We will see much more of it:
"I saw that the earth itself had been created perfect and is fulfilling the measure of its creation. Everything about it, its placement in the universe; the distance from the sun; and the bringing forth of life, fruit, and beauty, is all created by and maintained by the continuing presence of the light of Christ.
"People institute governments, false religion, false science, false teachings; build cities where evil easily thrives; and provide universities and schools to promote such things - the entire collection of the "philosophies of men," their lie, their religions, their rationalization and sins. As these constructs and pollutions of man spread across the globe, they cover the world with darkness, and the earth responds with upheaval, devastations, floods, famines, pestilence, and death.
"All of this is like a blanket of darkness that spreads itself across the face of the earth, dimming the light of Christ that reaches the earth. This diminishes the power that keeps the earth orderly and a fit habitation for mankind.
"There is a process given to the earth whereby it cleanses itself. When evil overtakes it, natural disasters, plagues, and upheavals begin in random places. When evil on the world becomes so great that the light of Christ is dimmed, it will produce eruptions, extremes of weather and temperature, storms, floods, earthquakes, and other destructive events. There is a direct correlation between the choices of mortals and the condition of the earth. This is why there will be so many natural disasters and death caused by these acts of nature in the latter days - because mankind by then will have veiled the earth in darkness.
"This isn't to say that the earthquake or flood is aimed like a missile at the evil, or that the places where disasters happen needed cleansing most. The whole of humanity suffers when darkness reigns.
"Enoch saw the earth weep because it was overwhelmed and covered by evil in Enoch's day. It wanted to rid itself of evil and rest in the millennial day.
"If it was tired and sick in Enoch's day, imagine how weary it is today."
From Visions of Glory as told to John Pontius Pages 115-116
Near the town where I live, lies another town not much bigger than where I live.
ReplyDeleteIt has two stakes compared to our one ward. It also happens to be at the foot of an active volcano named Popocatepetl. The city is called Nealtican.
Roughly half of the city are members of the Church, with chapels and stake centers placed much like in Utah, on every other street corner.
Elder Bednar one time came down for a conference and gave an apostolic blessing to the members there. As long as you are faithful, as long as you send your sons on missions and get married in the temple, he said, they would not have to worry about the volcano.
Nealtican, until this day, is consistently one of the areas of the Church where more missionaries are produced in Mexico. I know a branch there has has as many missionaries out in the field as our entire Stake does.
But if they ever turn their backs on what an Apostle said to them, that volcano will bury them alive. Thing's got a history of ultra-plinian eruptions that have buried not only the area of Nealtican, but even Puebla and Mexico City (combined population close to 30 million people) under a meter plus of ash.
I found this comment by Elder Tuttle in the April 1980 priesthood session very interesting in light of the closure of the temples.
ReplyDeleteBrethren, something has happened to me. For twenty-two years I have been a General Authority. I have traveled the world over in my ministry. Over the course of these years, I have had marvelous experiences and have met many wonderful people. I have participated in sacred meetings. The choice association with my brethren has taught and inspired me. Now something has happened—I have been called to serve in a temple.
I want to bear witness—and my witness is true—that the work for the redemption of the living and the dead is divine. It is a keystone of our religion. !!!"The work performed in temples stays the judgments of God from smiting the earth with a curse."!!! It is not unusual, therefore, that the Prophet Joseph would say, “The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us [as individuals] is to seek after our dead” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1938, p. 356).