A TEST A TEST IS COMING

be a credit and honor to the inhabitants of this whole intermountain region. The land around the Temple block will be owned by the Saints and this will become a city of beautiful buildings.

"Next comes the Temple. What do you expect to see there?" I told him that I expected to see the Savior, Joseph, Hyrum, and others. He said, "Have you seen the Temple picture?" I said that I had not. He then put his hand on my shoulder and said. "Now look." "Oh, how white and beautiful," I exclaimed. He then removed his hand and the vision was gone. He then asked me if I knew where the Prophets, Joseph and Hyrum were. I told him that I knew, and he said, "This must be kept a secret."

He told me that the trial of the Saints would be hard to bear until the square of the Temple was reached. Before that time, however, our brethren would be imprisoned until the penitentiary should be full, and some of them would be removed to other places. Mothers would weep for their husbands, and children would cry for their fathers. Some would die, and sorrow would fill the hearts of every Latter-day Saint."

Continuing, he said- 'When the Temple roof is on, it will be somewhat better, but when the building is completed the Evil One will be shut out. The prayers of the Saints will be heard, and the sick will be taken there to be healed. The Spirit of God will rest upon his people, and the work for the dead will be continued night and day. You will attend the dedicatory services on the third day, and if you will come to this very spot after the meeting is dismissed, you will hear a voice cry out, 'All is well."'

I attended the services on the third day, and went to the designated spot, and heard the voice, as he said I would, repeated three times.
He then went on to say, "An army of elders will be sent forth to the four quarters of the earth to search for the righteous and warn the wicked of what is coming. All kinds of religions will be started and miracles performed that will deceive the very elect if such a thing were possible. Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming.

"After a while the Gentiles will gather to this place by the thousands, and Salt Lake will be classified among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the Saints, and the result will be financial bondage.
"Persecution comes next, and all true Latter-day Saints will be tested to the limit. Many will apostatize, and others will stand still, not knowing what to do. 'Darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people.'

"The Judgments of God will be poured out upon the wicked to the extent that our elders from far and near will be called home. Or in other words, the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later on will be carried to the Jews.

"The western boundaries of the state of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that, as President Young tells us, when we return to that place, 'There will not be left so much as a yellow dog to wag his tail.'

"Before that day comes, however, the Saints Will be put to a test that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes.

"Then the Prophet Joseph and others will make their appearance and those who have remained faithful will be selected to return to Jackson county, Missouri, and take part in the up building of that beautiful city, the New Jerusalem."

Sister Wilcox closed her narrative with the following statement: "As soon as I reached home, I made a record of what Brother Kimball had told me, as I knew that every word of it would come true. I did not see him again until the next Sunday. After meeting he bade me good-bye, and that was the last time I ever saw him."

(Sources: Smith, Robert W. and Elisabeth A., Scriptural and Secular Prophecies Pertaining to The Last Days, Ninth Edition, Pyramid Press, SLC, UT, 1947, pp. 134-138; Deseret News, May 23, 1931; W. Cleon Skousen, Prophecy and Modern Times, pp. 31 - 33)
Heber C. Kimball also stated on another occasion in 1856:

Yes, we think we are secure here in the chambers of the everlasting hills, where we can close those few doors of the canyons against mobs and persecutors, the wicked and the vile, who have always beset us with violence and robbery, but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to the extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a TEST, a TEST, a TEST coming, and who will be able to stand?

(Source: Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, pp. 446-7