Come To Zion
Leave Babylon Behind
My daughter recently had an experience that I have alluded to in a previous post. She had taken here children to the public library near her home and while looking for some books noted that a man was sitting at a computer and viewing pornography. Her story can be found here. Then just a couple of weeks ago she, her husband and a friend were sitting in a Bakery and she looked over at a young man that she thought was perhaps 18-19 years old. His computer was in full view and there again she saw that he was looking at pornography.
Just in the last few days while doing Internet searches; I found something very disturbing to me. I had started a new blog for my grandchildren and thought that perhaps I could find some clip art to add to my first post. I put in the search the words; pictures of grandpa and grandma. Many sites came up but the disturbing one was an ad for a Grandpa and Grandma having sex video. Plus various other suggestive sites. I was sickened by this. Yesterday, I was looking for an old time saying that I couldn't remember the last part of it. I put what I knew in the search. There were a number of sites with old sayings; but on the search page was a topic that again made me angry. It said for those who are having their first lesbian experience. Just think how easy your children can innocently find sites like these.
Babylon is the world; it is the kingdom of Satan. Only by coming to Zion can we bind Satan from our lives. I read an article this week by Mary Ellen Edmunds entitled: "Letting go of the World: It is Time to "Sell the Summer Cottage in Babylon". Her address was given at a LDS Women's Conference in 2009.
My question is how long do you stay in your summer cottage in Babylon. What kind of media do we watch, what kind of movies do we attend, what kind of books and magazines do we read, what kind of events do we go to, how do we dress and act???? Perhaps, it is time to clean and sell our cottage in Babylon and prepare to meet Zion. Sister Edmunds said the following: If we're not building Zion-God's Kingdom -we're supporting Babylon!
Pres. Brigham Young one of the prophets in the early days of the restoration said: "All Latter-day Saints enter the new and everlasting covenant when they enter this church. the covenant to cease sustaining, upholding and cherishing the kingdom of the devil and the kingdoms of this world. They enter the new and every lasting covenant to sustain the Kingdom of God and no other kingdom. They take a vow of the most solemn kind, before the heavens and earth...that they will sustain truth and righteousness instead of wickedness and falsehood, and build up the Kingdom of God, instead of the kingdoms of this world."
I have been noting the dress code that even the daughters and mothers of Zion are wearing. They are many who wear inappropriate styles. The low necklines, tight shirts and short skirts and casual footwear have invaded our churches.
Our young woman have clearly been taught to dress modestly. Mother's of Zion where are you in this teaching process? Are you an example of modesty in dress and attitude?
This morning I turned to the New Testament and the page fell opened on 1 Tim. 2:9-10;
9. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10. But (which becometh women professing godliness with good works)."
The Strength of Youth Pamphlet states the following on modesty and appearance: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 3:16–17
Other Standards
"Your body is sacred. Respect it and do not defile it in any way. Through your dress and appearance, you can show that you know how precious your body is. You can show that you are a disciple of Jesus Christ and that you love Him.
Agency and Accountability
Dating
Dress and Appearance
Education
Entertainment and Media
Family
Friends
Gratitude
Honesty and Integrity
Language
Music and Dancing
Physical and Emotional Health
Repentance
Sabbath Day Observance
Service
Sexual Purity
Tithes and Offerings
Work and Self-Reliance
Go Forward with FaithProphets of God have continually counseled His children to dress modestly. When you are well groomed and modestly dressed, you invite the companionship of the Spirit and you can be a good influence on others. Your dress and grooming influence the way you and others act.
Never lower your standards of dress. Do not use a special occasion as an excuse to be immodest. When you dress immodestly, you send a message that is contrary to your identity as a son or daughter of God. You also send the message that you are using your body to get attention and approval.
Immodest clothing is any clothing that is tight, sheer, or revealing in any other manner. Young women should avoid short shorts and short skirts, shirts that do not cover the stomach, and clothing that does not cover the shoulders or is low-cut in the front or the back. Young men should also maintain modesty in their appearance. Young men and young women should be neat and clean and avoid being extreme or inappropriately casual in clothing, hairstyle, and behavior. They should choose appropriately modest apparel when participating in sports. The fashions of the world will change, but the Lord’s standards will not change."
Elder Neil Maxwell reminded us that; "The tugs and pulls of the world are powerful. Worldly lifestyles are cleverly reinforced by the rationalization, 'Everybody is doing it... Has Zion sometimes become a tiny three-hour island on Sunday, surrounded by the rest of the week in Babylon?..... God's plan is not the plan of pleasure; it is the 'plan of happiness."
Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley stated the following: "We live in a season when fierce men do terrible and despicable things. We live in a season of war. We live in a season of arrogance. We live in a season of wickedness, pornography, immorality. all of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah haunt our society. Our young people have never faced a greater challenge. We have never seen more clearly the lecherous face of evil."
Sister Mary Ellen Edmonds closed her address with the following thoughts: " Let's examine our hearts, our habits, our choices. What is it we love most? What would we give up in order to come closer to God, to know Him? Take time for personal spiritual refreshment and renewal, Will it be Zion, or Will it be Babylon? Think of the implications of our exercise of agency as we are daily pulled between Zion and Babylon, and choose Zion!
The Lord calls us to come to Zion:
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