Nimrod galvanized the people to build a tower that would reach to heaven in support of Lucifer, who has the keen desire to return to where he was thrown out. 1994, 60–61.The Tower of Babel: From One Language to Confusion: With the entire earth under one language, satan stood up through Nimrod, son of Cush. In Joseph Smith’s day, one definition of waste was “to destroy by scattering” (Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language, “waste”).įor more ideas about possible Latter-day Saint perspectives on the tower of Babel, see “ I Have a Question,” Ensign, Feb. Doctrine and Covenants 2:3 says the sealing power would be restored so that the earth would not be “wasted” at the Second Coming. One reason the people built the tower was so that they would not be scattered (see Genesis 11:4). Jewish tradition holds that Nimrod rebelled against God and tried to usurp His authority. The word Babel in Hebrew means “confusion,” but in Babylonian or Akkadian it meant “gate of God,” in reference to the tower’s temple function. And they built their temples out of quarried stone rather than man-made brick (see 1 Kings 5:15–18). The Lord’s people were commanded to build their altars out of stones that had not been cut with tools (see Exodus 20:24–25). “The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day” ( Isaiah 2:17).

A world that rejects God and, with pride and arrogance, tries to obtain happiness while disregarding Him and His righteousness will always fail in its quest. No project of our own devising will bring us ultimate happiness only God’s plan, including temple covenants, can do that.įailed. It seems that the people at Babel were attempting to build a counterfeit temple to “reach unto heaven,” bind or seal the people together somehow so they would not be scattered, and “make a name” rather than take the Lord’s name upon them-and all this without authority from God and without regard to His commandments. Was undertaken without authority from God. “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord” ( Jeremiah 17:5). The Lord wants us to “trust in with all heart and lean not unto own understanding” ( Proverbs 3:5). Man’s invention is no substitute for God’s power. Our mounting technological triumphs, though they can be used for good, can also cause us to forget God and rely on our own strength. Located in Shinar in Mesopotamia and associated with Nimrod (see Genesis 10:10 11:2).īecause of its location and materials, usually associated with ziggurats, which were stepped temple towers designed to be elevated above a plain, like a man-made mountain.īuilt to “reach unto heaven” and to allow the people to “make a name” and not be scattered ( Genesis 11:4).įailed to achieve its purpose for the people instead, “the Lord did … confound language … and … scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” ( Genesis 11:9). Used bitumen (a form of petroleum used today in asphalt or roofing tiles) for mortar.

Sun-dried bricks had been used for a long time, but baking bricks made them stronger, so larger structures could be built with this new technology. Built of bricks that were baked with fire, as in an oven or a kiln (see Genesis 11:3).

Who built the tower of babel