He Spoke I Went

I recently heard a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball that caused me to ponder. He taught that we must not only leave Babylon, but also “give up the summer cottage there.” Babylon is often easy to recognize when it is loud and obvious. A summer cottage, however, suggests something quieter—something we do not live in, but return to because it feels comfortable, familiar, or safe.

A cottage is not rebellion; it is retreat.

President Kimball’s counsel reminded me that prophetic warnings are rarely meant to shame. They are loving invitations to examine our hearts and gently realign our lives with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Often, the greatest spiritual obstacles are not major transgressions, but small attachments that slowly compete for our attention.

This led me to think about the Book of Mormon distinction between the large plates and the small plates. The large plates recorded history, wars, and the outward affairs of a nation. The small plates were reserved for “the more part of the ministry”—testimony, doctrine, and the workings of God in individual hearts (1 Nephi 9:4).

Both were important, but only the small plates were focused entirely on Christ.

In many ways, Babylon and Zion present a similar contrast. Much of life requires attention to the “large plates”—daily family responsibilities, ambitions, work routines, and demands. But when those things begin to crowd out the “small plates” of our lives—quiet worship, prayer, scripture study, repentance, covenant keeping, and attentiveness to the Spirit—we may find ourselves spiritually malnourished.

President Russell M. Nelson posed several questions that feel especially relevant in this context:

Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let your will be swallowed up in His?

These questions are not about perfection. They are about priority—about whether we are making space for God to prevail and for the Holy Ghost to be our constant companion.

Our modern “summer cottages” may look like small compromises, distractions, or habits we justify because they seem harmless. Nephi warned that some are not led away dramatically, but are instead “lulled… into carnal security” (2 Nephi 28:21). Like the large plates, these things may not be sinful in themselves, but they can quietly eclipse what matters most.

The Savior’s invitation is always toward exaltation. As we center our lives more deliberately on Him, love for others grows, service becomes more natural, and the Spirit becomes easier to recognize. Mormon taught, “Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48).

I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the perfect example of a life wholly consecrated to Heavenly Father. As we choose Him more completely and let go of anything that pulls our hearts away, He blesses us with peace, direction, and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. In Him, Zion becomes not just our destination, but our way of life.

What small but familiar “summer cottage” might the Lord be inviting me to release so I can feel His Spirit more fully?