Zion in the Midst of Babylon

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Sunday afternoon session of the April 2006 conference.

Today we had a severe storm pass through including a tornado. My first clue was the sound of the sirens blasting away, and then an emergency notice on my phone to take cover now! I quickly gathered a few things and descended to the basement, set up my camp chair, sat down and cried. Severe weather is the only thing that really scares me. Cell service ceased for a time and I felt rather alone. Fortunately, the storm passed and we were spared any damage.

Spiritual storms swirl around us without much physical warning. Wickedness increases as does the darkness. It reminds me of what Gandalf said in Lord of the Rings about a darkness descending over the lands. It's very real!

I was impressed with Elder David R. Stone's talk about building Zion in the midst of Babylon. I didn't remember him and couldn't place his accent so I looked up information. He was born in Argentina, moving to Utah sometime in his teens. He lived and worked all over the world, and died in 2014. 

He could have been describing today's social media when he said, "People in every culture move within a cocoon of self-satisfied self-deception, fully convinced that the way they see things is the way things really are." This is probably nowhere more true than in our politically polarized time. Elder Stone said, "There is, of course, a zeitgeist to which we should pay attention, and that is the ethos of the Lord, the culture of the people of God." When the prophet talks to us of being peacemakers, and thinking Celestial, we should give heed and do what he asks of us. We are supposed to be preparing for the Savior's Second Coming, not building bridges to Babylon. "We can create the real Zion among us by limiting the extent to which Babylon will influence our lives. . . . Seduced by our culture, we often hardly recognize our idolatry, as our strings are pulled by that which is popular in the Babylonian world." 

Doesn't this sound like good advice: "We do not need to adopt the standards, the mores, and the morals of Babylon. We can create Zion in the midst of Babylon. We can have our own standards for music and literature and dance and film and language. We can have our own standards for dress and deportment, for politeness and respect. We can live in accordance with the Lord's moral laws. We can limit how much of Babylon we allow into our homes by the media of communication."

I have long admired the Amish and Mennonite peoples for their courage to live differently and follow their consciences without regard to fitting in with the rest of the world. They are recognizable and so inspiring because of their modestly and virtue. Their courage to be different is admirable. "If we are to have Zion in the midst of Babylon, we will need courage." 

Elder Stone finishes, "We do not need to become puppets in the hands of the culture of the place and time. We can be courageous and can walk in the Lord's paths and follow His footsteps. And if we do, we will be called Zion, and we will be the people of the Lord. . . . We seek Zion because it is the habitation of our Lord, who is Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. In Zion, and from Zion, His luminous and incandescent light will shine forth, and He will rule forever." Yes! I'm looking forward to that day.

Elizabeth aka Noble

The Standard of Truth

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Saturday afternoon session of the October 2003 conference.

Opening up my November 2003 Ensign I was surprised to find that I had written something about Elder Boyd K. Packer's talk and left the pages in the magazine. I didn't date the pages but I suspect that it was early 2004.

"I finally watched the film 'Lord of the Rings'. I liked it so much I bought the books and have been reading them. They are fascinating and so well written. In the preface the author states that he did not write the story as an allegory. He wrote it simply as a story that had welled up from within him.

"I believe the reason many would think it allegorical is because the theme of good versus evil is an eternal one, and many elements of the story are applicable to our day and circumstances. He tells of the shadow which is spreading over the land, which is a tangible evidence of the evil designs and domination of Sauron, the Lord of the Ring, the one who made the ring so he could rule all of Middle Earth. It reminds me of the shadow of immorality that is spreading over the earth.

"When my sister was here in August we talked about her experiences at school and work and how she answers questions about her beliefs. On the topic of abortion she's never had trouble explaining her beliefs and positions; but when the subject of homosexual marriage comes up, she didn't know how to respond so she would try to stay out of any discussion of that topic.

"I thought of her when I heard Elder Packer's talk about standards. What a blessing to have prophets to speak the truth. 

"Hugh B. Brown's famous talk 'Profile of a Prophet' outlines several characteristics distinguishing a true prophet.

C. Any man claiming to be a prophet of God would declare his message without fear and without making any weak concessions to public opinions.

D. If he were speaking for God he could not make concessions although what he taught would be new and contrary to the accepted teachings of the day. A prophet bears witness to what he has seen and heard and seldom tried to make a case by argument. His message and not himself is important.

I. Such a man would denounce wickedness fearlessly. He would generally be rejected or persecuted by the people of his time, but later generations, the descendants of his persecutors, would build monuments in his honor. 

Elder Packer said, "We do not set the Standards, but we are commanded to teach them and maintain them. . . . However out of step we may seem, however much the standards are belittled, however much others yield, we will not yield, we cannot yield."

I think this next paragraph is as relevant today as when Elder Packer said it in Conference. 

Now words can be used as weapons against you. If they throw the word diversity at you, grab hold of it and say, "I am already diverse, and I intend to stay diverse." If the word is tolerance, grab that one too, saying, "I expect you to be tolerant of my lifestyle--obedience, integrity, abstinence, repentance." If the word is choice, tell them you choose good, old-fashioned morality, You choose to be a worthy husband or wife, a worthy parent.

I love the strength of his testimony! Some thought him too harsh, but he was doing exactly what an apostle is supposed to do--preach truth! 

I can tell how closely I'm aligned with the prophets and apostles by what I feel when they speak. If their subject brings feelings of contentment and peace I know I doing well in that area. If I start to squirm and feel uncomfortable I know I'd better pay attention and do some repenting.

 

Marilyn at light-in-leaves also blogs weekly about General Conference.