TWENTY PRIESTHOOD LAWS AND EVIDENCES, Ch8 P4 of The Church and the Priesthood

TWENTY PRIESTHOOD LAWS AND EVIDENCES, Chapter 8 Part 4 of The Church and the Priesthood by Ogden Kraut

Babylon vs. Zion

The word Babylon has been given many definitions in both ancient and modern times. It has been referred to as–

A great and ancient city

An evil empire

A wicked, apostate government

Worldly and spiritual wickedness 5.An evil latter-day international world government

[143] The Lord told the Latter-day Saints:

Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. (D & C 133:14)

To understand Babylon you need to understand its opposite–Zion. All the opposite definitions of Zion describe Babylon, i.e., the impure in heart, rebellious, wicked, corrupt, lustful, apostate and hostile. Dr. Hugh Nibley explained:

Babylon is just as pure in its way as is Zion; it is pure evil–for even good, when it becomes contaminated and perverted, becomes an evil. The main thing is that Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree; a Zion that makes concessions is no longer Zion. (“What is Zion?– A Distant View,” Nibley, p. 5)

Conversely, if we could convert and change Babylon to righteousness, then it would become a Zion. However, it is impossible to convert the great and evil international Babylon which is to “become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, . . .” (Rev. 18:2) It is for this reason the Lord said, “I will not spare any that remain in Babylon” (D & C 64:24); “Go ye forth of Babylon” (1 Nephi 20:20); “Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity” (Jer. 51:6).

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