Alas, Babylon

Title: Alas, Babylon
Author: Pat Frank
Copyright: 1959

Summary: Alas, Babylon is a story of a Soviet nuclear missile attack on the United States. The book never gives any dates for the story, but based on descriptions of lifestyle and events, it seems to describe the Cold War era. As I read the book I imagined it was in the 1950’s or 60’s. The book doesn’t focus on the global war and only gives very little detail about how the nation rebuilds itself after such an incident. Rather, it focuses on the small community of Fort Repose, FL, and more specifically, the home of Randy Bragg and the friends, family members and neighbors that he helps get through the crisis. The book is helpful because it goes through the day-to-day issues and potential crisis that we personally could expect to have to deal with in an emergency. What to do about water, food, electricity, etc… This is an easy and enjoyable read (if you don’t get too freaked out when you read about the possibility of nuclear war)! Here are the 3 things that stood out the most to me in this book.

Observation #1:
Spiritual and Physical Preparedness:
This book is very thought provoking and it really gets you thinking about emergency preparedness. There are a lot of simple things in our day-to-day life that we take for granted because they are so easy to come by. But as this book shows, things can happen that could drastically change our lives for hours, days or even months. We are told to expect (in just about any disaster situation) that we will be on our own for at least 72 hours. Some instances may be even longer. What would we do in a circumstance that makes it impossible for us to get fresh water for a month? What would we do for food? What would we do if we needed minor medical attention or medicine? We have been counseled as long as I can remember to build up a year supply of food storage, water, 72 hour kits and supplies, to have an emergency plan, and to learn first aid and have medical supply stores. We’ve also been encouraged to get out of debt, build up savings and get as much education as we can (and that includes the classics!). It is a difficult task, but not impossible. By following the counsel of the prophets we will be in a much better position if or when disaster strikes.

The book also shows us the darker side of the human mind in the struggle with the Highwaymen. There are men (and women) who see opportunity in crisis and they prey on others in this disastrous scenario. They appear to abide by the law now only out of the fear of getting caught. What happens when they no longer fear getting caught? How would we protect ourselves from others? In the book, Randy and his neighbors band together and this is one way they are able to overcome this potential problem. There is safety in numbers. How awesome is it to be a part of a ward family! This book definitely reminds me of the necessity for physical preparedness, which is everything I mentioned and may also include obtaining some additional knowledge and learning a few skills that may be helpful.

Spiritual preparation cannot be overemphasized here. There is also safety in keeping the commandments. We aren’t guaranteed a long and smooth life with no pain and tears if we follow the commandments. God’s will stands supreme and sometimes it isn’t how we want things to be. But in most cases, our lives are blessed and our circumstances will be improved as a result of our obedience to the commandments. Being worthy and continually coming unto Christ will also keep us safe. It will help us get through the trials we are called to bear. It will aid us by inspiration and revelation to know what to do in certain situations. We can also get this spiritual preparedness by daily filling up our lamps of oil (Matthew 25:1-14) by saying our prayers, reading the scriptures, fasting, serving, attending our meetings and the temple.

Being physically and spiritually prepared will give us peace now, even if we are not in the face of some disaster. We will have that peace that can only be had by following the prophet’s counsel.

Observation #2:
Growth through Trials and Struggle:
In the book, as in most books, the protagonist (Randy Bragg) becomes a better person through his struggles. He becomes smarter, more compassionate, more engaged in life. This trial awakened something inside him. Not just a desire to survive, but a desire to help everybody else survive. I think it is interesting to note that one of the Christmas’ that I remember the most when I was a kid was when we were far away from home and didn’t have much of anything. I got one small present from my sister and she also saw to it that we had stockings. I have had much more lucrative Christmas’ in my life before that year and since. Why does this one stand out as being one that I can’t forget? Why do I think back on this Christmas with such fond memories? I don’t have an answer for that question except to say that I think these are the moments we learn the most. When we are humble and lowly, we learn the most. In fact, we only grow when we have trials and struggles. We should do our best to see them for what they are and I think that will help us get through them. And of course, with Christ, anything is possible. “And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions” (Mosiah 24:14).

Observation #3:
Different Reactions to Desperate Circumstances:
The book gives some very polar examples of how people react in desperate circumstances. Some have the will to survive and to help others survive, such as Randy and his friends and neighbors. Some have the will to survive at the expense of others, such as the Highwaymen. Then, there is another example in the book. It is of fear, hopelessness and of giving up. The banker in the town, on the very day of the first round of nuclear blasts, finds out how dire the situation is. His thinking is purely financial. He realizes that the dollar, at least for a while, is worth virtually nothing. Money is his business. Money is his life. Within the first 16 hours or so of the attack, this banker, before the real hardships even begin, commits suicide. This banker, Edgar Quisenberry, put his trust in money. When that was gone he didn’t think he had anything else to live for. But there is always hope. “… How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the Atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to this promise”. (Moroni 7:40-41).