A Nation at the Crossroads: Spiritual Decline in the Promised Land

by S. Michael Wilcox

Book by Wilcox, S. Michael

Genres: Religion

122 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

S. Michael Wilcox is an instructor at the institute of religion adjacent to the University of Utah. A frequent speaker at Brigham Young University Education Week, Michael also conducts tours of the Holy Land, Church history sites, Europe, China, and Central America. He received a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Brigham Young University, a master’s in media from the University of Arizona, and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado in educational philosophy. He is the author of House of Glory and When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered.

Reviews

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hesitant to read this book, because the title and cover made it look to me like a right-wing religious book about how our nation's leaders are corrupt, and I hear enough of that rhetoric in the daily news. However, because I have enjoyed Michael Wilcox's talks, I read it anyway, and was glad to discover that it is just as good as the other works of his that I'm familiar with. Basically it's a scripturally- and doctrinally-based book about how we need to do our part to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. I looked up many of the scriptures that it reference, and it gave me some good insights and understandings. I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in becoming a disciple of Christ.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elder John Pingree once shared, out of the blue, a book with me by S Michael Wilcox which I absolutely loved and which whetted an appetite to read other books by him. I didn't even know about this particular book until I was looking for a book by Wilcox to give to my brother for his birthday. I decided to get a copy for myself, too. Even though it was written more than 20 years ago, it is still extremely relevant for our day.

[Catharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lesser known book by this author, and though it's been out for 20 years, it's still very timely. I liked this book because, though he spends a chapter on "a fulness of iniquity society," and talks about the ills of our time, the rest of the book focuses on the positive and what we can do to be a "Zion People"
Wilcox speaks about the way to true happiness being righteousness. He uses the first chapters of the Book of Mormon to demonstrate this idea and says, "The fruit of the tree of life produces the greatest happiness and joy. However, people continue to seek happiness in the towers of the spacious building... Men vainly imagine that worldliness can produce joy. Alma proclaims that "wickedness never was happiness. (Alma 41:10).

[Karyn Tripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. He takes the societies in the scriptures and the traits they had before their collapse and compares with our society today. Also gives an outline of a Zion society, and how to achieve it. Really enjoyed it.

[Michele Nell · Rating 2 out of 5]

A lot of Quotes. I haven't been able to get anything new out of it yet...

[Ernie Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gets down to the nitty gritty on our nation, what it means to live in the promised land and our responsibilities to live here. Also what ripening in iniquity is all about.

[Nephi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, short book on the signs of a deteriorating civilization, using scriptural examples. How to reach a Zion Society.