Choose Between Babylon and Zion: An Exploration of Enmity and Peace

Babylon, oh Babylon, We Bid Thee Farewell

Zion D&C 45 66 And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God 68 And every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion 69 And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; And it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another D&C 101 4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son 5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified 6 Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; Therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances

We cannot see Zion while we still search for Babylon

Which Will We Choose? Babylon View Zion View Natural Man In search of self seeking Emnity

Catherine Thomas Few of us could say that our heart is free of enmity, even though we may want to hide it from ourselves and downplay its extent and impact in our lives. It may surface in us while we re driving or at a sporting event, or when someone disagrees with us, offends, criticizes, shows lack of respect for, or is abusive to us. Under these conditions, we may manifest feelings of enmity in overt ways or in subtle ways: Through blaming, accusing, trying to control another, subtle put-downs disguised as jokes, trivializing another s opinions or feelings or being, Undermining, threatening, name-calling, forgetting things important to the other, ordering another around, and abusive anger. Emnity is contempt, manifested not only in words but also in subtle facial expressions like eye- rolling or narrowing of eyes, cold silences, don t touch me , giving each other the look. If the words or attitudes disempower, show disrespect, or devalue the other, then they are abusive. [and we are being driven by emnity] (Light in the Wilderness, Chapter 8)

Which Will We Choose? Babylon View Zion View Natural Man In search of self seeking Emnity and competition Rooted in Fear Resistance to others Remembering offenses of others Replaying our own misdeeds Divine Self In search of Joy Unity (One Heart) Roots in Love and Gratitude Responsive to others Remembering the kindness of others Forgiving our own misdeeds

Terry Warner We are constantly receiving signals from others that reveal something of their needs and hopes and fears We are called upon by other s unspoken requests, expressed in their faces and gestures and voices, to treat them with consideration and respect. To be a person in a family [or Zion] is to pick up from others such gently expressed imperatives as these. Our humanity consists of our ability to sense and respect and respond to the humanity of others. The fundamental ingredient is an awakening of each individual to others and a willing effort to respond without any personal agenda in exactly the way that seems more right, considerate, and helpful. Bonds That Make Us Free, p. 129

Catherine Thomas Unloving thoughts about ourselves and others cannot endure in eternity because they do not perceive things as they really are; they are not true But loving, generous, merciful thoughts do belong to Eternity, are real, will endure. Man sins against himself when he indulges in enmity because he was not created emotionally neutral; rather, he has a deep, divine need both for inner harmony as well as connectedness with other people.

D&C 105