Zion in the Midst of Babylon

This is a beautiful message from Elder David R. Stone of the Seventy.  Given in 2006 his remarks entitled "Zion in the Midst of Babylon" are very applicable to us today.  

We face all sorts of challenges and opposition in these latter-days.  So, we share this message as a reminder and strengthener for us all.  The Lord wants us to have the blessings available to all who seek Him and sincerely strive to keep His commandments.  In that spirit - we share the following about overcoming the world and becoming a Zion people:

"Seduced by our culture, we often hardly recognize our idolatry, as our strings are pulled by that which is popular in the Babylonian world. Indeed, as the poet Wordsworth said: “The world is too much with us” (“The World Is Too Much with Us; Late and Soon,” in The Complete Poetical Works of William Wordsworth.)

In his first epistle, John writes:

“I have written unto you … because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 Jn. 2:14–15).

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.

We can live as a Zion people, if we wish to. Will it be hard? Of course it will, for the waves of Babylonian culture crash incessantly against our shores. Will it take courage? Of course it will.

We have always been entranced by tales of courage of those who faced fearsome odds and overcame. Courage is the basis and foundation for all of our other virtues; the lack of courage diminishes every other virtue that we have. If we are to have Zion in the midst of Babylon, we will need courage.  Read full text of "Zion in the Midst of Babylon"