the Pearl of Great Price, an LDS book of scripture, that mentions a star, Kolob, as nearest the residence of God.

Mount Moroni is named for a Book of Mormon prophet.

Zion is simply a national park rife with connotations and descriptions of that variety that seem so appropriate to such an inspiring place.

For example, there's also the North and South Guardian Angels, Tabernacle Dome, the East and West Temples, the Altar of Sacrifice, The Pulpit and Cathedral Mountain.

The park's overall name too has roots in the Bible. Zion, a Hebrew word referring to a place of safety or refuge, was given to the canyon by Mormon pioneers in the 1860s, according to the park's official website by the National Park Service.