JOSEPH SMITH; WE WILL KNOW THE HOUR IF WE ARE WATCHING

It will come upon the slothful (who are not watching and waiting) as a thief in the night.  For the others, it will be quite clear.  This is also what Dewey Bruton taught - and it is correct doctrine.  If Joseph said, it is gold to me.  Same thing, obviously for the words of the Savior.  Interesting what Joseph had to say about the sign of the coming of the Son of Man.  So, many will dismiss it as a two bodies colliding in the sky.  Interesting.  I think we will see during the Days of Awe during those Fall Feasts - right as things are cooking along.

Fascinating stuff.  If 2017 really is it, we are in for one helluva ride, baby.  Whoa, its going to be fun.  And I mean that sincerely.  It will be fun - if we are prepared.  If not, it will be a nightmare.  I just went to Disney for the first time a few weeks ago with my little girls.  Some of those rides were pretty jolting, but I did not fear knowing that I was securely belted in.  Had I not been belted in, I would have feared for my life.  There were enough g-forces that I could have been thrown out of the cart in many instances.

These next few years will be so event-filled it will truly fill us with awe.  Some people with shock - some with awe.  Those festivals were aptly named.....  It was all done on purpose and by design.  Many who survive will run into the arms of their Savior.  It was designed to be so in order to effect the greatest harvest.....

Here is what got me spun up:

Re: Signs to be explained away

by Onsdag » Mon Jan 27, 2014 4:48 pm

I do not know of any scriptures that directly speak of this, but these words of our Prophets may be of help...

“The newspapers might announce some great phenomenon in the heavens, misplacement of planets, that have caused consternation, and scientists will have their explanation to make of it, and unless they have faith in the living God, unless as Jesus said, they can read the signs of the time, they may not know anything about what is going on in the world.” (Elder LeGrand Richards, Conference Report, April, 1951, pp. 40-41)

"Christ says no man knoweth the day or the hour when the Son of Man cometh. This is a sweeping argument for sectarianism against Latter day ism. Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations Oh no he spoke in the present tense no man that was then liveing upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour But he did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture for the prophet says that God will do nothing but what he will reveal unto his Servants the prophets consequently if it is not made known to the Prophets it will not come to pass; again we find Paul 1st of Thesslonians 5th Chapter expressly points out the characters who shall not know the day nor the hour when the Son of Man cometh for says he it will come upon them as the theif or unawares. Who are they they are the children of darkness or night. But to the Saints he says yea are not of the night nor of darkness of that that day should come upon you unawares. John the revelator says 14 chap 7th verse that the hour of his judgements is come they are precursers or forerunners of the comeing of Christ. read Matthew 24 Chap and all the Prophets. He says then shall they see the Sign of the comeing of the Son of Man in the clouds of Heaven. How are we to see it Ans. As the lighting up of the morning or the dawning of the morning cometh from the east and shineth unto the west—So also is the comeing of the Son of Man. The dawning of the morning makes its appearance in the east and moves along gradualy so also will the comeing of the Son of Man be. it will be small at its first appearance and gradually becomes larger untill every eye shall see it. Shall the Saints understand it Oh yes. Paul says so. Shall the wicked understand Oh no they attribute it to a natural cause. They will probably suppose it is two great comets comeing in contact with each other It will be small at first and will grow larger and larger untill it will be all in a blaze so that every eye shall see it." (Joseph Smith, General Conference, April 6, 1843, emphasis added)

And finally,

“[N]ot only is the world mistaken in its views respecting the fulfillment of the predictions of the prophets, but even Latter-day Saints have doubtless, in many instances, entertained erroneous views respecting the fulfillment of revelation and prophecies… [T]he Lord works in the midst of this people by natural means, and the greatest events that have been spoken of by the holy Prophets will come along so naturally as the consequence of certain causes that unless our eyes are enlightened by the Spirit of God and the spirit of revelation rests [upon] us, we will fail to see that these are the events predicted by the holy Prophets… [T]hey will come along in so natural a manner, the Lord will bring them to pass in such a way that they will not be accepted by the people, except by those who can comprehend the truth, as the fulfillment of the predictions of the Prophets.

“You take two persons, one who has the Spirit of God, whose mind is enlightened by that Spirit—the spirit of revelation, the same spirit, that rested upon the prophets who wrote the revelations and prophecies we have—you take a man of that kind, and then take another who has none of that spirit, and put the two together, and the one man's eyes will be open to see the hand of God in all these events; he will notice his movements and his providence in everything connected with his work and they will be testimonies to him to strengthen his faith and to furnish his mind with continual reasons for giving thanks to and worshipping God; while the man, who has not the Spirit of God, will see nothing Godlike in the occurrences: nothing which he will view as supernatural (as many suppose everything which exhibits God's power to be), or nothing which he will accept as a fulfillment of prophecies; his eyes will be closed, his heart will be hardened, and to all the evidences of the divinity of these things he will be impenetrable.” (George Q. Cannon, Natural Fulfillment of Prophecy, Nov. 2, 1879, JoD 21:266-7)

Though I don't know of any direct scriptural references about the signs of the times being explained away, here are two scriptures that might have indirect application:

"But the evil servant is he who is not found watching. And if that servant is not found watching, he will say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants, and the maidens, and to eat, and drink, and to be drunken. The Lord of that servant will come in a day he looketh not for, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him down, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers." (JST, Luke 12:54-55, emphasis added, see also Matthew 24:48-51)

"And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear." (Matthew 13:10-16; also Mark 4:10-13; Acts 28:24-28)