This is a MESS - and I FULLY expect this to happen within the next year (preceding our getting nuked by Russia). I may have some form of that timeline off, but this is my expectation. We also have to be hunted and driven from city to city - worse than the Nauvoo and Misery days....:
“When our brethren in the Quorum of the 12 shall be called to the courts of Washington to give an account of the position of the Latter Day Saints...the world will be in commotion and the Lord will have something to work upon. It will be after this when our Savior and others will make their appearance on the earth among the Latter Day Saints.”
– Brigham Young
(Recorded in a letter from Amanda H. Wilcox to Susie Young Gates, March, 11, 1904; Historical Dept. of the Church)
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“The time will come when the government will stop the saints from holding meetings. When this is done the Lord will pour out his judgments.”
– Heber C. Kimball
((Orson Ferguson Whitney, "Life of Heber C. Kimball: An Apostle, the Father and Founder of the British Mission", (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Kimball Family, 1888), 452-453)
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And, now, in reference to the first quote...
Read this set of scriptures like a prophecy:
(Alma 32:1-12)
1 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.
2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel--
3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.
4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.
5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?
6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.
7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
8 I behold that ye are lowly in heart; and if so, blessed are ye.
9 Behold thy brother hath said, What shall we do?--for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God.
10 Behold I say unto you, do ye suppose that ye cannot worship God save it be in your synagogues only?
11 And moreover, I would ask, do ye suppose that ye must not worship God only once in a week?
12 I say unto you, it is well that ye are cast out of your synagogues, that ye may be humble, and that ye may learn wisdom; for it is necessary that ye should learn wisdom; for it is because that ye are cast out, that ye are despised of your brethren because of your exceeding poverty, that ye are brought to a lowliness of heart; for ye are necessarily brought to be humble.
13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.
14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?
15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed--yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.
I posited the question during a talk a few months ago how strong we would all be if our tax exempt status was removed? Would we buckle in shame? What if certain leaders were removed from office for apostasy? At the local, regional, or headquarters level? All of us need to pray for strength, as well as praying for our leaders. The spirit will see us through to safety. The mantra has been follow the prophet, not follow your favorite general authority. That may be redundant or it may not be.
ReplyDeleteFallible men and women may fall, but only the Holy Ghost is our One Sure Guide.
ReplyDelete"...Without doubt the time will ultimately come when every man-made institution will be arrayed against the church and Kingdom of God -- the only institution of divine origin on the earth, and the only institution that will stand and remain unmoved, while all others will fall, disintegrate and decay." --Pres. Joseph F. Smith.
ReplyDeleteHistory has shown that peculiar people are almost always persecuted for being so.
If that quote is true, and I believe it is, then the CHURCH at that time is being led by a LIVING PROPHET whom we can put our trust in with faith and patience as the Lord has commanded us to do. We will move as ONE because the Holy Ghost will be with us and WITH THE PROPHET because the prophet speaks for God with authority to do so. And I will follow that prophet until my legs don't work any more and God will know that I indeed heard and obeyed with faith and patience.
DeleteNo one gets to be where President Monson is without being honed and polished by God having such the relationship with the Almighty that he is like Nephi of old. He has the confidence of God that he will speak and act nothing CONTRARY to the will of God. (Helaman 8)
And how is that? Because God sees past/present/future of everyone. Has ANY PROPHET of the Church been removed from his place for being "fallible"? NO!
Of a surety, all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. Even Abraham who has now since become exalted and SITS ON A THRONE!
President Monson is no ordinary man by any stretch. He's THE PROPHET OF GOD TODAY, RIGHT NOW, THIS VERY MINUTE! God put him there because he knows he can trust him until his ministry is finished. He's shines like a diamond of faithfulness in giving his life to the Lord.
I follow him today as I would've followed Rabbi Jesus if I had lived during His time.
Assuredly, if there is one mortal upon the face of the earth who's footprints, if followed, would lead me to Jesus Christ, it's those of President Thomas S. Monson. If there is a mortal upon the face of the earth whose voice can command the mountains to flee as if they were commanded by God Himself, it's the voice of President Thomas S. Monson.
How blessed we are to have him in our midst to lead the Church through the mists of darkness under the direction of the Holy One of Israel. So pray to KNOW he is a prophet of God first and foremost and stand by him. God put him here for us to follow just like he put Moses in front of the children of Israel.
President Monson has said and would say to get a confirmation from the Holy Ghost on every doctrine, commandment, covenant, principle and ordinance that the church claims to be true. Prophets are prophets when they act as such per the Prophet Joseph Smith. I always allow anyone and everyone their own opinions. The only opinion that matters is the Lord's, for it is truth. Remember the wise virgins took the Holy Ghost as their guide, never the opinions of any man.
DeleteNow concerning the government trying to prevent us from meeting as wards and stakes some time in the future. Limhi and those with him were subjected to the Lamanites and were humbled by their burdens until the Lord sought fit to allow them to escape the bondage that they were under. Perhaps something similar to that will be placed upon the church members who will have to meet in secret, gathering in each other homes to avoid detection. These the Lord has said will cry day and night until deliverance comes and we can gather together as we do now.