Reading discourses given by LDS leaders during the 1850s, one sees how consistent and central the theme of building Zion was to the Church during that decade. Here’s a few representative quotes from then: 1852: “Don’t mention Joseph Smith — never mention the Book of Mormon or Zion, and all the people will follow you.” […]
‘Thoughts on Zion’ newspaper column
Thoughts on Zion 17 – Utah’s Zion History
The Mormon leaders in the 1800s were focused on building a Zion society here in the Mountain West, not in some ephemeral way, but in a very real here-and-now, brick and mortar kind of way. The doctrine of building a Zion society was central to the Gospel message being preached. We see in an 1852 […]
Thoughts on Zion 16 – Pride-Based Economics
In this column, we have been exploring pride-based social institutions that make up a Babylon society, and, their humility-based counterparts in a Zion society. Let’s now consider pride-based economic systems. In President Benson’s landmark talk, “Beware of Pride” he says it is pride that motivates us to do our own will and not the will […]
Thoughts on Zion 15 – Humility-Based Education
In contrast to last time’s discussion of the pride-based school system mentioned in the Book of Mormon, this time we’ll take a first look at a [mostly] humility-based model. Amulon’s Lamanite school system was “pride-based” because it included tax-funded schools and rejected teaching anything to do with God or his prophets. Until our economy becomes […]
Jesse 'Thoughts on Zion' newspaper column education, learning, schools
Thoughts on Zion 14 – Pride-Based Education
Previously we explored how pride or humility gets incorporated into governments, which then reinforce one or the other in the people. In this way, governments are one of several “cultural pumps” moving a society towards either Babylon or Zion. Another is education. The Book of Mormon offers examples of both humility and pride-based education. One […]
Thoughts on Zion 13 – Pride-Based Government
Last time we explored how the principles of pride or humility get incorporated into our social institutions which then reinforce pride or humility in the people. Over time, these “cultural pumps” move the society towards Babylon and self-destruction, or towards Zion and peace and prosperity. Let’s explore briefly how the Nephites incorporated pride into their […]
Thoughts on Zion 12: Cultural Pumps
Elder David R. Stone, in his Conference talk, “Zion in the Midst of Babylon”, taught that Babylon has a culture. And, since Zion is an alternate society to Babylon, it has a culture too. Common definitions of “culture” include the social institutions that pass on that society’s values. I propose that it is the nature […]
Thoughts on Zion 11: Kings in Babylon or Zion
The premise in this series has been that in order to “flee Babylon” and “build Zion” we must understand with clarity the difference between the two, and the line separating them. Once we do, how to move from one to the other should become crystal clear. In quick review, here are the two foundational values […]
Jesse 'Thoughts on Zion' newspaper column babylon, humility, pride, zion
Thoughts on Zion 10: Pride to Destruction in Six Easy Steps
While pondering the Book of Mormon verses mentioning “gain”, a step-by-step process opened up that shows how pride leads to Babylon, Zion’s opposite, and then to society’s demise. 1. Pride includes the belief that some are worth more or worth less than others (Alma 32:2-3), in contrast to God’s valuing everyone as equally precious (Jacob […]
Thoughts on Zion 9: The Two Faces of Humility
As a people interested in fleeing Babylon and building Zion, we need to thoroughly understand the similarities and differences between pride, the foundation of Babylon, and humility, which leads society to Zion. Pondering President Benson’s landmark talk, “Beware of Pride“, it became clear that both pride and humility have two faces: how we relate to […]
Jesse 'Thoughts on Zion' newspaper column God, humility, one, unity
Thoughts on Zion 8: The Two Faces of Pride
If we are truly interested in fleeing Babylon and then building Zion, we need to thoroughly understand the similarities and differences between pride, which moves society towards Babylon, and humility, which leads us to Zion. Pondering President Benson’s landmark talk, “Beware of Pride“, it becomes clear that both pride and humility have two main components: […]
Thoughts on Zion 7: Rooting Out Pride
Along our journey here, we came to conclude that: 1. “Babylon” is any culture that has incorporated pride-based beliefs and customs into its social organizations, such as families, schools, businesses, and government, 2. “Zion” is any culture that institutionalizes humility-based beliefs and customs into its social organizations, and 3. If we want to ‘flee Babylon’ […]
Thoughts on Zion 6: Zion has a Culture!
The ideas shared here opened my eyes to see Babylon and Zion much more clearly and helped me better understand how to move from the former to the latter. In his General Conference talk in April 2006, Elder David R. Stone of Second Quorum of the Seventy took a good portion of his talk to […]
Thoughts on Zion 5: How Humility Leads to Zion
Before we explore something both Babylon and Zion have in common, let’s take a closer look at two conclusions we came to in a previous column: “Pride is the steppingstone to Babylon” and “Humility is the steppingstone to Zion”. How can pride lead to Babylon and humility to Zion? Imagine wearing a pair of glasses. […]