Things will be changed forever quite soon. For most, it will be too late to prepare, for it will happen in a day; suddenly.
Here is his post - and I endorse what he had to say:
A Plea To Prepare (David Schultz)
by Rapunzel » Sat Sep 14, 2013 1:44 pm
This article was written by David Schultz and
was posted on the Gods-Wrath forum that is now closed. David had given
several of us
permission to repost on other forums as long as he was given credit for the article. Here it is in its entirety.
"A Plea To Prepare"
“And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.” (D&C 45:39)
“The greatest events spoken of by the Holy Prophets will come along so naturally as the consequences 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.” (George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 21, p. 264)
The prophecies regarding the events of the Last Days have long held my interest. I have felt keenly the importance of watching and preparing for these events; it has been a primary source of motivation throughout my life. I write this brief paper in the hopes that all who read it may understand and grasp fully the magnitude of what lies immediately before us and the importance of using wisely the time we have—while we have it—to do all that is necessary to ready ourselves for the times of tribulation. In doing so, I feel there is no room for timidity; rather, discussion of such things requires boldness and frank language as the lateness of the hour will simply not allow anything less, lest any continue in their apathy and complacency and these things come upon them unaware and unprepared. In April General Conference, 2004, Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated “While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us.” It is for this purpose that I am motivated to share my thoughts with you. It is my opinion that the exact timing of the Lord’s return is immaterial to discussions of the Last Days; if we are not prepared for those events preceding His return, we simply will not be alive to witness it. Therefore, it is my hope that you who read this will gain a heightened sense of urgency to prepare.
We have been given, through prophets of God, insight, instruction, and warning concerning these times in order that we may escape much of the misery and destruction that will befall the wicked. Our safety through this period will be assured only by our giving heed to the warnings given us to prepare; when the calamities are upon us, it will be too late. At that time, will we be classed among the five wise or the five foolish virgins? The choice is entirely our own. It is my testimony and witness to all that the visions and prophecies of future events, frightening as they are, are given to us as an act of love: it is because of the infinite, perfect love that our Father has for us that He gives us warning and commands us to repent and prepare.
What, then, is our responsibility concerning the matter? Assuming that those reading this have a firm testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with its Priesthood keys and authority, and of the reality of modern revelation, both general and personal, then three things must follow:
First, we must become familiar with the prophecies given as to what these “signs” are. How can we watch, as the Lord commanded, for the signs of His coming and be aware of its nearness if we have no idea what it is we are watching for?
Second, we must cultivate and develop our spiritual gifts so that, as President Cannon stated, “…our eyes [will be] enlightened by the Spirit of God, and the spirit of revelation [will rest] upon us.” It is in this way alone—seeing with spiritual eyes—that we will recognize the signs that have been and will be given.
Key to this spiritual development is daily repentance. If there is anything in our lives that requires the aid of the Bishop, it should be given highest priority. However, whether or not this is the case, we are, each of us, in need of the purifying process of repentance. Not a day goes by that the healing balm of the Atonement is not needed in our lives; that we don’t fall short, in varying degrees, of what we know to be right. Hence the need for daily repentance.
The list of ways to develop those Gifts continues with what we are already very familiar: daily scripture study, daily prayer, Sunday meeting attendance, and regular (monthly at least?) temple attendance. A sincere, earnest effort must be given in these areas. Regarding scripture study, it is my testimony that there is no better way to familiarize ourselves with the voice of the Spirit than by reading the words of the Lord. Knowing that Voice is critical to receiving personal revelation and guidance. And receiving that guidance is likewise critical in our efforts to prepare.
We must seek to remove the daily interference that blocks our reception of the Spirit. Our modern media is saturated with elements hostile to the Lord and His work. Television programs and music offensive to the Spirit should—must—be avoided, as must all other sources with offensive content.
Third, we must act. Information obtained does little good if we do nothing with it. We cannot do all there is to do. Yet, we have the assurance that our efforts will be blessed, as we seek to serve the Lord with “…all [our] heart, might, mind and strength.” (D&C 4:2) It is only by doing all we can do that we have any right to expect help from the Lord. That we will have His help upon that condition is guaranteed. Miracles will happen as we commit ourselves to Him.
In short, we must discipline ourselves to abstain from anything that will weaken our bodies, sap our mentality, deaden our spiritual sensitivity, and waste our incomes. We must make a concerted effort to invite into our lives those things that will lift and build us.
The information that follows is given as 1) evidence that the tribulation we will face will demand all of our efforts and strength to be ready for and endure—physically, spiritually, and mentally—as they will be of a magnitude, intensity and scale that has not existed before in the history of the world, 2) evidence that we are in the opening days of that period, and 3) motivation to action—now. The time left to prepare is quickly diminishing and our efforts must be increased substantially.
When I contemplate what is about to befall this nation and the world, I am saddened beyond words to know that there are many who, with a knowledge of these things, will yet refuse to prepare. Consequently, they will witness the untold suffering of those who are dependent upon them for their welfare. Can you imagine yourself watching your little children starve to death? Can you comprehend the anguish of soul in that situation, knowing that you could have prevented it? With that knowledge, the guilt and grief will be excruciating. Are you willing to face such? I am not! Why should we expect the Lord to save us from our folly when He has warned us repeatedly to prepare and promised His aid in our efforts? Our expectation of such would be contrary to the laws of Heaven.
In the October 1980 General Conference, then Elder Ezra Taft Benson addressed the issue of preparedness. His words were powerful, direct, and explicit. He warned:
“For over forty years, in a spirit of love, members of the Church have been counseled to be thrifty and self-reliant; to avoid debt; pay tithes and a generous fast offering; be industrious; and have sufficient food, clothing, and fuel on hand to last at least [AT LEAST!] one year.
“Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community? [Note: implicit in these remarks is the message that the Church will not, under such circumstances, be handing out food to those in need; it is not their responsibility to do so.]
“President Brigham Young said, “If you are without bread, how much wisdom can you boast, and of what real utility are your talents, if you cannot procure for yourselves and save against a day of scarcity those substances designed to sustain your natural lives?” (In Journal of Discourses, 8:68.) “From the standpoint of food production, storage, handling, and the Lord’s counsel, wheat should have high priority. “There is more salvation and security in wheat,” said Orson Hyde years ago, “than in all the political schemes of the world” (in Journal of Discourses, 2:207). Water, of course, is essential. Other basics could include honey or sugar, legumes, milk products or substitutes, and salt or its equivalent. The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.
“I speak with a feeling of great urgency. I have seen what the days of tribulation can do to people. I have seen hunger stalk the streets of Europe. I have witnessed the appalling, emaciated shadows of human figures. I have seen women and children scavenge army garbage dumps for scraps of food. Those scenes and nameless faces cannot be erased from my memory.
“I shall never forget the Saints of Hamburg who appeared on the verge of collapse from starvation, or their small children whom I invited to come to the stand as we emptied our pockets of edibles. Most had never seen these items before because of the wartime conditions. Nor can I forget the expectant and nursing mothers whose eyes watered with tears when we gave them each an orange. We saw the terrible physical and social side effects of hunger and malnutrition. One sister walked over a thousand miles with four small children, leaving her home in Poland. She lost all four to starvation and the freezing conditions. Yet she stood before us in her emaciated condition, her clothing shredded, and her feet wrapped in burlap, and bore testimony of how blessed she was.
“I cannot forget the French Saints who, unable to obtain bread, used potato peelings for the emblems of the sacrament. Nor will I ever forget the faith of the Dutch Saints who accepted our suggestion to grow potatoes to alleviate their own starving conditions, and then sent a portion of their first harvest to the German people who had been their bitter enemies. The following year they sent them the entire harvest. The annals of Church history have seldom recorded a more Christlike act of love and compassion.
“Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,” Ensign, November, 1980. Emphasis added.)
President Benson spoke “…with a feeling of great urgency.” That was 25 years ago. He told us that the same counsel had been given, at that time, for over 40 years. Some would dismiss this counsel since, obviously, no major catastrophe has befallen us. Yet it was given to us by the Lord’s chosen prophets, speaking in their capacity as such. How long will we ignore such wisdom? How long will we procrastinate making the preparations that will save our lives and the lives of our families? So, nothing major has happened. I ask: what does that have to do with anything? The Lord gives His warning well in advance, and whether the need is realized in 1 year or 100 is irrelevant. It is incumbent upon us all to give immediate heed to it. As was stated previously, when disaster strikes, it is too late. The day will come—is upon us now, I believe—when the Lord’s servants will cease their warning, and the Lord Himself will preach the sermon. Today the political, social, and geological environment we live in is vastly different from 1980. Who among us can dismiss the evidence of the Lord’s voice calling the nations of the earth to repentance?
A careful study of history and the scriptures will reveal that no nation can long endure when wickedness becomes the accepted norm. This land of America is a choice land, and has upon it both a blessing and a cursing. Prophets have warned us that if this people do not worship the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ, we will be swept off. At least two great civilizations before us failed to do so and suffered that very fate. The evidence of that condition—of this nation’s refusal to worship Jesus Christ—is now everywhere present.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the old world have long been the standard in determining how wicked a people must be before they are “swept off.” Are we as wicked as they?
President Thomas S. Monson, in a devotional address given to the students at BYU, witnessed: “Today we have a rebirth of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah.” (“I Will Serve the Lord,” BYU Devotional Address, January 20, 2004. Emphasis added.)
In General Conference, President Hinckley, referring to our present conditions, said: “All of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah haunt our society” and later, “I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah.” (“Living in the Fullness of Times,” Ensign, November, 2001; Address given at the General Priesthood Leadership Training Meeting, February, 2004, respectively. Emphasis added.)
President Boyd K. Packer was more explicit. In an address to a group of lawyers, he declared:
“These are days of great spiritual danger for this people. The world is spiraling downward at an ever-quickening pace. I am sorry to tell you that it will not get better.
“I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds the wickedness and depravity which surrounds us now.
“Satan uses every intrigue to disrupt the family. The sacred relationship between man and woman, husband and wife, through which mortal bodies are conceived and life is passed from one generation to the next generation, is being showered with filth.
“Profanity, vulgarity, blasphemy, and pornography are broadcast into the homes and minds of the innocent. Unspeakable wickedness, perversion, and abuse—not even exempting little children—once hidden in dark places, now seeks protection from courts and judges.” [Note: Ponder that last statement. It is horrifying when understood fully.] (Boyd K. Packer, J. Reuben Clark Law Society devotional, February 28, 2004. Emphasis added.)
Again, the lord’s prophets have spoken. Their words ring with unmistakable clarity. Has our society, like Sodom and Gomorrah, become “ripened in iniquity?” Are we as wicked as they? The answer to that is a resounding “Yes!” It would seem that we are living on borrowed time.
Time is of the essence; there is none of it to waste! As evidence that the prophesied days of tribulation are upon us, that we are beginning to reap the consequences of our collective wickedness, I quote more from the recent words of prophets of God:
In General Conference, April, 2004, Elder Dallin H. Oaks delivered a very clear message to the members of the Church:
“We are living in the prophesied time “when peace shall be taken from the earth,” (D&C 1:35) when “all things shall be in commotion,” and “men’s hearts shall fail them.” (D&C 88:91) These signs of the Second coming are all around us and seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity.” (Emphasis added.)
Six months later, President Packer declared:
“The calamities the Lord foresaw [referring to D&C 1:17] now come upon an unrepentant world.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Least of These,” Ensign, May, 2004. Emphasis added.)
It should be understood that, in the scriptural context, the word “calamity” (or “calamities”) does not have general application to any and all disasters but has specific meaning and reference to those events of the Last Days just prior to the Savior’s return. In this setting, President Packer’s words carry tremendous weight: he is explicitly proclaiming that the destructions of the Last Days—the period of “tribulation” prophesied by the Lord’s Holy Prophets—have begun. It is significant that only three months following his declaration, one of the most devastating and tragic natural disasters in the history of the world took place in Indonesia and the surrounding countries of the Indian Ocean. The earthquake and resultant tsunami claimed over *400,000 lives. Countless more continue to suffer and die in the deplorable conditions of its aftermath. (*Official death toll was approximately 250,000, with over 150,000 missing and unaccounted for.)
Of this event, Elder Henry B. Eyring said:
“The giant earthquake, and the tsunamis it sent crashing into the coasts around the Indian Ocean, is just the beginning and a part of what is to come, terrible as it was.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Raise the Bar,” BYUI Devotional Address, January 25, 2005. Emphasis added.)
If this was just the beginning, what it is that will follow? What is to come? Elder Eyring continued:
“You remember the words from the Doctrine and Covenants which now seems so accurate:
“And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people. For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.”
In addition to natural disasters of every kind, wars, pestilence, famine, and plagues are promised. These things are now upon us and will continue to increase in their frequency, intensity, magnitude, and scope until the Lord returns in His glory. We are—or should be—familiar with the scriptural warnings of these. (A couple are given below.) However, in that scriptural setting these events run the risk of becoming sterile and safe; they are intrinsically ambiguous and we can easily fail to comprehend their terror. Knowing this, the Lord has given further, graphic vision of what lies ahead. I feel it is important to know what has been given, that we may comprehend the seriousness of our situation and cease to take these things lightly. These visions were, after all, given by our Father in Heaven for the benefit of His children.
In section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants, known as the “prophecy on war,” the Lord declares the destruction that shall come upon the inhabitants of this nation and the world because of their unrepentant state:
“And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations. (D&C 87:6. Emphasis added.)
He further warns:
And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. (D&C 45:31. Emphasis added.)
Joseph Smith prophesied that:
“The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, “Let’s divide up the lands of the United States,” then the people of the U.S. will unite and swear by the blood of their forefathers that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U. S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up, when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, “Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God.” Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when its liberty hangs by a hair, as it were.” (As recorded in the journal of Mosiah Lyman Hancock. Copy of original manuscript in BYU Library.)
And also that:
“There is a land beyond the Rocky Mountains [U.S. West Coast] that will be invaded by the heathen Chinese unless great care and protection are given.” (Prophecy recorded by Edwin Rushton and Theodore Turley as having been made by Joseph Smith on May 6, 1843.)
Elder Orson Pratt said:
“If it be asked, why is America to suffer? The answer is, because they have rejected the kingdom of God, and one of the greatest divine messages ever sent to man; because they have sanctioned the killing of the Saints, and the martyrdom of the Lord’s prophets, and have suffered his people to be driven from their midst, and have robbed them of their houses, and homes, and land, and millions of property, and have refused to redress their wrongs.
“For these great evils, they must suffer; the decrees of Jehovah have gone forth against them; the sword of the Lord has been unsheathed, and will fall with pain upon their devoted heads. Their great and magnificent cities are to be cut off. New York, Boston, Albany, and numerous other cities will be left desolate. Party will be arrayed in deadly strife against party; State against State; and the whole nation will be broken up; the sanguinary weapons of the dreadful revolution will devour the land. Then there shall be a fleeing from one city to another, from one State to another, from one part of the continent to another seeking refuge, from the devastations of bandits and armies; then shall their dead be left unburied, and the fowls of heaven shall summer upon them, and the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
“And it shall come to pass, that the heavens will withhold their rains and their fruitful fields be turned to bareness, and the waters of their rivers will be dried up, and left in standing pools, and the fish therein will die; and the Lord will send forth a grievous plague to destroy the horses and cattle from the land. Thus by the sword and by pestilence, and by famine, and by the strong arm of the Almighty, shall the inhabitants of that wicked nation be destroyed.” (Orson Pratt, Millennial Star, vol. 28, pp 633-634, October 6, 1866. Emphasis added.)
To bring the prophesies of war up to date and make them a little more tangible to us, I quote from a talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in General Conference, April, 1979:
“We do not say that all of the Saints will be spared and saved from the coming day of desolation. But we do say there is no promise of safety and no promise of security except for those who love the Lord and who are seeking to do all that he commands.
“It may be, for instance, that nothing except the power of faith and the authority of the priesthood can save individuals and congregations from the atomic holocausts that surely shall be.
“And so we raise the warning voice and say: Take heed; prepare; watch and be ready. There is no security in any course except the course of obedience and conformity and righteousness.” (“Stand Independent Above All Other Creatures,” Ensign, May, 1979. Emphasis added.)
Of special importance to me is the vision given to George Washington during the winter at Valley Forge. Though not a prophet, he was shown the destiny of this great nation. I give credence to this account because it is in complete harmony with visions given by the Lord to His prophets, and I believe it was his right as the “Father” of our country and a righteous man to receive such. Further and most importantly, the Holy Ghost bears witness that it is true.
In his vision, he was shown three great “perils” that would come upon this nation: The first was the Revolutionary war, the second, The Civil War, and the third, a yet future world war in which the nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa would combine and come against us. Current conditions in the world tell us this will be the case; hostility toward the United States, justified or not, is dramatically intensifying the world over, even among those who have long been our allies. Russia and China, now military allies, are engaged in a massive buildup and modernization of their armed forces. They have long viewed war with America as inevitable.
Remember President Benson’s statement: we are deluded if we think war and destruction will not visit us here! Although this nation—or rather the righteous inhabitants of this nation—will ultimately be victorious, the horrors and privations that must be endured should be obvious. The light that comes through victory and the peace enjoyed by the victors will be had only among those righteous who remain committed to the Lord. The remaining wicked will continue to war with one another on this land and throughout the world until the Lord’s return. As horrible and terrifying as war is, conditions in its aftermath are often much worse.
The visions given of these things are many. John Taylor was given perhaps the most graphic of these, which seems to portray the conditions in America immediately after this war. His experience is recorded in the journal of Wilford Woodruff as follows:
“I went to bed at my usual hour, half past nine o'clock. I had been reading the Revelations in the French language. My mind was calm, more than usual if possible to be so. I composed myself for sleep but could not sleep. I felt a strange stupor come over me and apparently became partially unconscious. Still I was not asleep nor awake with a strange far away dreamy feeling.
“The first thing I recognized was that I was in the Tabernacle at Ogden, Utah, sitting upon the back seat in the corner, for fear they would call upon me to preach, which after singing the second time, they did, by calling me to the stand.
“I arose to speak and said I did not know that I had anything special to say except to bear my testimony to the truth of the Latter Day work, when all at once it seemed as though I was lifted out of myself, and I said "Yes, I have something to say, it is this—some of my brethren present have been asking me what is coming to pass, what is the wind blowing up. I will answer you right here what is coming to pass shortly.
“I was immediately in Salt Lake City wandering about the streets. In all parts of the City and on the door of every house I found a badge of mourning, and I could not find a house but what was in mourning. I passed by my own house and saw the same sign there, and asked, 'Is that me that is dead?' Something gave me answer, 'No, you [shall] live through it all.'
“It seemed strange to me that I saw no person on the street in my wandering about through the city. They seemed to be in their houses with their sick and dead. I saw no funeral procession, or any thing of that kind, but the city looked very still and quiet. The people were praying and had control of the disease what ever it was.
“I then looked in all directions over the territory, east, west, north, and south, and I found the same mourning in every place throughout the land. The next I saw I was just this side of Omaha. It seemed as though I was above the earth, looking down to it as I passed along on my way east and I saw the roads full of people, principally women, with just what they could carry in bundles on their backs traveling to the mountains on foot and I wondered how they could get there, with nothing but a small pack upon their backs. It was remarkable to me that there were so few men among them. It did not seem as though the cars were running. The rails looked rusty, and the road abandoned, and I have no conception how I traveled myself.
“As I looked down upon the people I continued eastward through Omaha and Council Bluffs which were full of disease, and women everywhere. The States of Missouri and Illinois were in turmoil and strife, men killing each other, and women joining in the fight, family against family were cutting each other to pieces in the most horrid manner.
“The next I saw was Washington, and I found the city a desolation. The White House was empty, the halls of Congress the same. Everything in ruins. The people seemed to have fled from the city and left it to take care of itself.
“I was next in the city of Baltimore and in the square where the monument of 1812 stands, in front of St. Charles and other hotels I saw the dead piled up so as to fill the square. I saw mothers cut the throats of their own children for the sake of their blood, which they drank from their veins to quench their thirst and then lie down and die. The waters of the Chesapeake and of the city were so stagnant and such a stench arose from them on account of the putrefaction of dead bodies that the very smell caused death and what was singular again I saw no men except they were dead or dying in the streets, and very few women, and they were crazy and mad, in a dying condition. Everywhere I went I beheld the same condition all over the city. It was horrible, beyond description to look at.
“I thought this must be the End. But no I was seemingly in Philadelphia, and there everything was still. No living soul was to be seen to greet me, and it seemed as though the whole city was without any inhabitants. In Arch and Chestnut Streets and in fact everywhere I went the putrefaction of the dead bodies caused such a stench that it was impossible for any creature to remain alive, nor did I see any living thing in the city.
“I next found myself on Broadway in New York and there it seemed the people had done their best to overcome the disease. But in wandering down Broadway I saw the bodies of beautiful women lying stone dead, and others in a dying condition on the sidewalk. I saw men crawl out of the cellars and rob the dead bodies of the valuables they had on and before they could return to their coverts in the cellars they themselves would roll over a time or two and die in agony.
“On some of the back streets I saw mothers kill their children and eat raw flesh and then in a few minutes die themselves. Wherever I went I saw the same scenes of horror and desolation, rapine and death. No horses or carriages, no busses or street cars, but death and destruction everywhere.
“I then went to the Grand Central Park and looking back I saw a fire start and at that moment a mighty east wind sprang up and carried the flames west over the city, and it burned until there was not a single building left standing whole, even down to the wharfs and the shipping all seemed to be burned and swallowed up in the common destruction and left nothing but a desolation where the great city was a short time before. The stench from the bodies that were burning was so great that it was carried a great distance across the Hudson River and bay, and thus spread disease and death wherever the fumes penetrated. I cannot paint in words the horror that seemed to encompass me around. It was beyond description or thought of man to conceive.
“I was here given to understand, that the same horror was being enacted all over the country, north, south, east, and west, that few were left alive. Still there were some.
“Immediately after I seemed to be standing on the west bank of the Missouri River opposite the city of Independence but I saw no city. I saw the whole states of Missouri & Illinois and part of Iowa were a complete wilderness with no living human being in them. I then saw a short distance from the river twelve men dressed in the robes of the temple standing in a square or nearly so. I understood it represented the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, and they were with hands uplifted consecrating the ground and laying the corner stones. I saw myriads of angels hovering over them and around about them and also an immense pillar of a cloud over them and I heard the singing of the most beautiful music the words 'Now is established the Kingdom of our God and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever, and the Kingdom shall never be thrown down for the Saints have overcome.' And I saw people coming from the river and different places a long way off to help build the temple, and it seemed that the hosts of angels also helped to get the material to build the temple. And I saw some come who wore their temple robes to help build the temple and the city and all the time I saw the great pillar of cloud hovering over the place.
“Instantly I found I was in the Tabernacle at Ogden yet I could see the building going on and got quite animated in calling to the people in the tabernacle to listen to the beautiful music that the angels were making. I called to them to look at the angels as the house seemed to be full of them and they were saying the same words that I heard before 'Now is the Kingdom of our God Established forever & ever.” (Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 16, 1877. pp. 179-183.)
As I said above, the visions given are many, and continue today. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled, as declared by President Hinckley, and the Lord’s Spirit is being poured out upon all flesh. A great many have been given personal revelation through dreams and visions pertaining to their individual roles in the days ahead. However, warning should be given that Satan also gives revelation, true to form as the father of lies, that he might thwart the Lord’s work. Remember, we must develop and refine our spiritual gifts, among which is the gift of discernment. We must know the difference. We must, now and in the days ahead, be familiar—very familiar—with the voice of the Spirit, and keep ourselves in such a state of spiritual preparedness that we may recognize the direction given to us through Him and give immediate heed to it. Elder Oaks’ counsel that “…the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual” (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, November, 2004.) should be foremost in our minds.
A vast amount of information pertaining to the Last Days has been given by the Lord to man. However, from the beginning of this paper it has been my intent only to offer a succinct statement of the dire conditions we face, backed by recent, authoritative confirmation. What I have presented is sufficient to make the point. We must be sober, and we must be focused. Words cannot do justice to the sense of urgency I feel; it must be comprehended by each individual through the ministrations of the Spirit.
The coming of the Lord will be both great and dreadful. To the righteous, there is no need to fear. We have the promise of Divine protection and help as we prepare. We have the promise, regardless of when we die, of an eternity of peace and joy in the presence of our Father and the Savior. This time in which we live is a glorious time indeed, despite the peril that does and will exist. The Brethren are filled with hope and faith, as am I. They are so filled because they are prepared, and know that this Work will continue into the Millennial Era. That there is “much yet to do” in no way negates the nearness of these events for which we are preparing.
To all who read what I have written in this paper, I implore you to seek a witness as to the truth of this message. I firmly believe that time is very short. I testify to all, in the name of Jesus Christ, that we of this generation will witness the Return of our Savior; it will not be left to our children, but will be to us with our children. Let us take seriously the warnings of a loving Father! He will help us and protect us, if we do our part! I pray that we may.
I close with my testimony:
Above all else, I know that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son in the flesh of God the Father; that he is the Savior of the world, and, most importantly, my Savior. I know of the reality of His Atonement. I partake of its fruits daily. Indeed, I cannot make it through a day without being washed in and by it. He has lifted me and will continue to lift me from every fall I have taken and will take. He is real. I know Him. I have felt the divine love He has for me, a lowly, flawed, wretched mess. He lives, and in Him I have life. He is the one constant in every passing day. I know that this is His Church; He alone is its Head, and He guides its course every second of every day. He restored it through the Prophet, Joseph Smith, called and foreordained for that very purpose, and has called a prophet to lead us today, to whom He reveals His will, and that prophet is Gordon B. Hinckley. I know that likewise, He has called other prophets and apostles, and they lead us with the same authority. They are proven disciples of Christ, and they bear the Holy Priesthood of God. I am humbled to bear that same Priesthood. I know of its power; I have been witness to it. I know that I will yet behold that power in ways I cannot now comprehend—and will be a vessel through which it is made manifest. I know, and am grateful for, the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, who, above all, bears witness to all that God the Father is real and that Jesus is the Christ. It is through His influence alone that I know these things. I know that through that influence, I am cleansed and purified and renewed—and led. Daily. I know that through the peace and comfort He offers me, I will endure any and every hardship I am called upon to bear, will rise above all, and will accomplish the mission I was sent here to fulfill. And when that mission is complete, I will return to Him who gave me life, to live forever in His presence. In whatever circumstance I may find myself, I will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for this knowledge, and for the privilege of living. I long for His return, and when I again behold His presence, I will wet His feet with my tears. He is my every hope! In the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Yours in the Lord,
Dave
Addendum
To those who cannot obtain a year’s supply of “food, clothing, and fuel,” for whatever reason, may I remind you that the Lord has commanded us to serve Him with “all [our] heart, might, mind, and strength.” As we do this, we may have the assurance that our efforts, whatever they may be, will be sufficient. But we must be honest with ourselves. Are our efforts the best we have to give? No, we cannot do “all we know,” but we can do our best. Do your best, and put your trust in the Lord. Do not give in to discouragement, simply move forward in faith. And do it NOW. (Please.) (Edited to Add the rest of Dave's article)
Pertaining to food storage, the Church gives recommendations as to what constitutes a minimum supply of the essentials—what would be sufficient to keep you alive—on the Provident Living link listed on the official website, www.lds.org. Remember, lest you think that you will be able to live comfortably on what is suggested, that these quantities are minimums that will keep you alive only. If your situation allows more, do more!
Now, some perspective—with a little bit of Strong Opinion added for zest:
· Self-sufficiency does not mean driving yourself to the store; it means not needing one.
· When there are no stores open anywhere, the only source for food will be your own stores.
· A garden is a good idea, and bigger is better. You can find all the lawn you need at the park or the church.
· Nothing—nothing—beats fresh homegrown fruits and vegetables for giving you a healthy body.
· Sprouted wheat tastes a lot better than grass and dandelions—which is what you’ll be eating if you haven’t bothered to store food--and is one of the most nutritionally complete foods there is.
· A 50 lb. bag of wheat, either through the Church canneries or at Macey’s is about $9.00. The Church recommends a minimum of 400 lbs. per adult per year. That’s less than $80.00 total! Buy one bag every other week, and you’ll have a minimum years’ supply of wheat for two adults in less than 8 months.
· TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein, a soy-based meat substitute), horrifying as the concept is to some, tastes better than worms—which is what you’ll be eating if…
· Ramen soup, though probably just above cardboard on a list of nutritional values, will keep you alive, and tastes a lot better. Besides, your kids will actually eat it. (A year’s supply for a child can be had for less than $50.00 on sale.)
· Peanut butter is better for you than mud. Though sometimes the consistency is very similar. Again, kids will eat it. Maybe even before the ramen!
· A new four-wheeler or wave-runner looks really cool and is a lot of fun, but you can’t eat it. Neither can your kids.
· You don’t need a brand-new car or truck; a used one will suffice. You do need food.
· You don’t need a huge home. You do need food.
· You don’t need a TV or a boat or a motorcycle or any one of a very long list of “toys.” You do need food.
· Television is, for the most part, an intellectual and moral wasteland, and will suck the life out of you. Your time is better spent by doing almost anything else. Since time is critical, use it to educate yourself and prepare for the days ahead.
That’s probably enough, but the point is made: Priorities need to be identified. “First things first,” as they say. Food storage--at least a year’s supply—should be very close to the top of the list.
Pertaining to clothing and fuel: these are likewise essential, but obviously secondary to food. Use the promised guidance of the Spirit (addressed above) to know what course to take in that regard.
And then there’s the spiritual preparedness that is so essential. I have no words strong enough to address its importance! It should already be understood.
May the Lord bless your efforts to prepare. I know He will. And you will sing His praise forevermore!
Dave
permission to repost on other forums as long as he was given credit for the article. Here it is in its entirety.
"A Plea To Prepare"
“And it shall come to pass that he that feareth me shall be looking forth for the great day of the lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man.” (D&C 45:39)
“The greatest events spoken of by the Holy Prophets will come along so naturally as the consequences 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.” (George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 21, p. 264)
The prophecies regarding the events of the Last Days have long held my interest. I have felt keenly the importance of watching and preparing for these events; it has been a primary source of motivation throughout my life. I write this brief paper in the hopes that all who read it may understand and grasp fully the magnitude of what lies immediately before us and the importance of using wisely the time we have—while we have it—to do all that is necessary to ready ourselves for the times of tribulation. In doing so, I feel there is no room for timidity; rather, discussion of such things requires boldness and frank language as the lateness of the hour will simply not allow anything less, lest any continue in their apathy and complacency and these things come upon them unaware and unprepared. In April General Conference, 2004, Elder Dallin H. Oaks stated “While we are powerless to alter the fact of the Second Coming and unable to know its exact time, we can accelerate our own preparation and try to influence the preparation of those around us.” It is for this purpose that I am motivated to share my thoughts with you. It is my opinion that the exact timing of the Lord’s return is immaterial to discussions of the Last Days; if we are not prepared for those events preceding His return, we simply will not be alive to witness it. Therefore, it is my hope that you who read this will gain a heightened sense of urgency to prepare.
We have been given, through prophets of God, insight, instruction, and warning concerning these times in order that we may escape much of the misery and destruction that will befall the wicked. Our safety through this period will be assured only by our giving heed to the warnings given us to prepare; when the calamities are upon us, it will be too late. At that time, will we be classed among the five wise or the five foolish virgins? The choice is entirely our own. It is my testimony and witness to all that the visions and prophecies of future events, frightening as they are, are given to us as an act of love: it is because of the infinite, perfect love that our Father has for us that He gives us warning and commands us to repent and prepare.
What, then, is our responsibility concerning the matter? Assuming that those reading this have a firm testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ with its Priesthood keys and authority, and of the reality of modern revelation, both general and personal, then three things must follow:
First, we must become familiar with the prophecies given as to what these “signs” are. How can we watch, as the Lord commanded, for the signs of His coming and be aware of its nearness if we have no idea what it is we are watching for?
Second, we must cultivate and develop our spiritual gifts so that, as President Cannon stated, “…our eyes [will be] enlightened by the Spirit of God, and the spirit of revelation [will rest] upon us.” It is in this way alone—seeing with spiritual eyes—that we will recognize the signs that have been and will be given.
Key to this spiritual development is daily repentance. If there is anything in our lives that requires the aid of the Bishop, it should be given highest priority. However, whether or not this is the case, we are, each of us, in need of the purifying process of repentance. Not a day goes by that the healing balm of the Atonement is not needed in our lives; that we don’t fall short, in varying degrees, of what we know to be right. Hence the need for daily repentance.
The list of ways to develop those Gifts continues with what we are already very familiar: daily scripture study, daily prayer, Sunday meeting attendance, and regular (monthly at least?) temple attendance. A sincere, earnest effort must be given in these areas. Regarding scripture study, it is my testimony that there is no better way to familiarize ourselves with the voice of the Spirit than by reading the words of the Lord. Knowing that Voice is critical to receiving personal revelation and guidance. And receiving that guidance is likewise critical in our efforts to prepare.
We must seek to remove the daily interference that blocks our reception of the Spirit. Our modern media is saturated with elements hostile to the Lord and His work. Television programs and music offensive to the Spirit should—must—be avoided, as must all other sources with offensive content.
Third, we must act. Information obtained does little good if we do nothing with it. We cannot do all there is to do. Yet, we have the assurance that our efforts will be blessed, as we seek to serve the Lord with “…all [our] heart, might, mind and strength.” (D&C 4:2) It is only by doing all we can do that we have any right to expect help from the Lord. That we will have His help upon that condition is guaranteed. Miracles will happen as we commit ourselves to Him.
In short, we must discipline ourselves to abstain from anything that will weaken our bodies, sap our mentality, deaden our spiritual sensitivity, and waste our incomes. We must make a concerted effort to invite into our lives those things that will lift and build us.
The information that follows is given as 1) evidence that the tribulation we will face will demand all of our efforts and strength to be ready for and endure—physically, spiritually, and mentally—as they will be of a magnitude, intensity and scale that has not existed before in the history of the world, 2) evidence that we are in the opening days of that period, and 3) motivation to action—now. The time left to prepare is quickly diminishing and our efforts must be increased substantially.
When I contemplate what is about to befall this nation and the world, I am saddened beyond words to know that there are many who, with a knowledge of these things, will yet refuse to prepare. Consequently, they will witness the untold suffering of those who are dependent upon them for their welfare. Can you imagine yourself watching your little children starve to death? Can you comprehend the anguish of soul in that situation, knowing that you could have prevented it? With that knowledge, the guilt and grief will be excruciating. Are you willing to face such? I am not! Why should we expect the Lord to save us from our folly when He has warned us repeatedly to prepare and promised His aid in our efforts? Our expectation of such would be contrary to the laws of Heaven.
In the October 1980 General Conference, then Elder Ezra Taft Benson addressed the issue of preparedness. His words were powerful, direct, and explicit. He warned:
“For over forty years, in a spirit of love, members of the Church have been counseled to be thrifty and self-reliant; to avoid debt; pay tithes and a generous fast offering; be industrious; and have sufficient food, clothing, and fuel on hand to last at least [AT LEAST!] one year.
“Have you ever paused to realize what would happen to your community or nation if transportation were paralyzed or if we had a war or depression? How would you and your neighbors obtain food? How long would the corner grocery store—or supermarket—sustain the needs of the community? [Note: implicit in these remarks is the message that the Church will not, under such circumstances, be handing out food to those in need; it is not their responsibility to do so.]
“President Brigham Young said, “If you are without bread, how much wisdom can you boast, and of what real utility are your talents, if you cannot procure for yourselves and save against a day of scarcity those substances designed to sustain your natural lives?” (In Journal of Discourses, 8:68.) “From the standpoint of food production, storage, handling, and the Lord’s counsel, wheat should have high priority. “There is more salvation and security in wheat,” said Orson Hyde years ago, “than in all the political schemes of the world” (in Journal of Discourses, 2:207). Water, of course, is essential. Other basics could include honey or sugar, legumes, milk products or substitutes, and salt or its equivalent. The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.
“I speak with a feeling of great urgency. I have seen what the days of tribulation can do to people. I have seen hunger stalk the streets of Europe. I have witnessed the appalling, emaciated shadows of human figures. I have seen women and children scavenge army garbage dumps for scraps of food. Those scenes and nameless faces cannot be erased from my memory.
“I shall never forget the Saints of Hamburg who appeared on the verge of collapse from starvation, or their small children whom I invited to come to the stand as we emptied our pockets of edibles. Most had never seen these items before because of the wartime conditions. Nor can I forget the expectant and nursing mothers whose eyes watered with tears when we gave them each an orange. We saw the terrible physical and social side effects of hunger and malnutrition. One sister walked over a thousand miles with four small children, leaving her home in Poland. She lost all four to starvation and the freezing conditions. Yet she stood before us in her emaciated condition, her clothing shredded, and her feet wrapped in burlap, and bore testimony of how blessed she was.
“I cannot forget the French Saints who, unable to obtain bread, used potato peelings for the emblems of the sacrament. Nor will I ever forget the faith of the Dutch Saints who accepted our suggestion to grow potatoes to alleviate their own starving conditions, and then sent a portion of their first harvest to the German people who had been their bitter enemies. The following year they sent them the entire harvest. The annals of Church history have seldom recorded a more Christlike act of love and compassion.
“Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. (Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,” Ensign, November, 1980. Emphasis added.)
President Benson spoke “…with a feeling of great urgency.” That was 25 years ago. He told us that the same counsel had been given, at that time, for over 40 years. Some would dismiss this counsel since, obviously, no major catastrophe has befallen us. Yet it was given to us by the Lord’s chosen prophets, speaking in their capacity as such. How long will we ignore such wisdom? How long will we procrastinate making the preparations that will save our lives and the lives of our families? So, nothing major has happened. I ask: what does that have to do with anything? The Lord gives His warning well in advance, and whether the need is realized in 1 year or 100 is irrelevant. It is incumbent upon us all to give immediate heed to it. As was stated previously, when disaster strikes, it is too late. The day will come—is upon us now, I believe—when the Lord’s servants will cease their warning, and the Lord Himself will preach the sermon. Today the political, social, and geological environment we live in is vastly different from 1980. Who among us can dismiss the evidence of the Lord’s voice calling the nations of the earth to repentance?
A careful study of history and the scriptures will reveal that no nation can long endure when wickedness becomes the accepted norm. This land of America is a choice land, and has upon it both a blessing and a cursing. Prophets have warned us that if this people do not worship the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ, we will be swept off. At least two great civilizations before us failed to do so and suffered that very fate. The evidence of that condition—of this nation’s refusal to worship Jesus Christ—is now everywhere present.
The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah in the old world have long been the standard in determining how wicked a people must be before they are “swept off.” Are we as wicked as they?
President Thomas S. Monson, in a devotional address given to the students at BYU, witnessed: “Today we have a rebirth of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah.” (“I Will Serve the Lord,” BYU Devotional Address, January 20, 2004. Emphasis added.)
In General Conference, President Hinckley, referring to our present conditions, said: “All of the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah haunt our society” and later, “I do not know that things were worse in the times of Sodom and Gomorrah.” (“Living in the Fullness of Times,” Ensign, November, 2001; Address given at the General Priesthood Leadership Training Meeting, February, 2004, respectively. Emphasis added.)
President Boyd K. Packer was more explicit. In an address to a group of lawyers, he declared:
“These are days of great spiritual danger for this people. The world is spiraling downward at an ever-quickening pace. I am sorry to tell you that it will not get better.
“I know of nothing in the history of the Church or in the history of the world to compare with our present circumstances. Nothing happened in Sodom and Gomorrah which exceeds the wickedness and depravity which surrounds us now.
“Satan uses every intrigue to disrupt the family. The sacred relationship between man and woman, husband and wife, through which mortal bodies are conceived and life is passed from one generation to the next generation, is being showered with filth.
“Profanity, vulgarity, blasphemy, and pornography are broadcast into the homes and minds of the innocent. Unspeakable wickedness, perversion, and abuse—not even exempting little children—once hidden in dark places, now seeks protection from courts and judges.” [Note: Ponder that last statement. It is horrifying when understood fully.] (Boyd K. Packer, J. Reuben Clark Law Society devotional, February 28, 2004. Emphasis added.)
Again, the lord’s prophets have spoken. Their words ring with unmistakable clarity. Has our society, like Sodom and Gomorrah, become “ripened in iniquity?” Are we as wicked as they? The answer to that is a resounding “Yes!” It would seem that we are living on borrowed time.
Time is of the essence; there is none of it to waste! As evidence that the prophesied days of tribulation are upon us, that we are beginning to reap the consequences of our collective wickedness, I quote more from the recent words of prophets of God:
In General Conference, April, 2004, Elder Dallin H. Oaks delivered a very clear message to the members of the Church:
“We are living in the prophesied time “when peace shall be taken from the earth,” (D&C 1:35) when “all things shall be in commotion,” and “men’s hearts shall fail them.” (D&C 88:91) These signs of the Second coming are all around us and seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity.” (Emphasis added.)
Six months later, President Packer declared:
“The calamities the Lord foresaw [referring to D&C 1:17] now come upon an unrepentant world.” (Boyd K. Packer, “The Least of These,” Ensign, May, 2004. Emphasis added.)
It should be understood that, in the scriptural context, the word “calamity” (or “calamities”) does not have general application to any and all disasters but has specific meaning and reference to those events of the Last Days just prior to the Savior’s return. In this setting, President Packer’s words carry tremendous weight: he is explicitly proclaiming that the destructions of the Last Days—the period of “tribulation” prophesied by the Lord’s Holy Prophets—have begun. It is significant that only three months following his declaration, one of the most devastating and tragic natural disasters in the history of the world took place in Indonesia and the surrounding countries of the Indian Ocean. The earthquake and resultant tsunami claimed over *400,000 lives. Countless more continue to suffer and die in the deplorable conditions of its aftermath. (*Official death toll was approximately 250,000, with over 150,000 missing and unaccounted for.)
Of this event, Elder Henry B. Eyring said:
“The giant earthquake, and the tsunamis it sent crashing into the coasts around the Indian Ocean, is just the beginning and a part of what is to come, terrible as it was.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Raise the Bar,” BYUI Devotional Address, January 25, 2005. Emphasis added.)
If this was just the beginning, what it is that will follow? What is to come? Elder Eyring continued:
“You remember the words from the Doctrine and Covenants which now seems so accurate:
“And after your testimony cometh wrath and indignation upon the people. For after your testimony cometh the testimony of earthquakes, that shall cause groanings in the midst of her, and men shall fall upon the ground and shall not be able to stand. And also cometh the testimony of the voice of thunderings, and the voice of lightnings, and the voice of tempests, and the voice of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds. And all things shall be in commotion; and surely, men’s hearts shall fail them; for fear shall come upon all people.”
In addition to natural disasters of every kind, wars, pestilence, famine, and plagues are promised. These things are now upon us and will continue to increase in their frequency, intensity, magnitude, and scope until the Lord returns in His glory. We are—or should be—familiar with the scriptural warnings of these. (A couple are given below.) However, in that scriptural setting these events run the risk of becoming sterile and safe; they are intrinsically ambiguous and we can easily fail to comprehend their terror. Knowing this, the Lord has given further, graphic vision of what lies ahead. I feel it is important to know what has been given, that we may comprehend the seriousness of our situation and cease to take these things lightly. These visions were, after all, given by our Father in Heaven for the benefit of His children.
In section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants, known as the “prophecy on war,” the Lord declares the destruction that shall come upon the inhabitants of this nation and the world because of their unrepentant state:
“And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations. (D&C 87:6. Emphasis added.)
He further warns:
And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. (D&C 45:31. Emphasis added.)
Joseph Smith prophesied that:
“The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, “Let’s divide up the lands of the United States,” then the people of the U.S. will unite and swear by the blood of their forefathers that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U. S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up, when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, “Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God.” Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when its liberty hangs by a hair, as it were.” (As recorded in the journal of Mosiah Lyman Hancock. Copy of original manuscript in BYU Library.)
And also that:
“There is a land beyond the Rocky Mountains [U.S. West Coast] that will be invaded by the heathen Chinese unless great care and protection are given.” (Prophecy recorded by Edwin Rushton and Theodore Turley as having been made by Joseph Smith on May 6, 1843.)
Elder Orson Pratt said:
“If it be asked, why is America to suffer? The answer is, because they have rejected the kingdom of God, and one of the greatest divine messages ever sent to man; because they have sanctioned the killing of the Saints, and the martyrdom of the Lord’s prophets, and have suffered his people to be driven from their midst, and have robbed them of their houses, and homes, and land, and millions of property, and have refused to redress their wrongs.
“For these great evils, they must suffer; the decrees of Jehovah have gone forth against them; the sword of the Lord has been unsheathed, and will fall with pain upon their devoted heads. Their great and magnificent cities are to be cut off. New York, Boston, Albany, and numerous other cities will be left desolate. Party will be arrayed in deadly strife against party; State against State; and the whole nation will be broken up; the sanguinary weapons of the dreadful revolution will devour the land. Then there shall be a fleeing from one city to another, from one State to another, from one part of the continent to another seeking refuge, from the devastations of bandits and armies; then shall their dead be left unburied, and the fowls of heaven shall summer upon them, and the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.
“And it shall come to pass, that the heavens will withhold their rains and their fruitful fields be turned to bareness, and the waters of their rivers will be dried up, and left in standing pools, and the fish therein will die; and the Lord will send forth a grievous plague to destroy the horses and cattle from the land. Thus by the sword and by pestilence, and by famine, and by the strong arm of the Almighty, shall the inhabitants of that wicked nation be destroyed.” (Orson Pratt, Millennial Star, vol. 28, pp 633-634, October 6, 1866. Emphasis added.)
To bring the prophesies of war up to date and make them a little more tangible to us, I quote from a talk given by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in General Conference, April, 1979:
“We do not say that all of the Saints will be spared and saved from the coming day of desolation. But we do say there is no promise of safety and no promise of security except for those who love the Lord and who are seeking to do all that he commands.
“It may be, for instance, that nothing except the power of faith and the authority of the priesthood can save individuals and congregations from the atomic holocausts that surely shall be.
“And so we raise the warning voice and say: Take heed; prepare; watch and be ready. There is no security in any course except the course of obedience and conformity and righteousness.” (“Stand Independent Above All Other Creatures,” Ensign, May, 1979. Emphasis added.)
Of special importance to me is the vision given to George Washington during the winter at Valley Forge. Though not a prophet, he was shown the destiny of this great nation. I give credence to this account because it is in complete harmony with visions given by the Lord to His prophets, and I believe it was his right as the “Father” of our country and a righteous man to receive such. Further and most importantly, the Holy Ghost bears witness that it is true.
In his vision, he was shown three great “perils” that would come upon this nation: The first was the Revolutionary war, the second, The Civil War, and the third, a yet future world war in which the nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa would combine and come against us. Current conditions in the world tell us this will be the case; hostility toward the United States, justified or not, is dramatically intensifying the world over, even among those who have long been our allies. Russia and China, now military allies, are engaged in a massive buildup and modernization of their armed forces. They have long viewed war with America as inevitable.
Remember President Benson’s statement: we are deluded if we think war and destruction will not visit us here! Although this nation—or rather the righteous inhabitants of this nation—will ultimately be victorious, the horrors and privations that must be endured should be obvious. The light that comes through victory and the peace enjoyed by the victors will be had only among those righteous who remain committed to the Lord. The remaining wicked will continue to war with one another on this land and throughout the world until the Lord’s return. As horrible and terrifying as war is, conditions in its aftermath are often much worse.
The visions given of these things are many. John Taylor was given perhaps the most graphic of these, which seems to portray the conditions in America immediately after this war. His experience is recorded in the journal of Wilford Woodruff as follows:
“I went to bed at my usual hour, half past nine o'clock. I had been reading the Revelations in the French language. My mind was calm, more than usual if possible to be so. I composed myself for sleep but could not sleep. I felt a strange stupor come over me and apparently became partially unconscious. Still I was not asleep nor awake with a strange far away dreamy feeling.
“The first thing I recognized was that I was in the Tabernacle at Ogden, Utah, sitting upon the back seat in the corner, for fear they would call upon me to preach, which after singing the second time, they did, by calling me to the stand.
“I arose to speak and said I did not know that I had anything special to say except to bear my testimony to the truth of the Latter Day work, when all at once it seemed as though I was lifted out of myself, and I said "Yes, I have something to say, it is this—some of my brethren present have been asking me what is coming to pass, what is the wind blowing up. I will answer you right here what is coming to pass shortly.
“I was immediately in Salt Lake City wandering about the streets. In all parts of the City and on the door of every house I found a badge of mourning, and I could not find a house but what was in mourning. I passed by my own house and saw the same sign there, and asked, 'Is that me that is dead?' Something gave me answer, 'No, you [shall] live through it all.'
“It seemed strange to me that I saw no person on the street in my wandering about through the city. They seemed to be in their houses with their sick and dead. I saw no funeral procession, or any thing of that kind, but the city looked very still and quiet. The people were praying and had control of the disease what ever it was.
“I then looked in all directions over the territory, east, west, north, and south, and I found the same mourning in every place throughout the land. The next I saw I was just this side of Omaha. It seemed as though I was above the earth, looking down to it as I passed along on my way east and I saw the roads full of people, principally women, with just what they could carry in bundles on their backs traveling to the mountains on foot and I wondered how they could get there, with nothing but a small pack upon their backs. It was remarkable to me that there were so few men among them. It did not seem as though the cars were running. The rails looked rusty, and the road abandoned, and I have no conception how I traveled myself.
“As I looked down upon the people I continued eastward through Omaha and Council Bluffs which were full of disease, and women everywhere. The States of Missouri and Illinois were in turmoil and strife, men killing each other, and women joining in the fight, family against family were cutting each other to pieces in the most horrid manner.
“The next I saw was Washington, and I found the city a desolation. The White House was empty, the halls of Congress the same. Everything in ruins. The people seemed to have fled from the city and left it to take care of itself.
“I was next in the city of Baltimore and in the square where the monument of 1812 stands, in front of St. Charles and other hotels I saw the dead piled up so as to fill the square. I saw mothers cut the throats of their own children for the sake of their blood, which they drank from their veins to quench their thirst and then lie down and die. The waters of the Chesapeake and of the city were so stagnant and such a stench arose from them on account of the putrefaction of dead bodies that the very smell caused death and what was singular again I saw no men except they were dead or dying in the streets, and very few women, and they were crazy and mad, in a dying condition. Everywhere I went I beheld the same condition all over the city. It was horrible, beyond description to look at.
“I thought this must be the End. But no I was seemingly in Philadelphia, and there everything was still. No living soul was to be seen to greet me, and it seemed as though the whole city was without any inhabitants. In Arch and Chestnut Streets and in fact everywhere I went the putrefaction of the dead bodies caused such a stench that it was impossible for any creature to remain alive, nor did I see any living thing in the city.
“I next found myself on Broadway in New York and there it seemed the people had done their best to overcome the disease. But in wandering down Broadway I saw the bodies of beautiful women lying stone dead, and others in a dying condition on the sidewalk. I saw men crawl out of the cellars and rob the dead bodies of the valuables they had on and before they could return to their coverts in the cellars they themselves would roll over a time or two and die in agony.
“On some of the back streets I saw mothers kill their children and eat raw flesh and then in a few minutes die themselves. Wherever I went I saw the same scenes of horror and desolation, rapine and death. No horses or carriages, no busses or street cars, but death and destruction everywhere.
“I then went to the Grand Central Park and looking back I saw a fire start and at that moment a mighty east wind sprang up and carried the flames west over the city, and it burned until there was not a single building left standing whole, even down to the wharfs and the shipping all seemed to be burned and swallowed up in the common destruction and left nothing but a desolation where the great city was a short time before. The stench from the bodies that were burning was so great that it was carried a great distance across the Hudson River and bay, and thus spread disease and death wherever the fumes penetrated. I cannot paint in words the horror that seemed to encompass me around. It was beyond description or thought of man to conceive.
“I was here given to understand, that the same horror was being enacted all over the country, north, south, east, and west, that few were left alive. Still there were some.
“Immediately after I seemed to be standing on the west bank of the Missouri River opposite the city of Independence but I saw no city. I saw the whole states of Missouri & Illinois and part of Iowa were a complete wilderness with no living human being in them. I then saw a short distance from the river twelve men dressed in the robes of the temple standing in a square or nearly so. I understood it represented the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem, and they were with hands uplifted consecrating the ground and laying the corner stones. I saw myriads of angels hovering over them and around about them and also an immense pillar of a cloud over them and I heard the singing of the most beautiful music the words 'Now is established the Kingdom of our God and His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever, and the Kingdom shall never be thrown down for the Saints have overcome.' And I saw people coming from the river and different places a long way off to help build the temple, and it seemed that the hosts of angels also helped to get the material to build the temple. And I saw some come who wore their temple robes to help build the temple and the city and all the time I saw the great pillar of cloud hovering over the place.
“Instantly I found I was in the Tabernacle at Ogden yet I could see the building going on and got quite animated in calling to the people in the tabernacle to listen to the beautiful music that the angels were making. I called to them to look at the angels as the house seemed to be full of them and they were saying the same words that I heard before 'Now is the Kingdom of our God Established forever & ever.” (Journal of Wilford Woodruff, December 16, 1877. pp. 179-183.)
As I said above, the visions given are many, and continue today. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled, as declared by President Hinckley, and the Lord’s Spirit is being poured out upon all flesh. A great many have been given personal revelation through dreams and visions pertaining to their individual roles in the days ahead. However, warning should be given that Satan also gives revelation, true to form as the father of lies, that he might thwart the Lord’s work. Remember, we must develop and refine our spiritual gifts, among which is the gift of discernment. We must know the difference. We must, now and in the days ahead, be familiar—very familiar—with the voice of the Spirit, and keep ourselves in such a state of spiritual preparedness that we may recognize the direction given to us through Him and give immediate heed to it. Elder Oaks’ counsel that “…the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual” (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, November, 2004.) should be foremost in our minds.
A vast amount of information pertaining to the Last Days has been given by the Lord to man. However, from the beginning of this paper it has been my intent only to offer a succinct statement of the dire conditions we face, backed by recent, authoritative confirmation. What I have presented is sufficient to make the point. We must be sober, and we must be focused. Words cannot do justice to the sense of urgency I feel; it must be comprehended by each individual through the ministrations of the Spirit.
The coming of the Lord will be both great and dreadful. To the righteous, there is no need to fear. We have the promise of Divine protection and help as we prepare. We have the promise, regardless of when we die, of an eternity of peace and joy in the presence of our Father and the Savior. This time in which we live is a glorious time indeed, despite the peril that does and will exist. The Brethren are filled with hope and faith, as am I. They are so filled because they are prepared, and know that this Work will continue into the Millennial Era. That there is “much yet to do” in no way negates the nearness of these events for which we are preparing.
To all who read what I have written in this paper, I implore you to seek a witness as to the truth of this message. I firmly believe that time is very short. I testify to all, in the name of Jesus Christ, that we of this generation will witness the Return of our Savior; it will not be left to our children, but will be to us with our children. Let us take seriously the warnings of a loving Father! He will help us and protect us, if we do our part! I pray that we may.
I close with my testimony:
Above all else, I know that Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son in the flesh of God the Father; that he is the Savior of the world, and, most importantly, my Savior. I know of the reality of His Atonement. I partake of its fruits daily. Indeed, I cannot make it through a day without being washed in and by it. He has lifted me and will continue to lift me from every fall I have taken and will take. He is real. I know Him. I have felt the divine love He has for me, a lowly, flawed, wretched mess. He lives, and in Him I have life. He is the one constant in every passing day. I know that this is His Church; He alone is its Head, and He guides its course every second of every day. He restored it through the Prophet, Joseph Smith, called and foreordained for that very purpose, and has called a prophet to lead us today, to whom He reveals His will, and that prophet is Gordon B. Hinckley. I know that likewise, He has called other prophets and apostles, and they lead us with the same authority. They are proven disciples of Christ, and they bear the Holy Priesthood of God. I am humbled to bear that same Priesthood. I know of its power; I have been witness to it. I know that I will yet behold that power in ways I cannot now comprehend—and will be a vessel through which it is made manifest. I know, and am grateful for, the power and influence of the Holy Ghost, who, above all, bears witness to all that God the Father is real and that Jesus is the Christ. It is through His influence alone that I know these things. I know that through that influence, I am cleansed and purified and renewed—and led. Daily. I know that through the peace and comfort He offers me, I will endure any and every hardship I am called upon to bear, will rise above all, and will accomplish the mission I was sent here to fulfill. And when that mission is complete, I will return to Him who gave me life, to live forever in His presence. In whatever circumstance I may find myself, I will be filled with praise and thanksgiving to the Lord for this knowledge, and for the privilege of living. I long for His return, and when I again behold His presence, I will wet His feet with my tears. He is my every hope! In the sacred and holy name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Yours in the Lord,
Dave
Addendum
To those who cannot obtain a year’s supply of “food, clothing, and fuel,” for whatever reason, may I remind you that the Lord has commanded us to serve Him with “all [our] heart, might, mind, and strength.” As we do this, we may have the assurance that our efforts, whatever they may be, will be sufficient. But we must be honest with ourselves. Are our efforts the best we have to give? No, we cannot do “all we know,” but we can do our best. Do your best, and put your trust in the Lord. Do not give in to discouragement, simply move forward in faith. And do it NOW. (Please.) (Edited to Add the rest of Dave's article)
Pertaining to food storage, the Church gives recommendations as to what constitutes a minimum supply of the essentials—what would be sufficient to keep you alive—on the Provident Living link listed on the official website, www.lds.org. Remember, lest you think that you will be able to live comfortably on what is suggested, that these quantities are minimums that will keep you alive only. If your situation allows more, do more!
Now, some perspective—with a little bit of Strong Opinion added for zest:
· Self-sufficiency does not mean driving yourself to the store; it means not needing one.
· When there are no stores open anywhere, the only source for food will be your own stores.
· A garden is a good idea, and bigger is better. You can find all the lawn you need at the park or the church.
· Nothing—nothing—beats fresh homegrown fruits and vegetables for giving you a healthy body.
· Sprouted wheat tastes a lot better than grass and dandelions—which is what you’ll be eating if you haven’t bothered to store food--and is one of the most nutritionally complete foods there is.
· A 50 lb. bag of wheat, either through the Church canneries or at Macey’s is about $9.00. The Church recommends a minimum of 400 lbs. per adult per year. That’s less than $80.00 total! Buy one bag every other week, and you’ll have a minimum years’ supply of wheat for two adults in less than 8 months.
· TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein, a soy-based meat substitute), horrifying as the concept is to some, tastes better than worms—which is what you’ll be eating if…
· Ramen soup, though probably just above cardboard on a list of nutritional values, will keep you alive, and tastes a lot better. Besides, your kids will actually eat it. (A year’s supply for a child can be had for less than $50.00 on sale.)
· Peanut butter is better for you than mud. Though sometimes the consistency is very similar. Again, kids will eat it. Maybe even before the ramen!
· A new four-wheeler or wave-runner looks really cool and is a lot of fun, but you can’t eat it. Neither can your kids.
· You don’t need a brand-new car or truck; a used one will suffice. You do need food.
· You don’t need a huge home. You do need food.
· You don’t need a TV or a boat or a motorcycle or any one of a very long list of “toys.” You do need food.
· Television is, for the most part, an intellectual and moral wasteland, and will suck the life out of you. Your time is better spent by doing almost anything else. Since time is critical, use it to educate yourself and prepare for the days ahead.
That’s probably enough, but the point is made: Priorities need to be identified. “First things first,” as they say. Food storage--at least a year’s supply—should be very close to the top of the list.
Pertaining to clothing and fuel: these are likewise essential, but obviously secondary to food. Use the promised guidance of the Spirit (addressed above) to know what course to take in that regard.
And then there’s the spiritual preparedness that is so essential. I have no words strong enough to address its importance! It should already be understood.
May the Lord bless your efforts to prepare. I know He will. And you will sing His praise forevermore!
Dave
