THE DESTROYER - WHAT IS IT AND WHERE IS IT??

I think when the scriptures mention "the destroying angel", they are referring to a specific angel or angels that have been sent directly from the presence of God to bring prophesied destructions on the face of the earth and the inhabitants thereof.

When the scriptures speak of God sending "the Destroyer", there is something different in the use of the terms and I have asked the question many times what it means.  I was reading this morning in the Doctrines of the Church and the Covenants we make, the following:

13 Therefore it is expedient in me that mine elders should wait for a little season, for the redemption of Zion.

 14 For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles.

 15 Behold, the destroyer I have sent forth to destroy and lay waste mine enemies; and not many years hence they shall not be left to pollute mine heritage, and to blaspheme my name upon the lands which I have consecrated for the gathering together of my saints.

If I am reading this literally, the Lord has sent his destroyer forth.  I do not think this is an angel.  It has been approaching 200 years since that statement was made.  He said He had ALREADY sent it at that time.  That is a long time to not have something arrive - if its an angel.  I believe what the Lord may have been talking of is something that does not normally move with the speed of thought, like an angel would.  I feel that this may be something on the order of a comet/planet.  Maybe something that Joseph saw that would come to herald the coming of our Lord.  Which, of course, would bring the radical changes to our planet when it comes due to gravitational, magnetic, atmospheric and other effects.  Changes which will specifically sweep the wicked from off the face of that land in the Midwest.

I just listened to Menet (previous post) and she talked again of this magnificent wind which will come and wreak havoc.  Spencer did not mention the wind, but did mention a large portion of land returning to take its former place as part of the earth.  Both effects - wind and water - will have the effects of sweeping the wicked off the face of the earth at that place, such that there will not be so much as a yellow dog left in that region.  This will then allow for the return and up-building of that area without the Elders having to lift arms or harm a fellow human being in order to accomplish it.  In effect, God will do the dirty work for us.  Simple as that.  In order for it to happen, the Saints must have title to the actual land - and thus the reason for the Church being one of the largest private land owners in that area.  Not that there will be anyone left alive to claim it at that time, but it is still a matter of protocol, if you claim to be God's people.  All things must be done in wisdom and order so that no one has ought against you in an earthly (or heavenly) council or court.

This destroyer that is talked of has visited our planet before in order to effect changes when wickedness was rampant in the days of Noah and may be responsible for many things including the extinction of the mastadon (massive winds in Siberia tossing 3 ton beasts into crevasses and flash freezing them with the food in their mouths almost instantly) and many other unexplainable events.  Why were they not recorded - other than in fable?  Most of the few who survived were fighting for their lives after the event and it became the thing of legend and not the thing of formal records in stone and clay tablet.  By the time society had gotten back on their feet, it was an oral legend - but one that was pervasive in all of the eastern cultures. 

So, we will see.  Time will tell - and I think will validate the words of all those who have spoken of this event.