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The Collected Works of Hugh Nibley #9
Approaching Zion
Approaching Zion is LDS scholar and social critic Hugh Nibley's most popular book. More accessible than many of his scholarly works, it is replete with Nibley's trademark humor and startling insights into history, religion and life.
Well known and beloved in its text form, most of the essays in this book were originally delivered as speeches. This audio version, read by the author's son, Thomas Hugh Nibley, evokes the original delivery of Hugh Nibley the speaker with his slashing wit, profound scholarship, and burning faith.
In Approaching Zion, Hugh Nibley gives thinkers reason to believe, and believers something to think about.
631 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1989
104 people are currently reading
863 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Nibley
152 books95 followersHugh Winder Nibley was one of Mormonism's most celebrated scholars. Nibley is notable for his extensive research and publication on ancient languages and culture, his vigorous defense of doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for frankly discussing what he saw as the shortcomings of the LDS people and culture.
A prolific author and professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, he was fluent in over ten languages, including Classical Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Coptic, Arabic, German, French, English, and Spanish languages. He also studied Dutch and Russian during World War II.
In addition to his efforts as a scholar, Nibley was well known for writings and lectures on LDS scripture and doctrinal topics, many of which were published in LDS Church magazines. His book “An Approach to the Book of Mormon” was used as a lesson manual for the LDS Church in 1957.
A prolific author and professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, he was fluent in over ten languages, including Classical Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Egyptian, Coptic, Arabic, German, French, English, and Spanish languages. He also studied Dutch and Russian during World War II.
In addition to his efforts as a scholar, Nibley was well known for writings and lectures on LDS scripture and doctrinal topics, many of which were published in LDS Church magazines. His book “An Approach to the Book of Mormon” was used as a lesson manual for the LDS Church in 1957.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
August 12, 2013
As a non-Mormon living in Salt Lake City, I have spent the past several years trying to figure this place out. As a psychogeographer, I knew I had to get to the heart of this place through its geography. I became fascinated and obsessed with the layout of the city and the original Zion Plat. This inquiry led me to Nibley, where I not only confirmed some of my intuitive interpretations of this place, but also discovered a whole new way of seeing and understanding Zion, faith, and "place" in a broader sense. Nibley has become an essential part of my personal philosophy and way of knowing the world, even though I do not share his faith, and I think that is pretty amazing. He also happens to write beautiful prose with stunning, revelatory insights.
May 26, 2017
This is the first work I've ever read by Hugh Nibley (and it is a collection of various speeches, so there is quite a bit of repetition and rough organization from speech to speech). I went into it with no preconceived notions, and I didn't know anything about his political leanings. But after the first page, it was pretty clear where he stood. After reading Nibley (on the political left) and Cleon Skousen (political right)-- two men I see in parallel, though they are on opposite sides of the political spectrum-- all I can say is there are times when we need to be careful about framing our doctrinal interpretations through a modern political lens. Both men are guilty of this. Both provide ample scriptural (and sometimes obscure general authoritative) evidence to support their points. The reader needs to discern the truth behind their propositions and not defer their own ponderings on the subject just because both are great scholars. Even scholars can get it wrong (if you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail...)!
One such proposition of Nibley's was that we should all return to an agrarian lifestyle like Adam had. He believes it's what the Lord intended for man. While I find the "Little House on the Prairie" lifestyle as romantic as the next person and wouldn't mind living that way myself, I don't think it's practical; nor does it take in to account the gifts and stewardships of those reserved for these latter technological days-- surely the Lord has prepared the current generation beforehand for the current work, just as surely as He prepared earlier generations for theirs. And, to my knowledge, Nibley was not a farmer, himself! Yet he tells us that that's what we should all be. Sniff!
Nibley was anti-wealth as well. I was somewhat amused and somewhat horrified by Nibley's story about his father, how he cut down the redwood trees on their property for short-term wealth, thus depriving future generations of these magnificent trees. I don't know if I was more horrified by the loss of such trees, or by how Nibley was willing to throw his own father under the bus to make a political point! For all his talk about the evils of the pursuit of wealth, I couldn't help notice that his books have a very high price tag... even the Kindle edition of this book is $23 (and most of his other books are even higher). So much for the evils of the pursuit of wealth! I can only presume that at these prices, Nibley did quite well for himself.
I did enjoy the 11th chapter of this book (Three Degrees of Righteousness from the Old Testament). This is where Nibley shines for me, when he brings in the scholarly historical works and the meanings of the original Hebrew texts. This is the material I'm personally looking for and where I find the most benefit, and not in the commentary that supports a modern political ideology. I was also somewhat disappointed that very few of these speeches actually dealt with the concept of Zion, which is why I bought the book in the first place.
One such proposition of Nibley's was that we should all return to an agrarian lifestyle like Adam had. He believes it's what the Lord intended for man. While I find the "Little House on the Prairie" lifestyle as romantic as the next person and wouldn't mind living that way myself, I don't think it's practical; nor does it take in to account the gifts and stewardships of those reserved for these latter technological days-- surely the Lord has prepared the current generation beforehand for the current work, just as surely as He prepared earlier generations for theirs. And, to my knowledge, Nibley was not a farmer, himself! Yet he tells us that that's what we should all be. Sniff!
Nibley was anti-wealth as well. I was somewhat amused and somewhat horrified by Nibley's story about his father, how he cut down the redwood trees on their property for short-term wealth, thus depriving future generations of these magnificent trees. I don't know if I was more horrified by the loss of such trees, or by how Nibley was willing to throw his own father under the bus to make a political point! For all his talk about the evils of the pursuit of wealth, I couldn't help notice that his books have a very high price tag... even the Kindle edition of this book is $23 (and most of his other books are even higher). So much for the evils of the pursuit of wealth! I can only presume that at these prices, Nibley did quite well for himself.
I did enjoy the 11th chapter of this book (Three Degrees of Righteousness from the Old Testament). This is where Nibley shines for me, when he brings in the scholarly historical works and the meanings of the original Hebrew texts. This is the material I'm personally looking for and where I find the most benefit, and not in the commentary that supports a modern political ideology. I was also somewhat disappointed that very few of these speeches actually dealt with the concept of Zion, which is why I bought the book in the first place.
March 13, 2012
For some reason I've been drawn to Nibley's books since I was undergraduate at BYU many years ago. Recently a friend told me about the subject matter in this particular one and I decided it was time to read this.
This book touched me more deeply than any book other than holy writ itself. That was a surprise. Mr. Nibley discusses things that I don't hear anyone else talk about. He fearlessly calls out the evils of materialism in all of its forms. The beautiful Wasatch Front has sacrificed its beauty for some short-term monetary gain. He doesn't even spare his own grandfather, whom he actually speaks very favorably of.
My experience reading this book surprised me, to put it mildly. Some have complained about the repetition of the stories and examples form chapter to chapter. Get over that and absorb the subject matter. This wasn't written as a book; it's a compilation of talks given over many years. So naturally he may use of the same explanations. From my point of view, nobody else talks about these things so convincingly and with such passion. So I was happy to read through many of his examples multiple times to help me understand what he was saying.
Be advised that this book is freely available broken into chapters from the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship website hosted by BYU. (Just do a search using these words and you'll easily find it.) They are the holders to the copyright, so I guess they are happy to share. You can copy the chapter, paste it into a word document, then e-mail it to your Kindle. (Now maybe there's a way to drop a donation to them for providing such wonderful words for free!)
This book touched me more deeply than any book other than holy writ itself. That was a surprise. Mr. Nibley discusses things that I don't hear anyone else talk about. He fearlessly calls out the evils of materialism in all of its forms. The beautiful Wasatch Front has sacrificed its beauty for some short-term monetary gain. He doesn't even spare his own grandfather, whom he actually speaks very favorably of.
My experience reading this book surprised me, to put it mildly. Some have complained about the repetition of the stories and examples form chapter to chapter. Get over that and absorb the subject matter. This wasn't written as a book; it's a compilation of talks given over many years. So naturally he may use of the same explanations. From my point of view, nobody else talks about these things so convincingly and with such passion. So I was happy to read through many of his examples multiple times to help me understand what he was saying.
Be advised that this book is freely available broken into chapters from the Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship website hosted by BYU. (Just do a search using these words and you'll easily find it.) They are the holders to the copyright, so I guess they are happy to share. You can copy the chapter, paste it into a word document, then e-mail it to your Kindle. (Now maybe there's a way to drop a donation to them for providing such wonderful words for free!)
August 4, 2021
Having converted to the church in 2003, there is one thing I always had trouble with, I should say got into trouble for: bringing up the earlier teachings of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I realized that much of what was taught earlier had become taboo to the mainstream of the Church. I thought I was alone, for no one would answer my questions; then I found Hugh Nibley. This man, as stated by others, is THE scholar of Mormonism, and all else pale in comparison. This man’s influence has led me to pursue languages and scholarship on my own terms.
Pertaining to this book, Approaching Zion, it is by far in my top three of Nibley books. Chapter three, “Zeal without Knowledge,” alone is worth purchasing the book. This chapter evinces that simply having zeal for what you believe can lead to disastrous results. Nibley aptly suggests that knowledge provides the clutch and brakes necessary to bridle one’s zeal. For me, this undoubtedly connected with section eleven of the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein Hyrum is told to obtain the word of the Lord first, meaning consume and study the scriptures, before he attempted to declare the gospel before the world. Nibley points out repeatedly that most members are not interested in cultivating their minds. Many students at BYU do not seek education for this purpose; instead, their first question when pursuing a college degree is “how much money can I make with it?”
Another captivating chapter is “Work We Must, But The Lunch Is Free.” This chapter essentially defines, to an extent, the Lord’s definition of property rights. From the title of the chapter, it is clear that the Lord intends that all of his children have access to property for their own sustenance. This led me to investigate Alma chapter 35 on a much deeper level, and it shows that the competitive basis for acquiring property at the expense of the not-so-skilled is equivalent to the Nehor and Korihor doctrines in Alma chapters 1 and 30. The Lord’s economy is not based on invidious comparison that fuel an ire for crushing your economic opponent. Instead, it is based on need, which is also evident in the allotment of land given to each tribe of Israel in the Old Testament. The Lord does not dispense it based on who is more deserving but does so based on need: the larger tribe receives more land, the smaller tribe receives less.
Aside from these highlights, the book is packed with important information that reveals why exactly the Saints under Joseph Smith failed to establish Zion in Jackson County: they refused to live up to the higher laws required of them by the Lord. Some may balk at this, but I suggest that you read about the “First Provocation” where the children of Israel, in like manner, refused to live up to higher laws given them at Mt. Sinai. For this, they received the Mosaic Law, which is a lesser law for little children. One of my favorite parts of the book is where Nibley analyzes the attitude of these earlier Saints. When asked to consecrate some of their property for the erection of a new temple, the members were adamant that they had nothing to spare: though many of them had hundreds of acres they were setting aside for their unborn children. To mollify the prophet, they would offer him a rundown cow or a lame horse. Nibley compares this with the free-will offering to the Lord in the Old Testament, which was supposed to be your very best. However, because of the meanness of spirit portrayed, these early saints, like the children of Israel who offered such dross offerings, received covenant curses and were driven out of Jackson country.
There is so much more I could praise this book for, but I don’t want to give anymore away about this potential feast of would-be readers. If you are looking for someone who takes a baseball bat to the façade of mainstream Mormonism, then Nibley’s “Approaching Zion” is the tour de force you are looking for.
Pertaining to this book, Approaching Zion, it is by far in my top three of Nibley books. Chapter three, “Zeal without Knowledge,” alone is worth purchasing the book. This chapter evinces that simply having zeal for what you believe can lead to disastrous results. Nibley aptly suggests that knowledge provides the clutch and brakes necessary to bridle one’s zeal. For me, this undoubtedly connected with section eleven of the Doctrine and Covenants, wherein Hyrum is told to obtain the word of the Lord first, meaning consume and study the scriptures, before he attempted to declare the gospel before the world. Nibley points out repeatedly that most members are not interested in cultivating their minds. Many students at BYU do not seek education for this purpose; instead, their first question when pursuing a college degree is “how much money can I make with it?”
Another captivating chapter is “Work We Must, But The Lunch Is Free.” This chapter essentially defines, to an extent, the Lord’s definition of property rights. From the title of the chapter, it is clear that the Lord intends that all of his children have access to property for their own sustenance. This led me to investigate Alma chapter 35 on a much deeper level, and it shows that the competitive basis for acquiring property at the expense of the not-so-skilled is equivalent to the Nehor and Korihor doctrines in Alma chapters 1 and 30. The Lord’s economy is not based on invidious comparison that fuel an ire for crushing your economic opponent. Instead, it is based on need, which is also evident in the allotment of land given to each tribe of Israel in the Old Testament. The Lord does not dispense it based on who is more deserving but does so based on need: the larger tribe receives more land, the smaller tribe receives less.
Aside from these highlights, the book is packed with important information that reveals why exactly the Saints under Joseph Smith failed to establish Zion in Jackson County: they refused to live up to the higher laws required of them by the Lord. Some may balk at this, but I suggest that you read about the “First Provocation” where the children of Israel, in like manner, refused to live up to higher laws given them at Mt. Sinai. For this, they received the Mosaic Law, which is a lesser law for little children. One of my favorite parts of the book is where Nibley analyzes the attitude of these earlier Saints. When asked to consecrate some of their property for the erection of a new temple, the members were adamant that they had nothing to spare: though many of them had hundreds of acres they were setting aside for their unborn children. To mollify the prophet, they would offer him a rundown cow or a lame horse. Nibley compares this with the free-will offering to the Lord in the Old Testament, which was supposed to be your very best. However, because of the meanness of spirit portrayed, these early saints, like the children of Israel who offered such dross offerings, received covenant curses and were driven out of Jackson country.
There is so much more I could praise this book for, but I don’t want to give anymore away about this potential feast of would-be readers. If you are looking for someone who takes a baseball bat to the façade of mainstream Mormonism, then Nibley’s “Approaching Zion” is the tour de force you are looking for.
August 2, 2009
I find the repetition in this book tedious. Whole sections are lifted from one talk and included in another verbatim.
Nibley's disdain for hard work and self reliance flies in the face of much that I hear in General Conference. His myopic black and white view of everyone who pursues an occupation versus giving themselves over to full-time study, as Nibley did, is a bit off-putting.
I don't consider Spencer W. Kimball wicked for owning a radio station or being an insurance salesman. I don't think Gordon B. Hinckley was evil while working as an employee of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. I believe there can be a difference between seeking riches and working hard at your job. I don't find this distinction noted in Approaching Zion.
Nibley has some good ideas, but his presentation lacks objectivity and balance. I appreciate that as we seek for riches we distance ourselves from Zion, but I believe we do the same when we shirk responsibility for providing for our families.
He frequently quotes, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin..." without ever including, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread..." The gospel I believe in embraces both concepts of hard work and trying to bring about Zion.
Wow, now he is bashing Reagan and those who unthinkingly voted for him over Mondale in 1984. Apparently Reagan winning 49 of 50 states just shows how stupid the majority of the country was. Of course, Nibley was in the brilliant, but limited minority. I guess even geniuses can be woefully wrong.
Nibley's disdain for hard work and self reliance flies in the face of much that I hear in General Conference. His myopic black and white view of everyone who pursues an occupation versus giving themselves over to full-time study, as Nibley did, is a bit off-putting.
I don't consider Spencer W. Kimball wicked for owning a radio station or being an insurance salesman. I don't think Gordon B. Hinckley was evil while working as an employee of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. I believe there can be a difference between seeking riches and working hard at your job. I don't find this distinction noted in Approaching Zion.
Nibley has some good ideas, but his presentation lacks objectivity and balance. I appreciate that as we seek for riches we distance ourselves from Zion, but I believe we do the same when we shirk responsibility for providing for our families.
He frequently quotes, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin..." without ever including, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread..." The gospel I believe in embraces both concepts of hard work and trying to bring about Zion.
Wow, now he is bashing Reagan and those who unthinkingly voted for him over Mondale in 1984. Apparently Reagan winning 49 of 50 states just shows how stupid the majority of the country was. Of course, Nibley was in the brilliant, but limited minority. I guess even geniuses can be woefully wrong.
June 7, 2008
What I love most about Nibley is that he rails on mormon culture, and he's in every position to do so. Nibley opened my eyes to the sin of extortion, in the old sense of the word, not modern day extortion. The sin runs rampant in the world, especially in the riches-seeking communities of Mormondom. Its taught at BYU as a good principle, better known as "smart business". Maximize profits. Get rich. Increase the income gap. Get yours. The question "Do you oppress the hireling in his wages?" used to be asked of the members of the Church, but not anymore, and good thing too because nobody would have a temple recommend. I could go on about this book, because extortion is just a small part of it. I guess why I like this book so much is because it opened my eyes to many things that I've been taught growing up in Utah Valley as "good things", when actually they're quite not.
May 10, 2015
Reread 2015
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book has had me thinking and discussing with my husband and some friends for weeks. This book has changed the way I look at the world. I've had to dig deep inside myself and ask myself the hard questions of my own and my family's pursuit of Zion.
You could read and read this and get something new out of it every time. I'm so glad that I read it.
There are a couple of things that I don't know how I feel, but I could be just not "there" yet either. I can see a danger perhaps of looking beyond the mark. All things in moderation.
Regardless this has changed my perspective and given me too many "a-ha's" to count.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book has had me thinking and discussing with my husband and some friends for weeks. This book has changed the way I look at the world. I've had to dig deep inside myself and ask myself the hard questions of my own and my family's pursuit of Zion.
You could read and read this and get something new out of it every time. I'm so glad that I read it.
There are a couple of things that I don't know how I feel, but I could be just not "there" yet either. I can see a danger perhaps of looking beyond the mark. All things in moderation.
Regardless this has changed my perspective and given me too many "a-ha's" to count.
June 9, 2009
This is not the smoothest compilation of the Hugh Nibley Collected Works series. There is more repetition and less organization in this one.
However, I gave it a high score, becuase it's message is so powerful, and actually changed my world view significantly.
Of all of his works, I think Approaching Zion has more personal opinions expressed by Nibley, including some of his political views related to current events, which stand in stark contrast to his normal scholarly approach.
However, the book is more likely to change your life for the positive than any of his other books.
However, I gave it a high score, becuase it's message is so powerful, and actually changed my world view significantly.
Of all of his works, I think Approaching Zion has more personal opinions expressed by Nibley, including some of his political views related to current events, which stand in stark contrast to his normal scholarly approach.
However, the book is more likely to change your life for the positive than any of his other books.
October 4, 2023
Nibley's amazing attention to detail turned on the subject that he was arguably most passionate about, the anti-materialism of the gospel. How could you go wrong?
September 18, 2021
If the measure of a person’s “favorite book” is how dramatically it alters the way he or she thinks to the point of action, how frequently they return to it, or whether it supercharges their souls like a theological keg of Red Bull, Approaching Zion, next to the holy scriptures, meets all three criteria for me, no question. I rarely read a book more than once, but this is one I pick up regularly. As of this moment, my kindle tells me I’ve made 722 separate multi-colored highlights and notes. I can assure you there will be more. I’ve put this review off for a long time because I barely know where to begin, let alone how I can possibly ever really end it.
Approaching Zion is considered Dr. Hugh Nibley’s 9th volume. He’s thought and studied a lot about God’s ways, and he’s quite sure he knows why we rarely make them ours. The majority of the book is dedicated to the premise that theologically speaking, there’s only two kingdoms to choose from. The devil’s (Babylon), and God’s (Zion). “Babylon then, like Zion, is a type. If Zion is wherever the celestial order prevails, Babylon is the culmination of the worldly power wherever it happens.”
Babylon trusts in the arm of flesh, which always fails in the end. Zion, on the other hand, trusts in a watchful God who fights battles while it sleeps, and who provides peace and prosperity amidst chaos. Unfortunately, as carnal creatures, we tend find Babylon more interesting. It’s attractive in appearance, looks colorful, glitzy, affluent, and exciting. Zion, on the other hand is made up entirely of folks who are “pure in heart, not merely the pure in appearance”. Zion is authenticity, straight up!
In addition to being comprised of people who are of “one heart and one mind”, there are “no poor among them.” This is in contrast to Babylon, where money, distinction, and influence are craved. “Wealth is a pleasant and heady narcotic that gives the addict an exhilarating sense of power accompanied by a growing deadening of feeling for anything of real value. It seals up the heavens and closes the mind to revelation.”
Believers are often sure they can somehow carefully combine the accouterments of Babylon and Zion into a workable celestial conglomeration. Maybe sometimes they’re even a bit desperate to try. After all, who doesn’t want to be respectable and look “normal” to their neighbors? Nevertheless, per Nibley, the two camps are completely and utterly incompatible. “When we try to mix Zion and Babylon, Babylon has already won the game”.
Nibley often quotes Brigham Young. “No one supposes for one moment that in heaven the angels are speculating, that they are building railroads and factories, taking advantage one of another, gathering up the substance there is in heaven to aggrandize themselves, and that they live on the same principle that we are in the habit of doing. No Christian, no sectarian Christian, in the world believes this”.
He’s quick to point out that members of the church are far from immune to Babylon’s enticements. “The Elders of Israel are greedy after the things of this world. If you ask them if they are ready to build up the kingdom of God, their answer is prompt—“Why, to be sure we are, with our whole souls; but we want first to get so much gold, speculate and get rich, and then we can help the church considerably. We will go to California and get gold, go and buy goods and get rich, trade with the emigrants, build a mill, make a farm, get a large herd of cattle, and then we can do a great deal for Israel.”
This, according to Nibley, is a theological delusion, and is contrary to anything the Lord has ever said about money. Nibley calls it “sophistry”. For “God recognizes only one justification for seeking wealth, and that is with the express intent of helping the poor” (Jacob 2:19).
****
Nibley makes some interesting points about how we prefer to categorize sinners versus how the Lord talks about them. “The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming, their careful observance of all the rules, their precious concern for status symbols, their strict legality, their pious patriotism.... the haircut becomes the test of virtue in a world where Satan deceives and rules by appearance”.
Moreover, the adversary isn’t at all intimidated by religion. He uses it astutely. “The devil is an orator,” said Joseph Smith. “He is powerful; . . . he can tempt all classes.”
Moreover, he’s skilled at diverting our attention. Religions in a general sense have “cast an obnoxious young lightweight (a very minor devil) to the role of the Evil One while the one most qualified to play it prefers to take the part of a dignified, upright, mature, and often charming gentleman. It was clever to put a pathetic, long-haired, dirty, neurotic, mixed-up, idealistic, sex-hungry fool in the role of the heavy while an actor of infinitely greater skill and experience takes the highly respectable part of the archpillar of society”.
****
A last few snippets contrasting Babylon and Zion.
“Babylon is always there: rich, respectable, immovable, with its granite walls and steel vaults, its bronze gates, its onyx trimmings and marble floors (all borrowed from ancient temples, for these are our modern temples), and its bullet-proof glass—the awesome symbols of total security”.
“Jeremiah describes Zion as a comely and delicate woman who cannot live in the presence of what is vile (Jeremiah 6:2-7). “When men presume to build up Zion in their sins, they labor in vain, for the daughter of Zion withdraws from the scene entirely”
“Zion has never made war on Babylon, for when the environment has become too foul for Zion, she has simply been removed.”
May we always be able to distinguish the two!
Approaching Zion is considered Dr. Hugh Nibley’s 9th volume. He’s thought and studied a lot about God’s ways, and he’s quite sure he knows why we rarely make them ours. The majority of the book is dedicated to the premise that theologically speaking, there’s only two kingdoms to choose from. The devil’s (Babylon), and God’s (Zion). “Babylon then, like Zion, is a type. If Zion is wherever the celestial order prevails, Babylon is the culmination of the worldly power wherever it happens.”
Babylon trusts in the arm of flesh, which always fails in the end. Zion, on the other hand, trusts in a watchful God who fights battles while it sleeps, and who provides peace and prosperity amidst chaos. Unfortunately, as carnal creatures, we tend find Babylon more interesting. It’s attractive in appearance, looks colorful, glitzy, affluent, and exciting. Zion, on the other hand is made up entirely of folks who are “pure in heart, not merely the pure in appearance”. Zion is authenticity, straight up!
In addition to being comprised of people who are of “one heart and one mind”, there are “no poor among them.” This is in contrast to Babylon, where money, distinction, and influence are craved. “Wealth is a pleasant and heady narcotic that gives the addict an exhilarating sense of power accompanied by a growing deadening of feeling for anything of real value. It seals up the heavens and closes the mind to revelation.”
Believers are often sure they can somehow carefully combine the accouterments of Babylon and Zion into a workable celestial conglomeration. Maybe sometimes they’re even a bit desperate to try. After all, who doesn’t want to be respectable and look “normal” to their neighbors? Nevertheless, per Nibley, the two camps are completely and utterly incompatible. “When we try to mix Zion and Babylon, Babylon has already won the game”.
Nibley often quotes Brigham Young. “No one supposes for one moment that in heaven the angels are speculating, that they are building railroads and factories, taking advantage one of another, gathering up the substance there is in heaven to aggrandize themselves, and that they live on the same principle that we are in the habit of doing. No Christian, no sectarian Christian, in the world believes this”.
He’s quick to point out that members of the church are far from immune to Babylon’s enticements. “The Elders of Israel are greedy after the things of this world. If you ask them if they are ready to build up the kingdom of God, their answer is prompt—“Why, to be sure we are, with our whole souls; but we want first to get so much gold, speculate and get rich, and then we can help the church considerably. We will go to California and get gold, go and buy goods and get rich, trade with the emigrants, build a mill, make a farm, get a large herd of cattle, and then we can do a great deal for Israel.”
This, according to Nibley, is a theological delusion, and is contrary to anything the Lord has ever said about money. Nibley calls it “sophistry”. For “God recognizes only one justification for seeking wealth, and that is with the express intent of helping the poor” (Jacob 2:19).
****
Nibley makes some interesting points about how we prefer to categorize sinners versus how the Lord talks about them. “The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming, their careful observance of all the rules, their precious concern for status symbols, their strict legality, their pious patriotism.... the haircut becomes the test of virtue in a world where Satan deceives and rules by appearance”.
Moreover, the adversary isn’t at all intimidated by religion. He uses it astutely. “The devil is an orator,” said Joseph Smith. “He is powerful; . . . he can tempt all classes.”
Moreover, he’s skilled at diverting our attention. Religions in a general sense have “cast an obnoxious young lightweight (a very minor devil) to the role of the Evil One while the one most qualified to play it prefers to take the part of a dignified, upright, mature, and often charming gentleman. It was clever to put a pathetic, long-haired, dirty, neurotic, mixed-up, idealistic, sex-hungry fool in the role of the heavy while an actor of infinitely greater skill and experience takes the highly respectable part of the archpillar of society”.
****
A last few snippets contrasting Babylon and Zion.
“Babylon is always there: rich, respectable, immovable, with its granite walls and steel vaults, its bronze gates, its onyx trimmings and marble floors (all borrowed from ancient temples, for these are our modern temples), and its bullet-proof glass—the awesome symbols of total security”.
“Jeremiah describes Zion as a comely and delicate woman who cannot live in the presence of what is vile (Jeremiah 6:2-7). “When men presume to build up Zion in their sins, they labor in vain, for the daughter of Zion withdraws from the scene entirely”
“Zion has never made war on Babylon, for when the environment has become too foul for Zion, she has simply been removed.”
May we always be able to distinguish the two!
March 28, 2022
What a book! This guy is a real brain. He can quote Solon, Frost, and Joseph Smith in the same breath and really gets to his point. This is a collection of his talks, based specifically on "Zion" which is understood to be the opposite of the "world". From the Bible, "Ye cannot serve God and Mammon," the main premise of this collection is that mammon (literally the Hebrew word for business) and Zion cannot co-exist, and that the whole business of Satan is to sell to us the "free lunch" that God provides (from the saying, "there's no such thing as a free lunch" which Nibley refutes ad nauseum). It really changed my point of view about money. I kinda hate it, and I wish we could live in the utopian world that God meant for us--but I'm still figuring that one out. Excellent work, very dense, but one of the most worthwhile things I've read in my life!
July 2, 2012
This is no light read...not surprising, since A) this is Hugh Nibley we're talking about--he who whimsically liked to call himself 'huge windy nebula' as an alternate to Hugh Winder Nibley--and B)this particular volume, number 9 of his collected works, is easily three inches deep. This is actually the first of his collected works volumes I've read, and now that I have, I see that the people at F.A.R.M.S. have compiled lectures and talks as much by collective theme as possible. For this volume, that means that most of the lectures (chapters) deal with the law of consecration. This is something that Nibley holds dear, and I think after reading so much about it, I can appreciate it more than before. My favorite addresses were "The Utopians" and "The Meaning of the Atonement." Nibley certainly never shied away from controversy within his lectures, but that is a large part of his appeal--the fact that you will get straight, bald-faced discussion from him, never anything sugar-coated. The side effect may be that I feel a little discouraged over my imperfections in these topics. On the other hand, knowledge is power, and I feel simultaneously empowered. If you have several weeks to really digest this type of tome, do it.
July 12, 2015
Rather than merely a historical study of Zion or an examination of prophecies concerning Zion, Nibley comes straight to the point in each of his essays: we should be establishing Zion now. We should be taking completely literally our charge to live the law of consecration. I appreciate how candid he is in his evaluation of the present state of the saints and the world. But on a personal level, I wasn't sure how I should respond. I, too, felt the urgency of his message, but what more can I do than do my home teaching, pay my tithing and a generous fast offering, and seek to help those in need? Establishing Zion requires the consent of the whole, and it doesn't seem like that is going to happen any time soon.
There are no writers out there like Nibley. He explains the scriptures using the original Greek and Hebrew giving his own translations of Bible verses. He gives context and explanation to ancient practices that helps explain their importance-- I wouldn't have appreciated Deuteronomy any other way! His writings go beyond the warm-and-fuzzy level that you often find at Deseret Book. He clearly explains the ancient origin of the Book of Mormon and other scripture. I also find his insights into the temple to be very helpful to my own understanding.
There are no writers out there like Nibley. He explains the scriptures using the original Greek and Hebrew giving his own translations of Bible verses. He gives context and explanation to ancient practices that helps explain their importance-- I wouldn't have appreciated Deuteronomy any other way! His writings go beyond the warm-and-fuzzy level that you often find at Deseret Book. He clearly explains the ancient origin of the Book of Mormon and other scripture. I also find his insights into the temple to be very helpful to my own understanding.
November 8, 2019
This collection of talks and essays by the late LDS scholar Hugh W. Nibley centers on the topic of the title--what is expected of us today to prepare for the coming of a Zion society? Because this compilation deals with Nibley's work on the same subject, there is a lot of repetition. But these are messages that need to be heard and considered more than once. Nibley's insights into the evil that is the love of money, and how it leads the rich to take advantage of the poor, really speak to me. There is no need for the great economic inequality that is so bad and seems to be getting worse in the world. Nibley's knowledge of ancient texts and his ability to compare them to each other and to the revealed gospel of Jesus Christ are so deeply impressive. I look forward to reading other volumes of his collected works, as they point the reader to greater appreciation of the plan of salvation and the atonement, and to thinking more carefully about one's covenants.
April 3, 2008
If you are going to read or ever read anything that this man wrote - this is the book to pick up to start with at least. Some of the discourses in this one are very poignant and almost hard to swallow because his logic and argument for what should be put into action in your life is undeniably true. i honestly put this down at one point because I knew that I was not ready to live what I was reading....Im not ready to be THAT accountable for the knowledge basically --- i am a lazy butt... but seriously - I LOVE hugh nibley -- somehow his use of language flows for me - rather his thought processees his conclusions are so clear. hah - its like my brain just gets what he is trying to say...
March 15, 2009
I listened to this book on my IPOD while traveling. I think it may be an abridged version. It was very thought-provoking and since I had the book on my shelf, I decided to read it so Ican make notes in the margin, underline, etc.
Whew! I just completed this book and I'm glad. It contains 18 chapters, each a transcript of various talks given by Nibley in a variety of venues. They are not edited to avoid repetitions and there are plenty of repetitions. I found it tedious reading the same things over and over and found myself thinking "Not this again" numerous times.
Nibley is definitely outspoken and I don't agree with him on everything but the book is thought provoking.
Whew! I just completed this book and I'm glad. It contains 18 chapters, each a transcript of various talks given by Nibley in a variety of venues. They are not edited to avoid repetitions and there are plenty of repetitions. I found it tedious reading the same things over and over and found myself thinking "Not this again" numerous times.
Nibley is definitely outspoken and I don't agree with him on everything but the book is thought provoking.
October 23, 2017
Nobody returns to Eden; upon expulsion, the destination is Zion. But what does it look like? And how do we build it? In what may have been the least popular of his works (Ayn Rand would've detested it), Nibley expounds on the proper relationship between faith and diligence, as well as the role of gifts in the economy of heaven and earth. He counsels those who worry about their careers (don't) and examines the individual's definition of surplus. He dissects those enigmatic phrases attributed to Zion: one heart, one mind, no poor, laborers laboring for its sake.
Split into essays; great Sunday read.
Split into essays; great Sunday read.
May 6, 2010
This was the first book I read by Nibley, and it really changed my way of seeing things. Since reading "Approaching Zion," I've read several other of his works. I may not agree with everything he says, but he is certainly thought-provoking, and he helped me to see that a person may (legitimately) interpret the scriptures differently than what our money-driven culture teaches. I will forever be grateful I read this book.
Definitely a BIG five-star rating is in order!
Definitely a BIG five-star rating is in order!
June 21, 2012
Hugh Nibley is my academic man crush. The man is equal parts intelligence and wit. This book has been a real perspective changer for me. It has helped me come to terms with my choice of major and start thinking and focusing on things which are of eternal importance. Reading this collection has given my scripture study a major boost. It has rekindled my religious curiosity and committment to Zion.
August 27, 2013
This book, though a little older, is still a great insight into really living a consecrated life. Nibley doesn't pull any punches and isn't hesitant to call attention to some things to which we all too often plead ignorance. Big, but has big margins, and it's organized by lectures/talks, so you can chew through it pretty quickly. I really, really liked this book. I read it a couple of years ago and still think about it all the time. I marked a lot of passages. I bet you will too.
July 29, 2017
I admire Hugh Nibley for his autodidact style of learning. But regarding the subject of this book, I admire him even more. He challenges the cultural financial customs of our religion and condemns it by walking his talk. Truth is hard and he delivers it. Am I guilty of it? Yes, guilty as charged. But as they say the first step is admitting fault and having a strong desire to change. Therefore I take no offense and can only applaud him for going against the grain. My favorite kind of person.
November 3, 2008
This was a GREAT book! It's deep and I don't grasp it all, but very thought-provoking! It discusses Zion and how it will be created. The main point: Money is evil. We focus too much on it and shouldn't worry about it as much as we do. It discusses consecration, utopia, gifts of God, the Atonement and leading to the memorable thought: "Work we must, but the lunch is free."
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May 7, 2009Top 5 in the life-changing category for me. Nibley's ideas made connections for me that I had been trying to make in my own head for years. His ideas were challenging to the way that I was thinking about and living my life, and it ended up being just the kind of challenges I needed to gain a lot more peace and understanding. - Kim Gardner
December 4, 2012
An articulate and scathing critique of the world and the "faithful" that are continually trying to adopt the ways of the world. Nothing out of the usual for Nibley, but here presented as a unified multifaceted attack. Presented with Nibley's typical humor, optimism, and advice in how to fulfill the scriptures and avoid the pitfalls of history.
A very enjoyable and enlightening read.
A very enjoyable and enlightening read.
December 26, 2013
This collection packs an ethical wallop. There are few works I've read by any author that speak more directly to my sense of right and wrong. Hugh Nibley forces contemporary Mormonismto grapple with the implications of our deepest beliefs in a way that is honest and difficult, but ultimately uplifting.
October 4, 2008
My brother-in-law recommended this book by saying it ruined his life. I can see what he means. Nibley has some very strong opinions; I don't always agree with him, but the book is definitely changing my perspective on life!
March 31, 2011
Love this book! One's mind has to stretch a bit to keep up with Hugh's, mine a lot more than a bit. That's one reason I like it so much. I don't remember when I read this--several years ago. It's one I plan to re-read. The bottom line is, this book makes me want to be a better person.
September 16, 2016
I count this work as the most formative of my sociology/psychology/political philosophy outlook. Intellectually homeless most of my life, when I read Approaching Zion I found my place. I return to it often to get my bearings.
November 25, 2013
Simply a must-read. Talmage and McKonkie got nothin' on Nibley. After reading this, all of the most troubling passages of scripture have become clear to me: including Isaiah, Deuteronomy, and Revelations. A book to own and re-read time and again.
November 11, 2016
This is a really good book. It really altered my perspective about money, Zion, consecration, the gospel and the Atonement. I highly recommend to anyone who is thoroughly familiar with the gospel, particularly to those who have been endowed.
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