ISRAEL TO YOUR TENTS - THE PRECEDENT FOR TENT CITIES AND A GATHERING OUT

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I REALLY LIKE ROGER K. YOUNG. HE WROTE THE BOOK, "AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT" THAT HAD A PRETTY BIG IMPACT ON ME.

“TENT CITIES IN THE LAST DAYS ?”
By Roger K. Young

And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.
Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last
day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds;
but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in
their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea,
neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the
enemy listeth to carry them.
But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest,
and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.
Blessed be the name of the our God; let us sing to his
praise, yea, let us give thanks to his holy name, for he doth
work righteousness forever. Alma 26: 5-8

FORWARD
As a young missionary in Chile in 1973, after a night of being able to preach the gospel to a large group of potential investigators, I was recording in my journal the wonderful opportunity and the spirit that had been present and was still present as I was writing.

All of a sudden the veil grew thin and, among other things, I saw the formation of a tent city near St. George as the people were called to leave the Los Angeles area. I was given to understand several things concerning the event, which I dutifully recorded in my journal.
For many years afterward, every once in a while I puzzled over what I had seen and recorded, but for the most part it lay forgotten while the matters of life occupied my time. A few years ago, while I was beginning to give firesides and lectures concerning the events of the last days, a number of people began sharing with me their own personal dreams and visions. After a while I started hearing a few of the people describe in their visions & dreams almost exactly the same things that I had seen in my brief vision. I then began to research more into tent encampments or cities, particularly in the last days. This short book is the culmination of that research up to this point in time.

PURPOSE

This book is dedicated to the personal belief that in the very near future (within a few years perhaps) there will probably come a call from the Prophet of the Church (the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve), through the proper priesthood channels, to the members of the Church to voluntarily gather to tent cities that will be primarily located in and around the Rocky Mountains. It will not be by commandment (as in “thou shalt”), but it will be an invitation to gather in a time of burgeoning adversity.

I believe that initially, such an invitation would come during a time of increasing widespread financial/depression like conditions, (increasing unemployment, loss of houses and personal property, scarcity of food) but before such conditions become “desperate” and will precede (perhaps by as much as a year or more) some sudden, catastrophic events that happen in the United States.

Those few Church members who exercise much faith to walk into the “unknown” and heed such an invitation by the living prophet and the presiding quorums of the Church will avoid much, (but not all) of the ensuing prophesied disasters and destruction which will befall the American nation as a result of increasing wickedness. I also believe that it will be a chance to further “perfect the saints” in preparing to live the law of consecration, because a larger portion of that law will be lived in these encampments than is currently being done. (In preparation of living the full law of consecration in the city of Zion.)

The hope is, that this book will help prepare and encourage members of the Church to be ready to heed such an invitation if and when it comes, so that perhaps instead of just a few responding, there might be many more who will brave their own doubts & fears, the “naysayers,” the derision, and the persecution (subtle and open from friends, family and fellow Church members) that will be inflicted upon them.

CHAPTER 1

HISTORICAL PATTERNS

The ways of the Lord are often repetitive. Given generally the same set of circumstance, the Lord will almost always respond in the same way. This is because He doesn’t change and His methods of operation do not change either. In other words, the Master most often works according to a set pattern which is based upon principles that were established a long, long time ago. By reviewing history, we can begin to see and understand such patterns of the Master and the principles they are
based upon.

All throughout recorded history there have been groups of people, some small and some large, that have been directed by the Lord to withdraw themselves from a larger wicked society in order to avoid suffering from impending catastrophic disasters. A partial list of such known groups looks like this:

GROUP CURRENT OR IMPENDING DISASTER

Enos - Wars and bloodshed, secret combinations
Enoch - Increased wars and bloodshed, secret combinations
Noah - Destruction of all of the wicked
Jaredites - Wickedness
Abraham - First time...Wickedness in Ur, fled to save life
Second time... famine, moved from Haran
Third time....famines, moved to Egypt
Lot - Destruction of Sodom & Gomorah by fire from heaven
Israel/Joseph - Terrible famines (moved to Egypt)
Moses - Slavery under Egyptians
Lehi - Destruction of Jerusalem because of wickedness
Nephi - Destruction at hand of wicked brothers
Mosiah - War & wickedness (prophesied by Jacob (Jacob 3:4))
Mulek - Destruction of Jerusalem
Alma - Destruction at the hands of wicked king Noah
Slavery under the hands of Amulon/Lamanites
Limhi/Gideon - War with the Lamanites
Righteous of Amonihah - Complete destruction by the Lamanites in one day
Church in Jerusalem 70 AD - complete destruction by the Romans

Of course, let us not forget how many times the members of the Church moved in the early days of the restoration. It has been noted that the final removal of the Church to the Salt Lake Valley allowed the Church members to escape the terrible devastations that occurred during the U.S. Civil War.

- Joseph Smith From Palmyra to Fayette, increased persecution
- Joseph & Saints D&C 38:28-33 From Fayette to Kirtland, increasing persecution
- Church members From Independence. Forced removal by mobs.
- The Church Wickedness, apostasy, persecution in Kirtland, Ohio moved to Far West.
- The Church Far West, persecution, forced removal by militia/mobs
- The Church Nauvoo to Salt Lake. Persecution, approaching mobs/militias

Also, it should be pointed out that those who heeded the call and left Europe/Britain to gather with the saints in Utah, missed out on a lot of wars, devastations, etc. that later occurred there.

In addition, the scriptures indicate that there are many such groups that we have no record of at least at this point in time:

“For behold, the Lord God has led away from time to time from the house of
Israel, according to his will and pleasure. And now behold, the Lord remembereth
all them who have been broken off, wherefore he remembereth us also.”

Almost always, it appears that when these groups leave... they live in temporary housing which we commonly call tents. The most famous scripture (which every seminary student has memorized) that records this fact for Lehi and his group is “And my father dwelt in a tent”.
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The scriptures are very clear in several places and many of the ancient prophets (both new world and old world) have prophesied that the majority of the ‘Gentile’ society that would come to inhabit North America, would become a very wicked society full of “witchcrafts...lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and priestcrafts, and whoredoms” and that it will be cleansed by several impending disasters, including plague, pestilence, storms, floods, drought, earthquakes, famine, internal strife attributed to Gadianton Robbers/secret combinations lusting for power and finally war.

We currently live in that wicked society described by the ancient prophets. (If anyone has any doubt of this, please read conference talks of President Kimball, President Benson and many others.) With such prophesied impending destruction hanging over the heads of the people of this nation, is there any indication that the Lord is going to do as he has done in the past with other groups....namely direct a group or groups of the more righteous people to leave or break off from the
current society, to gather separately off by themselves...to live in tents (as it seems that tradition has it) in order to avoid the major portion of such impending disasters and destruction?

The answer is....yes.

This short article is an attempt to outline the principles, prophecies, descriptions, visions of, and preparation of such tenting groups.


THE PRINCIPLE(s) BEHIND TENT CITIES

As mentioned previously, sacred history reveals to us clearly the principle(s) involved in such tent cities. The main principle was outlined by Jacob as a warning to the people of his day who had started to become wicked:

“And the time speedily cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the land of
your inheritance, and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among
you.”

Alma also mentions this principle as well, in a little more detail to the people of Ammonihah:

“Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who
are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it
would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by
famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
“But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye
will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand;
but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by
famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye
repent.”

In studying the examples listed above, the application of the principle appears to be in three parts or stages:

A. Both members and non-members or righteous and not-so-righteous live together for a
period of time. This allows the righteous or the members to teach the gospel (missionary work) to the non-members or help encourage the not-so-righteous to do better. (Reactivation) During this period of time the message is one of invitation

B. The wicked become more wicked and persecution becomes severe. A division begins to
appear between the people, the righteous and faithful on one side (the minority in all cases) and the wicked on the other. As the message begins to be rejected by a majority of the people, prophets are sent forth to declare the gospel message with very strong testimonies. The message is still one of invitation, however it is often mixed with the message of you need to repent or there will be serious consequences.

C. The wicked have become so wicked and the persecution so severe that the very lives of the righteous are in danger. The division between the two groups of people have becomevery public knowledge, very wide, and a source of much “focus” on behalf of the wicked.
Prophets are sent forth at this time or just prior to this time with a special, specific message: repent speedily or be destroyed.

These prophets are willing to suffer, often even unto death, so that their message is sealed by their testimonies. The righteous are then invited by the Lord to flee out for their lives (no one is ever forced) or sometimes the wicked force the
righteous to flee or suffer severe consequences. Almost always, (and this is important) the decision to suffer or not suffer is based upon denying ones membership in the Church and/or belief in Jesus Christ.

Of course, when the righteous flee, often without much warning or preparation, they suffer as they travel to a place of safety. Tents seem to be the main method of providing temporary shelter during these times of fleeing. Many times these places of safety are places of promised blessings...but those who flee to them have to perform much work to receive the blessings.

THE FALSE ASSUMPTION

It is important to address a great false assumption that seems to be a favorite of the adversary to befuddle and put at ease the general membership of the Church in these situations. This is part of the “All is well in Zion” syndrome and is a subset of the principles of fleeing or gathering out. We have seen this in past history and we even see it happening today to a tremendous degree.
The False Assumption which particularly plagues us today is this: Many Church members have assumed (are assuming) that they will never have to flee their current homes, that they are already living in a place of safety...and that the wicked will be cleansed from among them. After all, their ancestors had been brought to the place of safety by the hand of the Lord.

The problem with this assumption is simple...No where in sacred history does such a scenario ever present itself. In fact the opposite seems to be true.. The righteous gather to a place of peace and safety and are blessed. After a period of time the people began to be divided into the two groups...those who still keep the commandments and those who don’t. The longer the time period...the greater the division and the more those who have become wicked dominate the once-righteous society. They take over control of the government and pass laws to help them in their
quest for power and riches. The true humble followers of Christ become the very small (and diminishing) minority of the society.
It is important to note that in almost all past examples, the once righteous who are now wicked...go around pretending and loudly proclaiming that they are still righteous and still the chosen of the Lord. Many, if not most of them are still members of the Church. Some are even its lower level leaders and teachers. However, upon close scrutiny their actions point to the fact that they have started to become hypocrites/apostates-in-heart. They first ignore, then tacitly support, encourage
the growth of, and even participate with the wicked practices of the society. Such actions put them in admiration of the majority of the population of the society who are now participating in these wicked practices, including, unfortunately, the majority of the membership of the Church.
The vision of Lehi expressly focuses attention on this fact:
“And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the
mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and
partake of the fruit of the tree.

And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of
water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above
the earth. And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.
“And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that
were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.”

This was also part of the message of Samuel the Lamanite to the former & current (hypocritical) members of the Church in Zarahemla. I use the paraphrasing from Hugh Nibley:
"Ye do not remember the Lord your God," said Samuel the Lamanite to the people
of Zarahemla, "but ye do always remember your riches" (Helaman 13:22). (And how
self-righteous they were about it!)
Now when ye talk, ye say: If our days had been in the days of our fathers of old, we
would not have slain the prophets. . . . Behold ye are worse than they; for . . . if a prophet . . . testifieth of your sins, . . . ye are angry with him; . . . yea, you will say that he is a false prophet, and that he is a sinner, and of the devil, because he testifieth that your deeds are evil. But behold, if a man . . . saith that all is well, then ye will not find fault with him. [On the contrary,] ye will clothe him with costly apparel . . . because . . . he saith that all is well (Helaman 13:25-28).

These people did not want to hear what was wrong with Zarahemla, only what was
right with Zarahemla. Anyone who wanted their vote had only to avoid any mention
of repentance and tell them that they had done no wrong, that Zarahemla was great
because Zarahemla was good.”

This is another important part of the principle to understand. As this oft repeated scenario shows...the true humble followers of Christ begin to become even a minority in the Church. They are persecuted by the majority for being radicals, zealots, fanatics (imagine, they try to keep all of the commandments) and dare to be different than the mainstream society (the world) or Church membership. (Though upon closer examination it will be found that it is they who are still holding true to the iron rod).

There has only been one exception to this sequence that I can find in the scriptures and that is the story of the Nephites just before the appearance of the Savior to them. In this Nephite experience, all of the sequence happened as outlined, but the part of the righteous being cast out or gathered out is not mentioned. It does mention though, that there were very few righteous among so many wicked, (3 Nephi 7:7) the government was overthrown and the Church seemed to become almost non-existent as an organization.
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fast to the doctrines and practices that years earlier the majority were embracing.)
At first this persecution is subtle, and then it becomes stronger and more severe, sometimes even coming to blows and murder. The division between the two groups becomes larger, more divisive and more apparent. It is then around this time that the few righteous are warned to flee or are cast out by their once family, friends, co-workers and fellow church members.

Again, what would make us think that we are any different today and that it will be just the opposite of almost every other similar experience recorded in sacred history?
Have any of the prophets indicated that things will be different for us in these last days...or have they
indicated that in fact, it will be the same as before...the once righteous cities and members become
wicked, a division occurs and the fewer righteous are either invited out to gather elsewhere by their
priesthood leaders or are cast out by the wicked?
Again, the answer is yes.
President Benson talked very clearly about this growing division in the Church that we are
experiencing. He said:
“Sometimes we hear someone refer to a division in the Church. In reality, the
Church is not divided. It simply means that there are some who, for the time
being at least, are members of the Church but not in harmony with it. These
people have a temporary membership and influence in the Church; but unless
they repent, they will be missing when the final membership records are
recorded.
“It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled
by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off.
But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be
poured out "upon the inhabitants of the earth. . . . And upon my house shall it
begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those
among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not
known me. . . ." (D&C 112:24-26.) I look forward to that cleansing; its need
within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent.
“The Lord strengthened the faith of the early apostles by pointing out Judas as a
traitor, even before this apostle had completed his iniquitous work. So also in our day
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the Lord has told us of the tares within the wheat that will eventually be hewn down
when they are fully ripe. But until they are hewn down, they will be with us, amongst
us. The hymn entitled "Though in the Outward Church Below" contains this thought:
"Though in the outward Church below
Both wheat and tares together grow,
Ere long will Jesus weed the crop
And pluck the tares in anger up. . . .
We seem alike when here we meet;
Strangers may think we are all wheat;
But to the Lord's all-searching eyes,
Each heart appears without disguise.
The tares are spared for various ends,
Some for the sake of praying friends,
Others the Lord against their will,
Employs, his counsels to fulfill.
But though they grow so tall and strong,
His plan will not require them long;
In harvest, when he saves his own,
The tares shall into hell be thrown."
(Hymns, No. 102.)
“Tares among the wheat”
“Yes, within the Church today there are tares among the wheat and wolves within
the flock. As President Clark stated, "The ravening wolves are amongst us, from
our own membership, and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep's
clothing because they wear the habiliments of the priesthood. . . . We should be
careful of them. . . ." (Era, May 1949, p. 268. See also, Conference Report, April
1949, p. 163.)
“The wolves amongst our flock are more numerous and devious today than
when President Clark made this statement.
“President McKay has said that "the Church is little, if at all, injured by persecution
and calumnies from ignorant, misinformed or malicious enemies. A greater
hindrance to its progress comes from faultfinders, shirkers,
commandment-breakers, and apostate cliques within its own ecclesiastical and
quorum groups." (Era, December 1967, p. 35. See also, Conference Report,
October 1967, p. 9.)
“Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate
doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that
appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people
to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: ". . . they have
all gone astray save it a few, who are the humble followers of Christ;
nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are
8Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, April 1969, p.10-12
9God, Family, Country, p. 383
10 Conference report, April 1880, p 96
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taught by the precepts of men." (2 Ne. 28:14.)” 8
Remember this was over 30 years ago. If the situation was bad at that time, one must wonder its
current status. A very interesting statement was made by President Benson about the need to cleanse
the Church...and the possible method that would be used by the Lord. He wrote:
“Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Church–and the need for that
cleansing seems to be increasing—a famine in this land of one year’s duration could
wipe out a large percentage of slothful members, including some ward and stake
officers. Yet we cannot say we have not been warned.” 9
President Joseph F. Smith also spoke on this subject, which was included in our Priesthood and
Relief Society manuals in lesson #44 (pg 393) for all of us to consider and ponder.
“I... testify, that unless the Latter-day saints will live their religion, keep their
covenants with God and their brethren, honor the priesthood which they bear, and try
to faithfully to bring themselves into subjection to the laws of God, they will be the
first to fall beneath the judgments of the Almighty, for his judgments will begin at
his own house.
“Therefore, those who have made a covenant with the Lord by baptism, and have
broken that covenant, who profess to be saints and are not, but are sinners, and
covenant-breakers, and partakers of the sins of Babylon, most assuredly will “receive
of her plagues,” for it is written that the righteous will barely escape.” 10
Modern scripture also talks about the coming division/judgement starting first with the members of
the Church. Interestingly enough President Hinckley, in his now famous October General
Conference (2001) address of Sunday morning, referenced the first part of this scripture in his talk.
He said:
“I am familiar, as you are, with the declarations of modern revelation that the time
will come when the earth will be cleansed and there will be indescribable distress,
with weeping and mourning and lamentation.” (See D&C 112:24)
The referenced scripture, along with the scriptures that precede it and follows it, is as follows:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the
11 D&C 112:23-26
12 Journal of Discourses, Vol.15, p.330, Orson Pratt, January 26, 1873
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minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.
“Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of
wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of
lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith
the Lord.
“And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith
the Lord;
“First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my
name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my
house, saith the Lord.” 11
Orson Pratt also elaborated on this scripture:
“I will make a few remarks upon these passages as I read them. It seems that this
is a dispensation peculiar in its nature, differing from former dispensations. It is a
dispensation of mercy and of judgment--of mercy to those who receive the message
of mercy, but of judgment to those who reject that message. In other words it is a
dispensation in which the Gospel has been revealed from heaven, the servants of God
called to labor in the vineyard for the last time, and in which the Lord intends to pour
out great and terrible judgments upon the nations of the wicked after they have been
warned by the sound of the everlasting Gospel. We are told in the revelation I have
just read, that vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth; that it is
a day of wrath, burning, desolation, weeping, mourning and lamentation, and that as
a whirlwind these things shall come upon the inhabitants of all the earth.
“Where shall these great and severe judgments begin? Upon what people does
the Lord intend to commence this great work of vengeance? Upon the people
who profess to know his name and still blaspheme it in the midst of his house.
They are the ones designated for some of the most terrible judgments of the
latter days. This should be a warning to the Latter-day Saints; and not only
those who are parents, but those who are children should diligently consider
whether they are numbered among those who are mentioned in the 10th
paragraph, which I have read. Upon my house, saith the Lord, shall it begin,
first upon those among you who have professed my name and have not known
me and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house.” 12
There are several other comments on this scripture and its interpretation, too numerous to include,
but they all say the same thing. The members of the Church in the last days will indeed follow the
pattern that has shown itself in times past, in that there will come a division in righteousness among
13Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1948, p.55
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the members of the Church.
Since it has been well established that the above mentions apostasy is in progress in the Church
today, which is the first part of the sequence, is there any reason to doubt the second half of the
historical examples will not take place was well? (That is, the righteous will be either gathered out
form among their more wicked brethren and or forcefully cast out or jaild/murdered.)
Unfortunately, there are not any published, verified, first hand prophecies, dreams or visions by
Church authorities, (at least that I can find) that specifically describe this part happening in the last
days.
However, there is a statement by President Harold B. Lee counseling the general Church membership
to look forward to such future instructions by the leaders of the Church to gather from the cities to
places of refuge in the last days. He said:
“Thus, clearly, the Lord has placed the responsibility for directing the work of
gathering in the hands of the leaders of the Church to whom he will reveal his will
where and when such gatherings would take place in the future. It would be
well--before the frightening events concerning the fulfilment of all God's promises
and predictions are upon us, that the Saints in every land prepare themselves and
look forward to the instruction that shall come to them from the First Presidency
of this Church as to where they shall be gathered and not be disturbed in their
feelings until such instruction is given to them as it is revealed by the Lord to the
proper authority.” 13
CONCLUSION
There is not only much historical precedence for the righteous saints to flee because of the
wickedness of the society they live in, most often using tents as temporary housing, but
prophecies by ancient and modern prophets indicate that such apostasy is going to happen again
in the last days. Indeed, modern prophets indicate the process that eventually produces this need
to flee has already begun and is in full swing. Also the Church membership has been instructed
to look forward and heed instructions from the Church leadership concerning gathering to such
places of refuge in the future.
14D&C 104:17-18
15D&C 130:20-21
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CHAPTER 2
ANOTHER PRINCIPLE AT WORK....
ONE THAT IS MISUSED AND NOT UNDERSTOOD
THE GREAT FALSE ASSUMPTION #2
Most members of the Church also work under a second false assumption. This is because they are
confused about two separate principles of the gospel and how to correctly apply them. These
principles are the principles of justice and mercy.
They confuse the mandate/commandment of sharing and taking care of the poor and needy with
sharing their food with the rebellious. This false assumption is held not only by the rebellious (who
often use it to justify their rebellious ways and minimize the outlined consequences) but by many
of the obedient as well. There is a big difference between the two concepts of taking care of the
truly poor and needy and taking care of the rebellious.
The First Principle, the one concerning taking care of the poor and needy which everyone
remembers, is exemplified by the following scripture:
“For the earth is full, and there is enough and to spare; yea, I prepared all things,
and have given unto the children of men to be agents unto themselves.
“Therefore, if any man shall take of the abundance which I have made, and impart
not his portion, according to the law of my gospel, unto the poor and the needy, he
shall, with the wicked, lift up his eyes in hell, being in torment.” 14
The second principle, the one that everyone often forgets to apply, (especially when its application
produces negative consequences) is outlined here:
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this
world, upon which all blessings are predicated--
“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon
which it is predicated.” 15
The reverse of this law is the point that the wicked do not like. Those who are disobedient to the
law receive the consequences of their disobedient or rebellious actions as well...because this is right
16D&C 64:34-36
17D&C 56:1-3
18D&C 56:4, 63:6
19 Joseph Fielding Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation 1:195
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and just. The Lord mentions some of the consequences for those who are disobedient and rebellious:
“Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and
obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days.
“And the rebellious shall be cut off out of the land of Zion, and shall be sent away,
and shall not inherit the land.
“For, verily I say that the rebellious are not of the blood of Ephraim, wherefore
they shall be plucked out.” 16
A few other verses help us to recognize this principle even further:
“Hearken, O ye people who profess my name, saith the Lord your God; for behold,
mine anger is kindled against the rebellious, and they shall know mine arm and mine
indignation, in the day of visitation and of wrath upon the nations.
“And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and keep my commandments,
the same shall not be saved.
“Behold, I, the Lord, command; and he that will not obey shall be cut off in mine
own due time, after I have commanded and the commandment is broken.” 17
It is important to recognize the difference between the wicked and the rebellious. The two groups
are mentioned :
“Wherefore I, the Lord, command and revoke, as it seemeth me good; and all this
to be answered upon the heads of the rebellious, saith the Lord.
“Wherefore, verily I say, let the wicked take heed, and let the rebellious fear and
tremble; and let the unbelieving hold their lips, for the day of wrath shall come upon
them as a whirlwind, and all flesh shall know that I am God.” 18
President Joseph Fielding Smith hit the proverbial nail on the head when he wrote:
“One of the great failings of mankind is to ignore warnings of punishment for
sin.”19
For good or for bad....It is actually all part of the law of consequences.
15
And now the heart of the question.... “Is it right and just for the obedient who have sacrificed their
means to be obedient and laid up in store for their families...to give to those who had the same
opportunity...but who refused to obey the commandment and laid up nothing?” Wouldn’t that be
rewarding the rebellious for their rebelliousness? How are the disobedient going to suffer the
consequences of their actions or inactions? How will the obedient gain from being obedient... if they
have given all their food away during a time of famine?
It is one thing to share with those who either did not know the commandment or were prevented
from complying (the truly needy and poor)...and something completely different to share with those
who willfully rebelled against the commandment and were disobedient.
How many times have you heard the phrase (or something like it)....oh, I don’t have any food
storage...I will just share with my neighbor who has food storage. (Unfortunately, most of the
neighborhood thinks the same...and so if it was allowed to come to pass, the family who had
sacrificed and gathered the one year food storage would have nothing left after a few days.)
And yet... because of the nature of the true disciple...they would share with the disobedient, because
they would share with any and all. What is the answer to this dilemma? Luckily, the Lord takes the
problem and the decision away from us. Again, we go to the scriptures to see what the Lord has
done in a similar type situation.
A Key Message For Us In The Parable of the Ten Virgins
First let us look at the parable of the Ten Virgins, a parable given by the Savior himself, that we have
been told specifically refers to events in the last days. President Kimball indicated that the parable
is specifically about and directed towards the members of the Lord’s Church. There are several
important lessons presented in this short parable but the key one is concerning the preparedness
issue. In the parable, the preparedness issue is presented concerning physical preparedness.
However, President Kimball indicated that it can be applied to spiritual preparedness as well.
Two groups of Church members are waiting for the coming of the Savior. Both are dressed in white,
meaning that in all outward appearances they are the Lord’s true disciples, but there is one difference
between the two groups. What is it? Both groups appear the same. They both are standing or
waiting in the proper place and are doing what they are supposed to be doing. Both groups have
received the same instructions. The only difference between the two groups is that concerning
the preparedness issue...and in the parable, it makes all the difference in the world. In fact
it is the one single difference between the one group being welcomed in by the Savior and the
other group being rejected. One group has fully prepared and the other group has only partially
prepared. In other words, one group has taken the Lord’s commandments and directions to heart and
have followed them explicitly and completely...while the other group, though righteous in every
appearance, has only followed those same instructions partially.
20Genesis 7:16
16
When the Savior does come and the importance of the issue of preparedness becomes critical, what
do the ones who have prepared fully do? They don’t share with the unprepared!!! The
unprepared are left to suffer the consequences of their own inactions, and the consequences are
extremely severe. Wow!! What a hard, difficult and brutal lesson/message is presented here. The
justice of the consequences are apparent...but where is the mercy? Justice, ie receiving the
consequences of ones actions, is an eternal principle and it is often hard. Mercy is an eternal
principle as well. However, it must be remembered that in the eternal law of mercy...mercy is only
extended to those who accept and abide by the conditions attached to it...ie. by doing fully what the
Lord has commanded them to do.
Is there any past experience where this hard lesson concerning preparation has been applied? The
answer is yes....Noah and the Ark.
NOAH AND THE ARK, A TYPE AND A SHADOW OF OUR DILEMMA
Here we have the quintessential application of the principal of preparedness as taught by the Savior
in the parable of the Ten Virgins. We do not need to belabor the story of Noah and the Ark. Those
who listened to the counsel of the prophet, which had been given for several hundred years, to
prepare by boarding the ark were saved. Those who didn’t listen to the counsel of the living prophet
and didn’t board the ark...died. The lesson is very brutal and hard. There are, however a few
interesting points to be presented.
Noah was a just and a perfect man in his generation and he, along with his three sons, walked with
God. Noah’s daughters, who had married wicked husbands, did not heed their father’s counsel and
died along with the other wicked. How hard it must have been for Noah and his wife and sons to
not extend mercy to their family members, especially when it started to rain. The question might be
asked...why didn’t they open the doors of the ark and let them in, or perhaps others in? The answer
is because the Lord wouldn’t let them. The Lord had foreseen the problem and had taken care of it
by taking it out of the hands of Noah. We read that the Lord shut the door or shut Noah and his
family into the ark.
“And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had
commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.” 20
I am sure that when the rain started and the floods started coming up that there were a lot of people
who were suddenly very repentant and asked to be let into the ark. Could you imagine what it
sounded like for those inside the ark to hear the screams, pleas and pounding of those, including
children, outside of the ark? And yet the Lord in his wisdom did not give Noah the difficult choice
of whether to show mercy and open the door and save them also or not. The Lord took Noah out
of the decision making process on the issue. Instead we find that the Lord suffered them to receive
21Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, Nov 1987 p. 49
22DHC 4:272
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the just consequences (death by drowning) of their non-action to heed the counsel of preparedness.
Of course the important lesson of Noah’s Ark is applied to us specifically by a prophet of God
concerning following the prophets counsel regarding food storage.
“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.” 21
So how might the Lord take such difficult decision making away from those in the last days who
have kept the commandment to have food storage...and not share with those who have not stored
anything?
The answer is to remove the faithful people (the wise virgins) from among the foolish. This allows
the faithful to reap the benefits of their obedience...while at the same time allowing the foolish to
suffer the consequences of their disobedience. In other words...gather/invite out the
faithful/obedient to places of relative safety...which is usually to live in tents. Examples of this
abound in the scriptures and have been mentioned previously. Again, it would make sense that the
Lord would so do again in the last days. In fact, Joseph Smith said it was the only way in the last
days to be saved temporally:
“In addition to all temporal blessings, there is no other way for the Saints to be
saved in these last days, than by gathering...” 22
An invitation to gather out from among the wicked, including away from those Church members
who have not prepared (but who should have) to a separate place...will do so many things. Such a
gathering would only include those with true faith in a living prophet. It automatically separates the
wheat from the chaff...and gathers the wheat (who have prepared themselves for this time by
collecting food storage) into places of relative safety. It takes away from them the problem of having
to make the decision to sacrifice the fruits of their obedience with those who were disobedient and
rebellious. It then allows the Lord to deal with those same disobedient and wicked people in a
manner that will not harm the righteous...because they are not there.
As Lot and his family were gathered out from Sodom and Gomorah so that they would not suffer
with the Sodomites their just consequences of their choices...so likewise ,those who follow the
counsel of the Prophet and Church leaders to flee from Babylon... will avoid the prophesied
catastrophes.
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CHAPTER 3
QUESTIONS CONCERNING TENT CITIES
In our exploration into the topic of tent cities there have arisen a number of questions. I would like
to address some of them at this time.
1. Are All Members in the Church Going to Be Invited to Tent Cities?
The answer appears to be NO. There are very many who in their dreams and visions have
been personally instructed to set up a place of refuge for their family and to set aside
materials, food, and other resources for those they feel the Lord will direct to them at a later
time. Most of these families have been blessed with the opportunity and funds to
accomplish the task that they feel they have been assigned by the Lord. There is some
commonality of these mini places of refuge.
A. They all know that these mini-places of refuge will be for a short period of time,
usually about a year, and then they will be instructed or guided to abandon them and go
somewhere else. They all instinctively feel the next place will be somewhere in the
Rocky Mountain area but have no ideas as to specifically where or when.
B. They all feel or have been instructed in their dreams/visions that they are not to invite
people to gather to their places of refuge. They feel that the Lord will direct people to
them or that the Church leaders will be directed to use their facilities when it is needed.
C. All of the places are away from cities and towns with most being hidden so that if you
were 100 yards away you would not be able to see that there are people there.
D. All of the places have water naturally (lakes, streams or springs) or wells that they
control. Most have installed alternative means of energy, (mostly solar power) to supply
needs to well pumps, etc.
E. Interestingly, almost all of these places are debt free and completely owned by families
who currently live on them or have been working on developing them.
F. Most of these people have been working on these temporary mini places of refuge for
many years. Often they had these dreams or impressions several years ago wherein they
were told that in the future they would be blessed with the means to accomplish these
tasks. Over the years, they were then lead to certain areas and blessed with opportunity
and means to purchase these properties (often 30-100+ acres) and then develop them.
G. They almost universally feel that even though it is their property currently, when
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people gather to their mini places of refuge it will be under the authority and direction
of the Church leadership and they will not be in charge. In other words at the appropriate
time they will turn their property over to the Church or at least place it under the
direction of Church leaders.
The big question, (that I do not have an answer for as of yet), is how are these people going to be
“not invited” to the tent cities that a majority of at least the North American Church membership will
be invited to? These are the very people who are prepared spiritually, physically, mentally, and
actually somewhat eager to follow the prophet in gathering with like minded saints to places of safety
such as tent cities. While the answer to this question is unknown as of yet, (at least to us) there are
two possible answers that might resolve this question.
** Is it possible that these mini places of refuge might not happen at the same time as the tent
cities? Is there perhaps a period of time before the call to gather to the tent cities that these
mini-places of refuge will be needed, perhaps a year or so? Perhaps after providing a place
of safety and of “preliminary gathering” they are then directed to gather to the Church
sponsored gathering places?
** Are the invitations to gather to the tent cities going to be extended to everyone in the
Church, or perhaps they are only extended to certain regions or cities?
Again, the answers are not known at this time.
2. What is going to happen to the Church membership outside of the United States? Will they
be invited to gather to tent cities as well?
The answer to this is simply that we don’t know for sure, but there are some dreams and
other evidences that a similar call to prepared places of refuge in their respective areas will
happen. It appears that the forthcoming destruction which will come as a whirlwind and is
particularly devastating to North America. Joseph Smith indicated that these plagues would
go forth in particular to sweep the wicked inhabitants of North America away for the
building up of the city of New Jerusalem and the return of the Lost Ten Tribes to it.
After the city of New Jerusalem is begun, the scriptures indicate that the call will go forth
to all of the world for the righteous to gather to it. The Lamanites will be among the first
to come forth and will take over the main task of building New Jerusalem and subsequent
cities of Zion that will stretch between it and a city of Zion that will be newly established in
the Salt Lake/Rocky Mountain area after the area has been cleansed.
With this in mind, it is possible that there won’t be such as great a need for protection for the
Saints outside of North America. HOWEVER, the test of these Saints is the same as the
Saints in North America, which will be to respond to the instructions of their priesthood
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leadership quickly. This will include travel to America after it is cleansed and the 13 month
war is over and the city of Zion is established.
3. What about the temples and temple attendance while in the tent cities?
The scriptures are very clear that an essential part of escaping a lot of the destruction and the
deception that will occur is to attend temples often. “Stand Ye In Holy Places” is the
command of the Lord. How is this to be done if the majority of those who are worthy to
attend the temple and greatly desire its spiritual blessings and strength are gathered into tent
cities away from the temples?
There are also indications in many of the dreams of the last days that indicate that the
temples are closed and that the Church can no longer meet in groups. (Perhaps meetings of
any kind are outlawed, which happens frequently under martial law.) How then can the
saints stand in the holiest places on the earth as they have been commanded?
The answer appears that there will be instructions and authority given to build temporary
temples next to the tent cities. In the dream of Sarah-13 she mentions that the people in the
tent city had been instructed to build a temple near a cliff near the tent city. Further questions
revealed that all she knew was that they had been commanded by President Hinckley to do
so.
“President Hinkley told us to build a temple up on the mountain.”
After some questions her father wrote, “She remembers that the temple was
to be built near the edge of a high cliff in the mountains. She said she woke
up before she knew if it was built and used. She doesn’t know about using
other temples already built.”
The following two Emails from a five year old child (submitted by her mother) and an adult gives
us further insight:
FIVE YEAR OLD DREAM OF TENT CITY TEMPLE
“OK, maybe the tent cities thing is a touchy subject these days. I'm of the opinion
that it is a possibility. I feel sure that we will find ourselves "on the move"----
whether it happens as many have discussed here, well, it just remains to be seen.
After seeing some of the rude posts concerning the tent cities possibility, I've debated
all week long whether or not to share this.
“Last Saturday, I was travelling with my two youngest children.
I mentioned that we were fairly close to the temple.
My 5 year old said to me "FINALLY---I get to see the temple."
I was shocked at my negligence, not having taken my youngest by
21
the temple, so I said, "You really haven't seen the temple
before?" She replied, "Well, I did see it once before...actually I
dreamed about it." Naturally I thought, "ok, the primary theme is the
temple....she's had it on her mind lately"
“Just out of curiosity, I asked her what the temple looked like
in her dream, to see if it was the Atlanta temple. She said, "Well, there
was this tent, and there was somebody in it"
“The hair stood up on the back of my neck! I've never mentioned
the tent cities to my family members---only read about it,
or "talked" about it online. Where was she going with this?!
“I wanted to know what the proximity was of the tent to the
temple--as you may know, the Atlanta temple is up on a big hill.
So I asked her about it, the location and such, was the tent on
the hill in front of the temple, or down below it... or what.
“She copped that little attitude of hers, and said, "MOM...
the tent WAS the temple!"
“She couldn't remember any more than that...but I was fascinated.
How much more goes on in their little heads or in their dreams
that they don't even think to mention to us?
TENT CITIES TEMPLE IMPRESSION
Roger,
Following are a few of my thoughts concerning our conversation the other day. Let me give
you a little background. I manage an LDS Bookstore ................. and have been reading your
books for years. A little over a year ago I started have VERY STRONG impressions that our
time to prepare was running out and I needed to finish getting my family's preparations done.
About May of last year, I started monitoring your web sight regularly. We have had several
Family Home Evenings concerning our preparations both temporal and spiritual. Needless
to say as we started to really focus on these things all HECK broke loose. We have one son
17 who is having some serious struggles. In addition, my father-in-law (not a member) was
diagnosed with lung cancer which threw our family into a whirlwind. He passed away last
November.
In................., we changed Wards to get better help for our son. Over the last year, I have had
22
several conversation with my current Bishop who I've known for a long time about
prepardness. Within a month of switching to this new Ward I was called as the Family
Prepardness Specialist with the assignment to organize our ward, help them prepare with 72
hour kits then their basic food storage, create a Ward Disaster Plan, all during this coming
year.
My Stake President (also in my new ward) wants to use our ward as a model for the Stake
and roll it out into the other wards. I do have a committee of good people so I'm not doing
this alone--but the weight of this calling is very heavy still as you well understand. There are
a lot who are responding to the Prepardness call, but A LOT who are not and cause
some flack.
Anyway, in January at our Ward Conference, our Stake President was pushing regular
consistent Temple Worship (not just attendance) as he has been doing for the year he has
been our Stake President. In that conference, he promised us that if we would consistently
and regularly worship in the Temple that our families would be healed. With the concerns
of my son weighing heavily on my mind, I felt prompted that I needed to go to the Temple
WEEKLY--which I have been doing. What I am finding in myself (and I have seen it before
when I would go to the Temple regularly) is that I also WANT and DO study the scriptures
more regularly, pray more often and the result of all these things is that my attitude seems
to be elevated and the little nitty gritty things of everyday life which had previous annoyed
me no longer bother me. They just aren't important. I'm less contentious, slower to anger--
basically I'm able to control the "Natural Man" better.
Anyway, when your newsletter came out in February, and I was reading about the Tent
cities, I was very interested to know how we would continue our Temple Worship.
Would the tent cities be close to some of the Temples so that we could attend or would
we have to wait until the conflict in the outer world settled down and not have the
benefit of the Temple through this experience? I began to make those questions a focus
of my pondering and prayer over the last month. I can't tell you when this impression
or picture came into my mind, I just know that about 2 or 3 days before your March
newsletter, my mind kept focusing on a "Temple Tent" that would be available for us.
Then when I read "Sara-13"'s dream and she mentioned that President Hinckley told
us to build a temple, I couldn't get that picture of the Temple Tent out of my mind. I
had to know where it was coming from. I thought that maybe you had mentioned
something like that in one of your books which hadn't made much of an impression on
me at the time, but since my renewed focus on the Temple lately it had come to the
forefront. That was why I had to call you to see if that was the case.
That's it, though. No detailed dreams of going to tent cities or life in the tent cities--Just
1 image of a Temple Tent against the backdrop of a Mountain Cliff, with a knee-high
type fence structure around it--not so much to keep people out as to mark off the sacred
ground. I have had the impression that it was guarded so that not just anyone could
23
enter--not with guns but like Recommend Desk Attendants.
As I have continued to ponder on this a few other thoughts have come to me--(1) In the
scriptures the Lord has used Mountains and Tents as a Temple when necessary and he could
do it again just like the Children of Israel in the wilderness. (2) In my stake we have many
experienced, qualified Temple Workers that could administer these ordinances under the
direction of the Prophet. (3) These tent cities will be a place for us to sanctify ourselves and
prepare to meet the Savior. And along with the physical trials we will be experiencing, it will
need to be balanced and our progression enhanced by our Temple Worship.
I don't know that this impression is anything more than my wishful thinking or just the Lord's
way of giving me some peace on this issue--that however it plays out the Lord will take care
of it and I need not worry. I can't imagine going through this refining experience without the
Temple. To be able to keep myself elevated so that the little things don't bother me or others,
to help eliminate or minimize murmuring, so that we funtion on a more LOVING level of
existence, I feel, will be critical to the success of our experience.
Anyway, sorry so drawn out but I wanted you to understand the backgroud behind this and
why I had been so focused on the Temple. I will keep pondering on this as I continue to
attend the Temple weekly and if anything further comes to me, I'll let you know. Thanks for
all you do. I really appreciate it. Your board is great. It so nice to know we aren't alone in this
endeavor. There are so many great people I feel like I know because of the board. I only wish
we could all be in the same tent city so we could continue our association face to face.
4. How many people would gather to the tent cities initially?
At first thought it would be next to impossible for all of the Church members to gather to tent
cities. In North America, that would be over 5 million people. But all of the dreams indicate
that only a few go, perhaps less than 10%. That would mean only 500,000 people. But if
one of the main criteria for being invited to such a refuge is to have a years supply of food,
the latest surveys indicate that in North America the average membership with a years supply
of food is around 3%. That would drop the numbers down to around 150,000 people in
North America. Also, several of the dreams indicate that not everyone with food storage go,
since it involves a great leap of faith to drop everything and follow the Prophets invitation.
5. Is there any official pronouncements, published information or other evidence that would
help confirm the concept concerning tent cities in the future.
The answer is no and yes. As far as I can find, (and the search is ongoing), there have been
no official published pronouncements by the Church leadership. But there are several
secondary sources of evidences that the Church has indeed planned and prepared for such
24
tent cities in the future. This secondary evidence is growing weekly. The largest evidence
is the tremendous rush building of girls & family camps by the Church, primarily in the
Rocky Mountain area. I am personally aware of several camps that are in the process of
being built that already have exceeded greatly the entire number of girls who attend such
camps during the summer in their respective areas. Perhaps, the Church is just planning on
a future explosion of growth in Church membership, and subsequently the need for such girls
camps.
CHAPTER 4
OPPOSING QUESTIONS & CONCERNS
There are many who would say that the idea of Church members being called out to tent cities,
perhaps in the near future, is absolutely absurd. Since they haven’t heard about it, many commonly
dismiss the idea out-of-hand and then put forth several reasons to support their hasty conclusions.
I wish to address several of their “complaints.”
1. Dreams and visions are not viable today. Ordinary members do not receive such dreams
and visions...especially concerning Church wide events.
I have heard this complaint many, many times. Essentially, it is that we, as ordinary members of the
Church, have no right to any dream or vision, that such dreams and visions are immediately suspect,
(as well as the people who have them), and this is especially so for events that pertain to others
beyond your immediate family. It alludes to the fact that only Church authorities, (ie General
Authorities) can have or report any such experiences.
Joseph Smith said that dreams and visions were a special prerogative and even a right of all the
Saints, especially in the last days:
"We believe that we have a right to revelations, visions, and dreams from God,
our Heavenly Father; and light and intelligence, through the gift of the Holy
Ghost, in the name of Jesus Christ, on all subjects pertaining to our spiritual
welfare, if it so be that we keep his commandments, so as to render ourselves worthy
in his sight. (The Prophet Joseph Smith, Times and Seasons, Feb. 1840, p.54)
Recently in Oct 2001 General Conference President Hinckley referred to the gifts of dreams and
visions and of prophecy that would poured out upon men, women and even children in the last days:
25
“The era in which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when
God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day
that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has
been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. The hearts
of men have turned to their fathers in fulfillment of the words of Malachi. The vision
of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream
dreams, your young men shall see visions:
"And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out
my spirit.” (Joel 2:28––32).”
I am also reminded of an experience recorded in the New Testament of the Antioch Branch of the
Church( Acts 11:28-30), that it was not Peter (the head of the Church), nor Paul (an Apostle), nor
the local Church leadership who prophesied of a near future famine that would happen, not only to
the Saints in Antioch, but to all of the world, and which would be especially hard on the members
of the Church in Jerusalem. This Agabus forewarned the saints in Antioch, which forewarning
allowed them to prepare and send invaluable aid to those in Jerusalem via the hand of Paul and
Barnabus. (visiting Church authorities.) Apparently, Agabus was called a prophet, not because of
a Church calling (as a Prophet or an Apostle), but because he had the gift of prophesy. (Later on
Agabus also exercised his prophetic gift concerning the imprisonment and death of Paul). That
Agabus was known and well respected by the Church leadership is apparent, for he was not rebuked
but believed and sustained by them. Notice that President McKay wrote that this Church member
could see things by the spirit that other members of the Church could not see.
“While Paul and Barnabas were at Antioch, there came "prophets from Jerusalem,"
one of whom was named Agabus. He is thought to have been one of the Seventy
chosen by the Savior; but just what priesthood and what position in the Church
he held we do not know for certain. But he must have been a righteous man, and
filled with the Holy Ghost, for he could foretell, through the inspiration of the
Spirit, things that other people, by their own intelligence, could not see. At the
time of which we are speaking he prophesied that "there should be a great dearth
throughout all the world," meaning that there would be a famine in the land, and that
people would go hungry.
“The disciples had faith in Agabus and believed to be true what he said. They knew
of some of the Saints in Judea who could not stand a famine; in fact, many of them
had given all they had to the Church; so "every man according to his ability
determined to send relief unto the brethren who dwelt in Judea." Paul and Barnabas
were chosen as the messengers of relief.
“It was well they did so, for the famine came just as Agabus had said it would.
Luke tells us that it happened in the days of Claudius Caesar (44 A. D.), and profane
historians inform us that it was so severe that even the emperor himself was insulted
23David O. McKay, Ancient Apostles, p.150
26
in the market place by those who were starving.” 23
The gifts of dreams and visions and of prophecy are not gifts that all members of the Church have
or exercise. Additionally, such spiritual experiences do not occur often, though there are some who
have been blessed with this unique gift which allows them to have many such experiences, such as
Agabus. Elder Oaks reminded us of this fact in General Conference not too long ago and that most
of the communication from the spirit is conducted by the still small voice and feelings in our hearts.
"Visions do happen. Voices are heard from beyond the veil. I know this. But these
experiences are exceptional… Most of the revelation that comes to leaders and
members of the Church comes by the still, small voice or by a feeling rather than by
a vision or a voice that speaks specific words we can hear."
(Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Ensign, Mar. 1997, p.14.)
If I personally am not blessed with the gift of dreams or visions, should I then deny and immediately
suspect those that might be? If I do not conceive the warning voice in my heart first, then again it
must be not true. This attitude of jealousy, misunderstanding, and shortsightedness only offends
the spirit...insuring such a person of even less such instruction. Such an attitude in the days of 44
AD would have hurt only those who did not give serious consideration to Agabus’ warnings. I
imagine that there were probably some who didn’t and therefore suffered more than they needed.
Are such attitudes prevalent in the Church, even today in our enlightened age? Unfortunately, the
answer is yes. Of course the proof of this is there are even those members of the Church who do
not even heed the warnings and counsels given directly from the Prophets and Apostles themselves,
never mind other ‘ordinary’ members of the Church. Take the example of food storage, which again
has been strongly encouraged personally by the prophet in General Conference, repeated again in a
letter from the First Presidency in January to all of the Church leadership and members, and set as
a topic for discussion in the Saturday night Stake Conference training sessions for the first half of
this year by President Packer in a letter to all of the Church leadership. (Also note the changes
made to the Church canneries to support this effort.)
And yet we are finding that not only are a large majority of the membership in the Church ignoring
such warnings and counsel, that even many irresponsible Bishops and Stake Presidents are
withholding the information from their respective membership.
What about the question concerning telling or publishing personal dreams and visions to
others? Aren’t they only for those individuals, or their immediate families benefit and
consumption?
27
In the old days, telling such special experiences to others was actually somewhat a common practice.
In fact, often we find the Church leadership publishing such personal experiences for the whole
Church membership to read. (See the three dreams/visions that are mentioned in “Behold the Fig
Tree” that were received by two members of the Church (not General Authorities) and one nonmember.
The two dreams of the members were submitted to the First Presidency, which then
directed them to be published for the Church membership in the Church magazine.)
It becomes obvious as one researches dreams and visions in the Church, that often members of the
Church receive dreams and visions concerning events that affect others besides themselves and their
immediate family. Upon hearing of such an experience, it would behoove us to ponder it in
our minds on how the experience or prophecy might affect ourselves or our family...and then
ask the Lord for confirmation and how to respond to it.
Another point that needs to be mentioned is this: If dreams and visions are usually rare, and
then we see a sudden surge of such spiritual experiences happen among a larger portion of the
Church than normal....Wouldn’t that be of special note or interest? And further, what if a
large majority of those dreams and visions are all concerning the same things...wouldn’t that
be something to consider and ponder even more seriously? Could it be the spirit of the Lord
trying to warn us and prepare us for something that is coming, that will affect not only those having
the dreams, but all of us? Again, we refer back to the experience of Agabus and say “Take heed,
and hearken, O Israel;” and also “And some believed the things which were spoken, and some
believed not...Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not
perceive”
Why aren’t the brethren teaching about tent cities. I cannot speak for them, but may I suggest
the point that the key to favorably responding to a call to a tent city, perhaps when there is no other
reason than faith and obedience, will not happen unless the Church members are obeying the basics,
referred to as the milk of the gospel.
Without obeying the basic commandments...Church attendance, tithing, scripture study, prayer,
temple attendance, etc. the call to places of refuge such as tent cities would go unheeded and any
teaching of such an event, or any other higher principles of the gospel (often referred to as the meat)
would be useless. It would be like trying to put the roof on a house when the foundation isn’t firm
and the supporting walls are weak. The result is total disaster.
While researching this topic, I came across an excellent article that addresses the problems between
teaching milk and meat, and uses the early Saints experiences with the prophet Joseph Smith as a
background.
“In March 1830, Martin Harris was instructed to "preach naught but repentance,"
and not to divulge to the "world" things he had recently learned until it was wisdom
in God to do so. The reason given was that "they cannot bear meat now, but milk
they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish"
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(D&C 19:21-22).
“The milk/meat metaphor, often employed in the scriptures, communicates the
principle effectively because of our common experience in feeding children.
Children thrive on milk, but would choke on meat. But children also grow up, and
their diet changes to suit the growing needs as their bodies mature. And so it is
intended in the realm of spiritual things. When we are first introduced to the gospel,
we are as children needing doctrinal milk. As we mature in learning and living the
gospel, however, it is expected that gradually our spiritual digestive system will
be able to handle more meaty doctrines. This process has both individual and
institutional implications. Some individuals mature much faster than others.
Unfortunately, some never become weaned from the bottle, coughing and
choking, as it were, when any solid food is introduced into their diet. This
reality presents an interesting challenge to the Lord and his prophets. What is
to be taught to the Church as a whole? And what is to be done about those who
long for and can digest more solid food than is currently appropriate for the
body of the Church? Should they be deprived because some still need only
milk? And what is to eventually happen to those who simply do not want and cannot
handle much beyond milk? I submit the answer is tied to the two-edged sword
analogy—doctrinal truths act as a sharp sword, exposing hearts, dividing loyalties,
separating sheep from goats. This process leaves behind, if you will, those who
will not or cannot abide the higher doctrines and covenants of the gospel and,
at the same time, proves, strengthens, prepares, and purifies those who hunger for the
fulness of the gospel.
“Interestingly, there is real pain involved for those at both ends of the spectrum.
Those left behind often become frustrated and bitter. Some of these, with a
mean-spirited obsession, lash out against the institution, its leaders, or its
members, causing pain and sadness to themselves and to those who remain
faithful. Even more painful, however, for the stalwart Saints, is the pain that
must be endured in being proven in all things. We earlier quoted from D&C 98
indicating that the Lord will "try" and will "prove" the faithful "in all things…even
unto death" (vv 12-14). The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that before one could have
his calling and election made sure he must be "thoroughly proved"; he must
demonstrate that he is "determined to serve [God] at all hazards" (Teachings of the
Prophet Joseph Smith 150; hereafter TPJS). John Taylor said the Prophet also taught
the following to the Twelve in Nauvoo:
“You will have all kinds of trials to pass through. And it is quite as
necessary for you to be tried as it was for Abraham and other men of
God…God will feel after you, and He will take hold of you and wrench
your very heart strings, and if you cannot stand it you will not be fit for
an inheritance in the Celestial Kingdom of God. (Journal of Discourses
24:197; hereafter JD)
29
Examples from the Nauvoo Years
“The Nauvoo period in Church history is a showcase that vividly illustrates the
principles discussed above. Time will allow mentioning but a few examples. First,
we will cite some statements of the Prophet Joseph Smith lamenting the fact that he
was not able to teach the Saints all that the Lord had revealed to him. Obviously, he
wanted desperately to share what he knew, but the Saints generally were unprepared
and unwilling to accept some of those truths. We will then focus upon William Law
and his associates as examples of those who were cut asunder by the two-edged
sword of doctrine. Finally, as representative of those who were tried in the fire and
proved to be pure gold, we will review a tender account of a heart-wrenching test of
Heber C. and Vilate Kimball.
Joseph Smith's Lament
“The following quotations from Joseph Smith are all from the Nauvoo period. Both
the message and the Prophet's depth of feeling are clear.
“At a meeting of the Twelve in the Prophet's home on 19 December 1841, Joseph
Smith said the following:
“Some people say I am a fallen Prophet, because I do not bring forth
more of the word of the Lord. Why do I not do it? Are we able to receive
it? No! not one in this room…. The reason we do not have the secrets
of the Lord revealed unto us, is because we do not keep them but reveal
them; we do not keep our own secrets, but reveal our difficulties to the
world, even to our enemies, then how would we keep the secrets of the
Lord? I can keep a secret till Doomsday. (HC 4:478-79)
In April 1842 he added:
“The Lord makes manifest to me many things, which it is not wisdom for
me to make public, until others can witness the proof of them. (HC 4:608)
A year later, April 1843, the Prophet encouraged and comforted the Saints at the
death of Lorenzo D. Barnes, with these words:
“It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know
how I shall make the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an
overflowing surge before my mind.
“Oh! how I would delight to bring before you things which you never
thought of! But poverty and the cares of the world prevent. But I am glad
I have the privilege of communicating to you some things which, if grasped
closely, will be a help to you when earthquakes bellow, the clouds gather, the
lightenings flash, and the storms are ready to burst upon you like peals of
thunder. Lay hold of these things and let not your knees or joints tremble, nor
your hearts fail; and then what can earthquakes, wars and tornadoes do?
Nothing. All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided
you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have seen it. (HC
5:362)
30
“The following month, 21 May 1843, Joseph Smith preached a sermon in the
Nauvoo Temple. His text was the first chapter of 2 Peter, focusing on making one's
calling and election sure. It seems his purpose was to stretch the Saints'
understanding and their commitment to move forward in spiritual things. Among
other things he said the following:
“I could explain a hundred fold more than I ever have of the glories of
the kingdoms manifested to me in the vision, were I permitted, and were
the people prepared to receive them.
“The Lord deals with this people as a tender parent with a child,
communicating light and intelligence and the knowledge of his ways as
they can bear it. The inhabitants of the earth are asleep; they know not
the day of their visitation. (HC 5:402)
“In July 1843, the same month that Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants
concerning eternal and plural marriage was recorded, the Prophet Joseph spoke about
a man's foes being those of his own household. A report of those remarks states:
“The same spirit that crucified Jesus is in the breast of some who profess
to be Saints in Nauvoo. [I have secret enemies in the city intermingling with
the Saints…slightly touched upon the subject of the everlasting covenant,
showing that a man and his wife must enter into that covenant in the world,
or he will have no claim on her in the next world.] But on account of the
unbelief of the people, I cannot reveal the fullness of these things at present.
(HC 5:510)
“Six months later, 21 January 1844, the Prophet preached to several thousand
people at the southeast corner of the temple. Again he spoke of the difficulty in
getting people generally, as well as the Saints, to learn the things of God:
“There has been a great difficulty in getting anything into the heads of this
generation. It has been like splitting hemlock knots with a corndodger for a
wedge, and a pumpkin for a beetle. Even the Saints are slow to understand.
“I have tried for a number of years to get the minds of the Saints
prepared to receive the things of God; but we frequently see some of
them, after suffering all they have for the work of God, will fly to pieces
like glass as soon as anything comes that is contrary to their traditions:
they cannot stand the fire at all. (HC 6:184-85)
“On 7 March 1844, just three months before he died, in a speech in the temple,
Joseph said simply, "I know much that I do not tell" (HC 6:244).
“Heber C. Kimball testified of another occasion where the Prophet said, "Would
to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I
know! But you would call it blasphemy, and there are men upon this stand who
would want to take my life" (Quoted in Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball
[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945], 322).
“Wilford Woodruff testified of Joseph Smith: "His mind was opened by the
visions of the almighty, and the Lord taught him many things by vision and
revelation that were never taught publicly in his days; for the people could not
24 Regional Studies, Illinois, Dahl—Teachings in Nauvoo, p.129-133
31
bear the flood of intelligence which God poured into his mind" (JD 5:83-84).
“Truly, the Prophet Joseph Smith suffered a kind of spiritual loneliness,
having so much to give and so few of his followers being willing to receive it. It
is no wonder that he delighted in those who were willing to receive the truths of
heaven, and who could be trusted—his brother Hyrum, Brigham Young, and
Heber C. Kimball among the brethren, and several sisters of equal spiritual
sensitivity and commitment.
“As indicated above, the Prophet said there were those upon the stand from which
he spoke who would want to take his life. Evidently, one of such a mind was William
Law.1 William Law, four years younger than Joseph Smith, joined the Church in
Canada in 1836, received the Melchizedek Priesthood in 1837, and came to Nauvoo
in November 1841. Perhaps it is significant that he missed the Kirtland and Missouri
periods of Church history—important schooling and testing times for the Saints. In
Nauvoo William and his brother Wilson Law became successful in business. They
involved themselves in real estate, a store, and a steammill. William was active in
Church matters, and defended Joseph Smith against the accusations of John C.
Bennett in 1842. He served two missions and was one of the nine persons who first
received the temple endowment rites in this dispensation in May 1842. He was called
as a counselor in the First Presidency early in 1841 (D&C 124:91). William rejected
the revelation on plural marriage in the summer of 1843. Gradually he became
more and more disgruntled. He was released from the First Presidency in
January 1844 and excommunicated in April, three months later. He became
bitter. He claimed his excommunication violated the established order of the
Church. He also claimed the introduction of new doctrines had corrupted the
Church. The doctrines cited include plural marriage, plurality of Gods,
ecclesiastical control over civil and business affairs, and the unconditional
sealing up of persons unto eternal life.” 24
I find it of interest that I have heard the very same comments concerning President Hinckley as was
said about Joseph Smith...that they were not prophets because they didn’t bring forth as much
revelation or prophecy as some people believed they should, or they acted or said something that was
contrary to what others believed was right or not. The same spirit of the adversary is working its
way among the hearts of the rebellious as was in the days of Joseph, and unfortunately many
members of the Church then and now have partaken of it.
Is it any wonder then that very little “meat” is spoken from the public pulpit and the brethren are
constantly counseled to preach almost exclusively “milk”?
Now I wish to address those who feel that preparing for the opportunity to be called into a tent city
refuge by a living prophet and Quorum of the Twelve is an evil and wicked sin.
32
1. What does it hurt? So we prepare to camp for a year. Maybe we are called to go and maybe
we aren’t...but by preparing we:
A. follow the counsel of the prophets (past and present) to get a years supply of food storage.
B. We follow the secondary counsel to prepare ourselves beyond the basic food storage level.
C. Those who so prepare are ready in case they are forced to leave their houses for whatever
reason. Disaster, etc.
In other words...it never hurts to be overly prepared beyond the bare basics, as we have been
counseled. In fact logically, in this time of tumult and natural disasters, it makes great sense to
prepare for such a prospect. To argue against being prepared to leave our houses for a season is the
more stupid and illogical aspect.
2. If we do walk to Zion....what are we going to live in as we walk back? And what are we going
to live in while we build the city...especially since many of the prophecies by Prophets indicate that
it will be completely swept clean when we get there?
3. What if all of the witnesses and testimonies are right concerning a call by the prophet to
gather to places of refuge where the majority live in tents? Then those who have so prepared
can then make the decision to follow the prophet or not. Those who have not so prepared, have no
choice and will have to suffer the consequences of their non-preparation.
Remember the scripture: “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
In conclusion let me remind you of a story I am sure many of you have heard many times.
THE FARM HAND WHO COULD SLEEP THROUGH ANYTHING
There once was a farmer looking for a your man to help out at the farm. There were several young
men who interviewed for the job and as far as the farmer could tell they were about equally well
qualified. He then went and asked them each one final question...Tell me, he would say, Why should
I hire you above the others?”
Of all of the applicants and their replies, there was one that was really different. One young man
said...”because I can sleep through anything.” At first the farmer thought it was just strange, then
the more he thought the more he was intrigued and mystified by the response. So he figured, well
I will give this young man a chance and he hired him.
Weeks went by and the farmer was pretty happy with the young mans work. He still wondered
sometimes what the young man had meant by his strange reply, but he never got around to it. Then
one night he was awakened in the middle of night got a phone call from neighbor. There’s a big
33
storm suddenly coming in with lots of wind, maybe a tornado. Better get ready for it,” was the quick
message.
Indeed as the farmer went and looked out the door he found that the wind was strong and rising and
rain had started. He quickly ran and tried to wake the young man up to start getting everything ready
for the blow...but try as he might, the young man couldn’t be stirred. Muttering to himself about
what a stupid thing he had done in hiring a lazy boy who wouldn’t wake up when he really needed
him...the farmer went out to the frarm
He went out to tie down the hay...but discovered that the hay was already tied down securely. Next
he went to the barn and the corrals...and every time he looked, everything had already been prepared.
After a while of just wandering around the farm, of discovering that there was nothing that needed
to be done at the last minute...because it had all been done before, the farmer returned to the house,
but instead of muttering, he actually found himself singing the praises of this young man. He had
realized, to his great joy, that the reason that the young man could sleep through anything was
because before he went to bed each and every night he had already prepared for the very worst. And
so the farmer followed the example of the young man, since everything was already prepared, he
undressed and was soon fast asleep, with a huge smile of peace on his face.
Moral of the story....it is better to be overly prepared than under prepared, you get more sleep that
way.
“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this
world, upon which all blessings are predicated--
“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon
which it is predicated.” D&C 130:20-21
“For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is
compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore
he receiveth no reward.” D&C 58:26

PROPHECY OF CHRIST'S BIRTH - TALK GIVEN DEC 2007

I AM TRYING TO PUT MORE OF THIS STUFF TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE AS I RUN ACROSS IT:

PROPHECIES OF CHRIST’S BIRTH INTO THE WORLD
The Greatest Story Ever Foretold

The birth, the ministry, the death, and the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ are beautifully foretold in Old Testament and Book of Mormon Messianic prophecy.

I would like to try and give a flavor of what the ancient peoples had to go on in their search for the Birth of the Savior on the earth – and possibly make some parallels to our own time with a Second Coming impending in our day.

One of the things that fascinates me is how much disparity there is between how the story of the coming of the Lord to the earth was received among the House of Israel between the old World and the New World. In the New World, there were prophets actively preaching of his coming for 600 years up to His birth including many direct and pointed references to His life. The Book of Mormon prophecies of Christ were clear and direct.
In the Old World, there was apostasy and spiritual decline for 400 years before he came – and the references in the Old Testament to what his mission would be were scant, and where they existed, they were more oblique and relatively obscure.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve explained that “all of these biblical passages are either hidden in difficult contexts, have other matters interwoven with them which open the door to uncertainty as to their real meaning, or have a dual application; that is, they apply both to our Lord’s First Coming, when he was subject to mortal men, and to his Second Coming.” (The Promised Messiah, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, p. 81.)

Bruce R. McConkie further said that in our time, however, “We have the advantage of hindsight in pondering the Messianic prophecies and seeing their fulfillment in the mortal ministry of the Son of God among men.”

IF WE CAN FORENSICALLY (WITHOUT JUDGING) LOOK AT WHERE OTHERS HAVE GONE WRONG IN THEIR PROPHETIC QUEST FOR THE FIRST COMING OF THE SON OF MAN, WE CAN HOPEFULLY AVOID THE SAME PITFALLS AS WE PREPARE YET AGAIN FOR THE LORD’S SECOND COMING.

FIRST, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF PROPHETS AND THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY AND HOW WE HAVE A PART IN IT.

IN TALKING WITH PEOPLE OF OTHER FAITHS – AND SETTING DOWN WHAT CONSTITUTES A PROPHET OF GOD, THERE IS ONE CLEAR STANDARD:

A TRUE PROPHET OF GOD WHO LIVED BEFORE CHRIST LIVED HAS ALWAYS PREACHED OF HIS ADVENT INTO THE WORLD TO TAKE ON A TABERNACLE OF FLESH, TO BE TRIED AND TESTED AND TO PASS THROUGH MORTAL SUFFERING AND THAT HE WOULD, THROUGH THE ATONEMENT OVERCOME SIN AND THEN BE RESURRECTED TO OVERCOME PHYSICAL DEATH. THE TWO GREAT OBSTACLES TO OUR BECOMING LIKE OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN:
1) SPIRITUAL DEATH
2) PHYSICAL DEATH.

AS MOSIAH, IN THE BOOK OF MORMON SAID ABOUT CHRIST’S MISSION,

“Have they not said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man, and go forth in mighty power upon the face of the earth?
“Yea, and have they not said also that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted?” (Mosiah 13:33–35)

A TRUE PROPHET THAT HAS COME AFTER CHRIST HAS ALWAYS CLEARLY TAUGHT THAT HE CAME AMONG MEN AND THAT HE HAS A PERFECTED BODY OF FLESH AND BONE AND THAT HE WILL RETURN AGAIN IN GLORY TO REDEEM HIS PEOPLE FROM A FALLEN WORLD AND TO USHER IN MILLENIAL PEACE AND BLISS. That was the role of Joseph Smith and others who have followed.

Yes, all of the prophets have testified of Jesus Christ, “……for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.” (REVELATIONS 19:10)

In the Book of Mormon, the prophet Abinadi taught the wicked King Noah and his priests about the mission of Jesus Christ by quoting the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. He had earlier asked: “Even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?”

Nephi then listed a number of prophets who had detailed the Savior’s advent. Among these prophets were Moses, Abraham, Zenos, Zenock, Ezias, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lehi, and Nephi. Indeed, Nephi pointed out, “many prophets” over the centuries had testified of Christ
Hel. 8:11–22

Testimony about the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ is clearly evident in the teachings of the prophets who preceded him.

This observation was not unique to Nephi. More than a century earlier, Abinadi told King Noah: “Did not Moses prophesy … concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began—have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?”

So clear was the understanding of the Savior’s advent, that Amulek could tell the apostate Zoramites in 74 BC that it was “impossible that [they] should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ,” for that fact had been taught to them bountifully. Mosiah 13:33

If the Nephites weren’t aware of Christ’s impending mortal ministry, it was because they were unacquainted with God’s word.
An in-depth study of the Book of Mormon reveals this to be true. So clear are the revelations that the Nephites should have known the name by which the Messiah would be called in mortality, when he would be born, where he would be born, the name of his mother, many details of his ministry, how he would suffer and die, and that his resurrection would break the bands of death for all mankind. More importantly, they should have understood how his atonement could reconcile them to God and what they had to do to receive that marvelous gift. All this was known and taught by the prophets on what we know today as the American continent.

The same details—in the same clarity—seem not to have been available to the people in Jerusalem, at least not at the time of the Lord’s appearance among them.

Is it any wonder, that there was a general state of apostasy in the Holy Land as the last O.T. Book of Malachi was recorded 400 years before Christ’s birth – no prophetic utterance for 400 years. The people were so blinded and lost to the truth that it could not be said that they recognized Truth when it came among them. Not that the Old World prophets were guilty of doing a poor job, might it be that the people were guilty of doing a poor job of receiving them. So much so, that even one of the minor prophets, Lehi, was forced to flee into the wilderness with his family where these things could be openly taught.

The fact is that at the time of Christ’s birth, the people in the new world (most notably the Lamanites who were sending prophets to the Nephites to repent) – they had Prophets actively teaching them the prophesied coming of the Savior because they had not utterly rejected them.

The questions we have to ask ourselves is that if we had been among those taught by Nephi, son of Helaman, how would we have reacted? Would we have known the prophecies well enough to recognize the truth when it came? Would we have rejoiced in the Savior’s future advent? Or would we, too, like so many did, have looked beyond the mark?


BORN OF A VIRGIN INTO ROYAL LINEAGE


OT Isa. 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

BOM 1 Nephi 11:18–21
Nephi prophesies that the Son of God will be born to a virgin.
“And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.”

Matt. 1:18
“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.”


CHRIST WOULD COME OUT OF EGYPT

It was foretold that Christ would come out of Egypt

“When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt”.
(Hosea 11:1)
There was dualism here with the Israelites having come out of Egypt, as well.

How confusing would that be? Born of Bethlehem but coming out of Egypt!
For those of you who are suffering major setbacks in your lives, consider that it might just be an uncomfortable bump in a road that leads to something great. Patience is the key. Joseph Smith’s family also endured failed crops over several years and the loss of livelihood before they were forced to move to NY where the church would be born.


Christ, the Bread of Life – to be BORN IN BETHLEHEM, the HOUSE OF BREAD

Deut. 8:3
“And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.”

Micah 5:2
“But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”


FULFILLMENT:

Matt. 2:1
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem.”

John 6:35
“And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

THE KNOWLEDGE THAT CHRIST WAS TO BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM, THE CITY OF DAVID ISN’T OF IMPORT UNTIL WE KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST, WHO DECLARED HIMSELF THE BREAD OF LIFE, WOULD BE BORN IN A TOWN CALLED THE “HOUSE OF BREAD”?




THE EARTHLY ROYAL LINE WAS PREDICTED TO COME THROUGH DAVID

THIS TOWN WAS ALSO KNOWN AS THE CITY OF DAVID – AND WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT? BECAUSE DAVID WAS THE CHOSEN ONE THROUGH WHOM IT WAS PROPHESIED THAT THE CHOSEN ONE WOULD COME. MORE PRECISELY, CHRIST’S MATRIARCHAL LINE CAME THROUGH THE LOINS OF DAVID AND BATHSHEBA.

THE FACT THAT MARY IS JESUS’ MOTHER IS AS MUCH A LEGAL ISSUE AS IT IS ANYTHING ELSE. MARY WAS HIS MORTAL MOTHER AND DIRECT DESCENDENT OF DAVID, AS WAS HIS STEPFATHER, JOSEPH.

GENESIS 49:10
“AND THE SCEPTER OF JUDAH SHALL NOT DEPART FROM JUDAH, NOR A LAWGIVER FROM BETWEEN HIS FEET UNTIL SHILOH COME – AND UNTO HIM SHALL THE GATHERING OF THE PEOPLE BE.”

Isa. 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

WHEN HE CAME THE FIRST TIME, WHEN THE PEOPLE IN THE OLD WORLD WERE LOOKING FOR A CONQUEROR TO RELIEVE THEM OF HARSH ROMAN RULE, HE HAD THE EARTHLY CREDENTIALS NECESSARY TO ASSUME THE EARTHLY REIGNS OF POWER AND DELIVER THEM FROM THE YOKE OF BONDAGE.



PREDICTED THAT HE WOULD BE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Isaiah 9:2
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

Helaman 14:1–6
Samuel the Lamanite prophesies of the signs at Jesus’ birth.

3 Nephi 1:4–21
On the night of Jesus’ birth, there was no darkness in America and a new star rose.

Matthew 2:2
A new star appeared in Israel.


ISN’T IT BEAUTIFUL – EVEN POETIC THAT WONDERFUL SIGNS OF LIGHT IN THE HEAVENS WOULD ATTEND THE BIRTH OF CHRIST INTO THE WORLD?

JUST AS THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM LIT UP THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT, POINTING ITS TAIL DOWNWARD TOWARD THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, SO DOES THE SON OF MAN LIGHT UP THE WORLD THAT IS FILLED WITH DARKNESS, POINTING THE WAY TO LIGHT AND SALVATION.

JUST AS LIGHTS ATTENDED HIS FIRST COMING, SO WILL A BRIGHT LIGHT BURST UPON THE WORLD FROM THE EAST AS THE GREAT SIGN OF THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN. WE HAVE SIMILAR EXCITING EVENTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO.


CONCLUSION AND TESTIMONY

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7)

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

NOW THAT WE KNOW OF THE GREAT GOODNESS AND CONDESCENSION OF GOD IN GIVING US THESE GOOD TIDINGS OF HIS FIRST COMING, LET US BE READY AND PREPARE FOR HIS SECOND COMING.

HAVING A FOREKNOWLEDGE OF HOW SOME OF THE FIRST PEOPLE MISSED OBVIOUS SIGNS OF HIS FIRST COMING, LET US NOT FALL INTO A SIMILAR STATE OF COMPLACENCY AND DISREGARD FOR THE GIFT OF PROPHECY THAT SHOULD BE IN ALL THAT HAVE THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS.

MAY WE ALL BE AMONG THE 5 VIRGINS WHO HAVE OUR LAMPS TRIMMED WITH THE OIL OF TESTIMONY AND FAITH AND READY FOR THE BRIDEGROOM’S EVENTFUL RETURN, IS MY PRAYER IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, AMEN.

SECOND COMING QUOTES AND PROPHECIES

I THOUGHT THIS WAS AN INTERESTING COLLECTION:

Disclaimer: Most prophecies concerning the judgments of God’s children are conditional upon performance of contracts, implied or expressed. There is usually an if and a repent portion of the collection clause of the contract.
Prophecies that appear to have been, or that appear to be in process of being, fulfilled are differentiated by italicized font.

CHURCH HEADQUARTERS AND THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS
1) The headquarters of the church will not always be located in the top of the mountains. The center stake will be located in Jackson County, Missouri. Discourses of Brigham Young, pg 74.
2) Jackson County, Missouri is the location of the Garden of Eden. Wilford Woodruff, pg 481.
3) The Lord will come to his temple at Zion in Jackson County. D&C Commentary, pg 196.
4) “An army of Elders will be sent to the four quarters of the earth to search out the righteous and warn the wicked of what is coming. All kinds of religions will be started and miracles performed that will deceive the very elect if that were possible. Our sons and daughters must live so as to be prepared for what is coming.
After a while the Gentiles will gather by the thousands to this place, and Salt Lake City will be classed among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the Saints, and the results will be financial bondage.
Persecution comes next and all true Latter-Day Saints will be tested to the limit. Many will apostatize and others will be still not knowing what to do. The judgments of God will be poured out upon the wicked to the extent that our Elders far and near will be called home, or in other words, the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later carried on to the Jews.
The western boundary of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that, as President Young tells it, when you return to that place, there will not be so much as a yellow dog left to wag his tail. Before that day comes, however, the Saints will be put to the tests that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressures will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes.
Then the Prophet (Joseph Smith) and others will make their appearance and those who have remained faithful will be selected to return to Jackson County, Missouri and take part in the upbuilding of that beautiful city, the New Jerusalem.” Deseret News, May 23, 1931
Heber C. Kimball

PROPHECIES RELATING TO FUTURE EVENTS IN AMERICA
1) The Gentiles will be allowed to possess this land provided they remain humble and do not utterly reject the mission of the Latter-Day church. 3 Nephi 21: 22-24
2) Faithful Gentiles in the last days will help in the building of the New Jerusalem.
3 Nephi 21: 23-24
3) America will remain a land of freedom only as long as the people who inhabit it continue to serve the God of the land. 2 Nephi 1: 6-7
4) The inhabitants of America in the last days to become so great, so politically powerful, and economically prosperous that their pride would be lifted up “above all other nations”, and above all people in the whole earth. 3 Nephi 16: 10

5) The inhabitants of America in the latter days will become a nation of liars, hypocrites, and murderers - addicted to all manner of licentiousness and practicing fraud upon one another through secret combinations. 3 Nephi 16: 10
6) The Gospel will be taken from the Gentiles. 3 Nephi 16:10
7) Forces will then be released that will then cut the Gentiles from off the face of the earth.
3 Nephi 21: 11,20
8) The American Indians will be driven by the Gentiles. 3 Nephi 16: 9

9) The Indians will be the means of conquering the Gentiles in the day of the Lord’s wrath. 3 Nephi 16: 5, 20:15-17, 21:12
10) The complete political and economic collapse for the Gentiles of this land if they become a wicked and degenerate nation. They will be deprived of their means of transportation, their chariots to be destroyed, their strongholds and fortresses will be torn to pieces and their mighty cities made a desolation. 3 Nephi 21: 15-20
11) New York, Albany, and Boston specifically mentioned as places to be destroyed if they reject the word of the Lord. D&C 84: 114-115
12) “And I am now prepared to say by the Authority of Jesus Christ, that not many years shall pass away before the United States shall present such a scene of bloodshed as has not a parallel in the history of our nation; pestilence, hail, famine, and earthquakes will sweep the wicked of this generation from off the face of the land, to open and prepare the way for the return of the lost Tribes of Israel from the north country.” Teachings of the Prophet J. Smith, pg 17
13) The children of Israel to be gathered and to inherit this land and the Gentiles to make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 3 Nephi 22: 3

14) “The American nation will be broken in pieces like a potter’s vessel and will be cast down to hell if it does not repent - and this because of murders, whoredoms, wickedness, and all manner of abominations, for the Lord has spoken it.” Wilford Woodruff, pg. 500

15) Joseph Smith said that the time would come when the Constitution of the United States would hang by a thread. Discourses of Brigham Young pg. 361

16) Joseph Smith said that in the hour that the Constitution would be in danger, the Elders of the Church would labor with their might to save the vestiges of democracy. The Progress of Man pg. 342

17) The Constitution will never be completely destroyed because at least the Latter-day Saints will hold it inviolate. The Progress of Man pg. 339-40
BUILDING THE NEW JERUSALEM (ZION)
1) The calling of the Saints to go back to Jackson County, Missouri will be after that section of the country is swept clean of all life. The desolate cities will be inhabited by the Ten Tribes after they come from the North. 3 Nephi 22: 3

2) “I saw a short distance from the Missouri River, where I stood, twelve men dressed in the robes of the temple. They stood in a square nearby, and I was given to understand that they represented the twelve gates of the New Jerusalem. Their hands were uplifted while they were consecrating the ground; and later they laid the cornerstones of the House of God. I saw myriads of angels hovering near them, and above their heads there was a pillar-like cloud. I heard the most beautiful singing in the words, “How is established the kingdom of our God and His Christ, and he shall reign forever and forever, and the Kingdom shall never be thrown down, for the Saints have overcome.” I saw people coming from the river and distant places to help build the temple. It seemed as though there were hosts of angels helping to bring material for the construction of that building. Some were in temple robes, and the pillar-like cloud continued to hover over the spot.” Wilford Woodruff, pg. 505

3) Site of the New Jerusalem and the Temple given by revelation.” 3 Nephi 16: 10
4) The building of the New Jerusalem to come only after much tribulation. 3 Nephi 16:10
THE GREAT PRIESTHOOD CONFERENCE AT ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN
1) Not far from the town of Gallatin, in Davies County, Missouri, is a place known as Spring Hill. By the Lord, however, this place was named “Adam-Ondi-Ahman” because it is the place where Adam shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel, the prophet. D&C 116
2) Adam held a great last meeting with his posterity at Adam-Ondi-Ahman shortly before his death. D&C 107: 53
3) Adam predicted at this last meeting all that should befall his posterity until the end. D&C 107: 54-57
4) Adam will prepare the Saints for the Second Coming of the Savior. Documentary History of the Church 3:386-7
5) At that meeting the Savior will receive the keys of all of the dispensations since Adam. The Way to Perfection pg. 40
6) ”When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the Church at large will not know of it, yet the Savior will be there and it will be preparatory to the coming in the clouds of the glory of our Savior.” The Way to Perfection pg. 40
7) The pre-millennial appearance of the Savior at the New Jerusalem is clearly taught in the scriptures.
3 Nephi 20: 22, 21:2, D&C 45:66-67, 84:4-5, 97:15-17
8) Under the direction of the Savior three events will take place:
a) The Lamanite nations will be converted. 3 Nephi 21: 26
b) The Ten Tribes will be brought down from the North. 3 Nephi 21: 26
c) The righteous blood of Israel will receive a final call to gather out from all other parts of the earth and fell to America. All of this must be accomplished before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 3 Nephi 21: 25-29


THE CONVERSION OF THE LAMANITES
1) When the Lamanites are converted, they will become white like unto the tribes of Ephraim. 2 Nephi 30:6
2) They will be highly spiritual, living all the commandments of the Lord, and considered by the other tribes of Israel as a righteous branch. 2 Nephi 9: 53
3) They will become progressive in their habits, attractive, cultural and gain in intellectual attainments. D&C 49: 24


THE COMING OF THE TRIBES FROM THE NORTH
1) The prophets among the Ten Tribes will spend a hundred years preparing for their return. The apostle John, as a translated being is fulfilling a mission to their tribes also preparing them for their future return. Essentials of Church History pg. 125
2) The Ten Tribes are separated from the main body. 3 Nephi 15: 19

3) The main body of the Ten Tribes is not among the Gentiles at all. 3 Nephi 15: 15-24
4) Brigham Young taught that the Ten Tribes of Israel are on a portion of the earth -- a portion separate from the mainland. Wilford Woodruff pg.442

5) The Ten Tribes are called outcasts because they are cast out from the knowledge of the nations unto a land by themselves. Voice of Warning pg. 30
6) Rocks and ice shall flow down at the presence of the Tribes coming from the north. D&C 133: 26
7) As they come to the great body of water, dry land will be cast up in the midst of it so that a great highway will spread before them. D&C 133: 37, Isaiah 11:16
8) The Ten Tribes will receive great blessings under the hand of the tribe of Ephraim. D&C 133: 32

9) Any enemies that will try to stop the migration of the Ten Tribes will literally be marched over in their progress. D&C 133: 28
10) The great highway across the water will be unsafe for the use of any other group other than the Ten Tribes. Isaiah 35:8-10
11) The Ten Tribes will bring with them their histories, records and scriptures. 2 Nephi 29:12-13
12) They will tell of many experiences including the visit of the Savior in the meridian of time. 3 Nephi 15: 12-13, 16: 1-3
13) The Ten Tribes will bring with them their precious metals, rare gems, and works of art, all to be used to establish the temple of the New Jerusalem. D&C 133: 30

14) When they arrive they will fall down and receive the crowning of glory under the hands of Ephraim. D&C 133: 32
THE GATHERING OF ALL OF THE SAINTS TO ZION
1) The Saints will come to Zion, not in haste nor as fugitives from persecution, but as Saints of God joyfully returning to the Land of Inheritance. 3 Nephi 21: 28-29
2) The Saints will come from all nations as the watchmen on the Mount of Ephraim urge them forward. Jeremiah 31: 6

3) The watchmen of the tribe of Ephraim are the officials and the Priesthood holders of the Church and the kingdom of God -- to whom all of Israel, save Judah alone, will come to receive their blessings. D&C 88: 84

4) From these Sons of Ephraim the Lord will select by revelation his special servants, they will:
a) Go to all sections of the earth finding the Saints and telling them to gather
b) Warn all nations and kingdoms and gather any repentant and righteous to Zion. They will seal all of those who reject their testimonies unto the day when the arm of the Lord will fall. Jeremiah 16:16, D&C 29:5, Rev 18: 4
5) The Priesthood must prepare themselves to exercise the sealing power of the Priesthood against those that reject them. D&C 88: 77, 133: 37
6) All will have the chance to hear the gospel in their own tongue. D&C 90: 11
7) The missionaries will be so pressed for time that they will teach it in the market places and along the road, and when they have done all that they can in the time allotted, they will leave that place never to return again. Micah 2: 12
8) The gathered Lamanites and members of the Ten Tribes will be so great in numbers that they will make a great noise by reason of their numbers. Micah 2: 12

9) There will be such a great group that they will overflow the land and spread out over the plains.
3 Nephi 22: 3
10) Water will be miraculously provided for the land of Zion. Isaiah 41:17-18
THE BEGINNING OF THE END
1) Lucifer will show his great powers when the missionaries are gathering the people. D&C 1: 35
2) Lucifer will give the sign-seeking telestial people great signs and wonders.
Revelations 16: 14

3) Lucifer will call down fire from heaven. Revelations 13: 13-15
4) Lucifer will raise up false Christs and prophets, and the very elect will be deceived, if not careful. Pearl of Great Price 7: 23

5) Satan will have control of all places other than Zion in those days and all his will have an identifying mark on their hand or forehead. Revelations 13: 16
6) Economic sanctions will be brought against anyone that does not have the mark. Revelations 13: 17
7) As a result of the sanctions nations will rise against nation causing famine. Mark 24: 15, P of GP 44: 29
8) The inhabitants of Zion will be the only ones on earth that will not be subjected to war. D&C 45: 69-70

9) Because of the rejections of the testimonies of the missionaries and the great wickedness of the people, the great destructions caused by nature will commence. D&C 88: 89-91
10) The earth will reel to and fro. D&C 88: 87
11) The stars will be hurled out of their places and the remainder will not give of their light. D&C 34: 9; 88: 87
12) The sun shall suddenly be darkened and the moon shall be bathed in blood. D&C 45: 42; 88:87

13) “…..then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, etc. But the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning, cometh out of the East.” April 6th, 1843. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith DHC 5:336-387.

AMERICA TO BE CUT OFF FROM OTHER NATIONS
1) No flesh shall be safe on any water -- only those from other countries which are upright in their hearts will be allowed to go up to the land of Zion. D&C 61: 15-16
PARABLE OF THE TEN VIRGINS
1) Read the complete parable. Mathew 25: 8-12
2) “I have sworn in my wrath and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every nation, and the Saints shall hardly escape...these things that ye must look for; and, speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are nigh at hand, and in a time to come, even in the day of the coming of the Son of Man. And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise; and at that hour cometh an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked; and in that day I will send Mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into an unquenchable fire.” D&C 63: 33-34; 53: 54

PROPHECY CONCERNING PALESTINE
1) “.....the Lord has decreed that the Jews should be gathered from all the Gentile nations where they have been driven, into their own land, in fulfillment of the words of Moses, their law-giver. And this is the will of your great Elohim, O house of Judah, and when ever you shall ever be called upon to perform this work, the God of Israel will help you. You have a great future and destiny before you and you cannot avoid fulfilling it; you are the royal and chosen seed, and the God of your Father’s house has kept you distinct as a nation for eighteen hundred years, under all the oppression of all the Gentile world. You may not wait until you believe on Jesus of Nazareth, but when you meet with Shiloh your king, you will know him; your destiny is marked and you cannot avoid it. It is true that after you return and gather your nation home, and rebuild your city and temple, that the Gentiles may gather together their armies to go against you to battle, to take you a prey and to take you as a spoil, which they will do, for the words of your prophets must be fulfilled; but when this affliction comes, the living God that led Moses through the wilderness, will deliver you , and your Shiloh will come and stand in your midst and fight your battles; and you will know Him, and the afflictions of the Jews will be at an end, while the destruction of the Gentiles will be so great that it will take the whole house of Israel who are gathered about Jerusalem, seven months to bury the dead of their enemies, and the weapons of war will last them seven years for fuel, so that they need not go to any forest for wood. These are tremendous sayings -- who can bear them? Nevertheless, they are true and will be fulfilled according to the sayings of Ezekial, Zechariah, and the prophets. Though the heavens and earth shall pass away, not one jot or tittle will fall unfulfilled.” Wilford Woodruff pg 509-510

2) On October 24th, 1842, Orson Hyde, a Jewish apostle (of the Quorum of the Twelve) of the Latter-Day church, journeyed to the city of Old Jerusalem, and from the Mount of Olives, poured out his heart in a prayer of dedication to the Lord. Essentials of Church History pg. 284



3) In the year of 1875, George Albert Smith, (another apostle of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) was sent by Brigham Young to again dedicate the land and pray unto the Lord that his work might be hastened unto an opening of the way for the return of the exiled Jews. Comp. Hist. of the Church Vol5, pp 474-5


THE SECOND COMING
1) A single Gentile nation is going to eventually encompass all other Gentile nations of Asia and Europe so that they will form one large company together. At the head of this army of nations will stand a dominating prince of Japeth, an uncompromising, ruthless Gentile dictator. Ezekial Ch 38& 39
2) This great leader will “speak great words against the Most High....wear out the Saints of the Most High and think to change times and laws.” Daniel 7: 25

3) In the days of this leader any man who refuses to take up his sword and fight must flee to the American continent. D&C 45: 68-70
4) John saw the march of the highly mechanized armies under the leadership of this great dictator whom they called Gog. Revelations 11

5) The number of the ranks of this great army will number 200,000,000. Revelations 9: 16
6) The great army will make their last fight against the Jews and trod down a great portion of the city of Jerusalem, but they will not have power to destroy the people as a whole, for three and one half years the people will continue to survive the onslaught of Gog. Daniel 7: 25, Revelations 11: 2
7) The Jews will withstand this great army through the help of the Lord. He will raise up among the Jews two mighty prophets, and through their efforts the mighty war machine of Gog will grind to a halt as they meet the unexpected oppositions of these prophets when they march on the world capital of Judah. Revelations 11: 5-6
8) The two prophets will be killed and their bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem for three and one half days and then they will be resurrected. When they are, the Lord will come. Revelations 11

THE MILLENIUM
1) The Millennium to be a time of winding up the affairs of the earth life existence. D&C 76: 106-107

2) The great work of the Millennium is to bring about the literal brotherhood of man and prepare the whole human race for the great final judgment. D&C 133: 23-24, Revs. 16:18, Isaiah 40:4

3) The surface of the earth is to be changed. The earth will become smooth and productive. Luke 3: 5
4) The sea to be driven back into the North countries, the islands shall become one land, and the earth shall be like it was in the days before it was divided (in the days of Peleg - Genesis 10:25). D&C 133: 23-24

5) Great forests will grow up in the wilderness. Wilford Woodruff pg. 481
6) Rivers and springs will change the deserts and wastelands into farmlands. Isaiah 35: 7
7) Noxious weeds, briars, and thorns will give way to groves, orchards and profitable plant life. Isaiah 55: 13

8) The earth will become a “new earth” and the earth that we now know shall not be remembered or come to mind. Isaiah 65: 17-19

9) The earth will be transfigured in this state. D&C 63: 21
10) There shall be no sorrow because there will be no death. D&C 101: 29

11) Men shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from a mortal to a resurrected being. D&C 65: 51
12) There will be no sin among the younger generations. D&C 45: 58

13) All enmity to cease between man and all of the rest of God’s creations. Isaiah 11: 6-9, 65: 25; Moses 2: 18
14) During the millennium, the language spoken will be that of the pure Adamic language. Zephaniah 3: 9
15) Satan will be bound during the millennium due to the righteousness of the people. D&C 88:110
16) The city of Enoch, which was caught up into heaven before the days of the flood shall be brought back to earth and joined with the City of The New Jerusalem. Moses 7: 63

17) A history of the world will be shown a thousand years at a time. D&C 88: 108-110
18) Astronomy and geology will be taught by revelation during the Millennium. Abraham 3:3, D&C 121: 28-31; 101: 32-34

VIOLENCE AND IMMORALITY IN THE MEDIA - THE NOAH CONNECTION

As a parent, I have often been pretty-much freaked out with the amount of violence, immorality and pure filth portrayed in the media. We no longer use the tv in our home for anything other than what we overtly allow into our home. Just flicking on the tube is pretty much out.

As I always tell the kids, they have their agency and full ability to choose as they move into adulthood (I came to the conclusion that my parental influence is inversely proportional to their age - so its in their best interest to make as many decisions for themselves as they can as time goes on). One of the things I always tell them, is that, IN THE BIG PICTURE, IT IS ULTIMATELY SURVIVAL OF THE SPIRITUAL FITTEST. God does not care how far ahead in life we got, what we did, unless we followed His Son's example in doing it. The same goes for what we view. If we participated in violence or anything offensive to God, we will be swept off the face of the land with the rest, just as they were in the days of Noah for the same reason.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.
12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.
13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.

The earth was destroyed (baptized by immersion) the first time due to violence and not keeping the commandments/corruption.

It will be destroyed the second time (by fire) due to the same causes.

To avoid being caught up in that scenario, it will be most important to be spiritually fit. Those who are spiritually fit will survive to go on, Millenially speaking. Those that love agency and the Son get bodies to experience choice with all of its pitfalls. Those who love the law of chastity and obedience to God's commands will receive the privilege of having an eternal increase. Cause and effect - plain and simple.

All of these darwinists who rely on the arm of the flesh to make their way in life are sadly in for a big surprise. The sad realization will sink in that they should have put their ultimate trust in God and his ways to achieve the biggest, longest lasting effect for all that they do in this life and beyond.

So what does all that have to do with the trash in the media? Violence and filth in, violence and filth out and the trash WILL get taken to the curb before Christ returns again. If we choose wisely what we choose to run through our spiritual filters, we will have indeed chosen wisely.

Here's the article:

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RECLAIMING THE SILVER SCREEN
Explicit sex, violence and language? Not anymore!
Meet the man who's cleaning up Hollywood movies, protecting your family

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Posted: March 31, 2009
8:07 pm Eastern


By Chelsea Schilling
© 2009 WorldNetDaily



Dr. Ted Baehr (photo: Movieguide)


CAMARILLO, Calif. – At the height of the Golden Age of Hollywood, a man who would revolutionize the entertainment industry and "clean up American movie screens" was born to two prominent actors.

Ted Baehr, the son of Robert "Tex" Allen, star in Broadway's "Showboat," and Evelyn Pierce, an MGM actress, was raised in New York City. He performed in commercials, movies, television and on stage.

Baehr would become a famous media critic, founder and publisher of Movieguide and a champion of uplifting Hollywood movies with Christian worldviews. He would take on the giants of the industry and inspire filmmakers to produce wholesome, family films.

Early life and education

"I grew up backstage in the theaters doing commercials, going to very elite schools," he told WND. "I was there, day after day, walking the streets of Broadway, going to the plays, sitting in the back on the steps with the stage manager and doing commercials."

Baehr endured a tragic phase in his life when his mother died in 1959. At the young age of 14, he left for boarding school at St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H.


Robert "Tex" Allen


"It was a bleak period, and I quickly got into sex, drugs and self-destructive behavior, although I did well academically," he said.

Baehr later attended the University of Munich, Germany; Cambridge University, England; and Bordeaux and Toulouse Universities in France. He graduated with honors from Dartmouth College, receiving a degree in comparative literature. He served as editor of the student newspaper at the New York University School of Law where he earned his juris doctor.

With an extensive background in entertainment, Baehr had been exposed to various "new Age" religions. He said his mother had "luke-warm" religious beliefs and was involved in Christian Science.

Baehr said he began to support left-wing and anti-Christian causes after studying at Dartmouth College and other "prestigious and politically correct colleges."

Get Ted Baehr's "MOVIEGUIDE" for a complete Christian guide to movies for you and your family.

Accepting Jesus as Savior

In 1974, when he was financing several independent movies for Canon Films, a woman named Audrey Clark, a former friend of his deceased mother, dared him to read the Bible and tell her "what was wrong with it."


Ted and Lili Baehr (photo: Movieguide)


Baehr reluctantly accepted her challenge.

"Finally after six months, I decided to read the short part," he said.

After reading the New Testament, Baehr's views on Christianity changed drastically and he accepted Jesus Christ into his life.

One week later, he married his Argentine-born sweetheart, Lili, an architect. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1955 after living under socialist Juan Domingo Perón.

Baehr attended seminary at the Institute of Theology at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. He later accepted a position as the director of the Television Center at the City University of New York and started the Good News Communications ministry in 1978.

While at the City University of New York, he researched the impact of media in education and was elected president of the Episcopal Radio and Television Foundation, the organization that produced the Emmy Award-winning animated movie, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Baehr also served on the communications board of the National Council of Churches.

Cleaning up the movie industry


Movieguide offices in Camarillo, Calif.


"Pink Panther" and "Christy" producer Ken Wales introduced Baehr to George Heimrich, former director of the Protestant Film Office – an organization that read every Hollywood script from 1933 to 1966 to ensure that movies adhered to high standards of decency.

Baehr said American movies were morally bankrupt prior to 1933, and the Protestant Film Commission, along with the Roman Catholic Legion of Decency, cleaned up the industry. However, the Protestant Film Commission shut down in 1966.

"The Baptists pulled their funding, and within three years, we went from 'The Greatest Story Ever Told' to the first sex and Satanism film and from 'The Sound of Music' to the first 'X'-rated movie," he said.

The U.S. suffered a severe decline in movie attendance when Hollywood was no longer producing wholesome movies – spiraling from 44 million tickets sold every week to only 20 million.

(Story continues below)





Sir John Templeton, 1912-2008


In 1985, Baehr formed the Christian Film & Television Commission ministry and Movieguide: A Family Guide to Movies and Entertainment. Heimrich donated his Protestant Film Office files to the commission, and Baehr began his monumental task of taking on Hollywood's film giants, using 22 biblically based objective standards to review films and clean up American screens.

Movieguide, a biweekly magazine, TV and radio show and successful website, offers in-depth analyses of movies and reviews nearly 100 percent of U.S. films released in at least nine theaters. The magazine also includes the latest news from the entertainment industry, articles on movies, TV, Internet and cultural trends in addition to warning discerning parents about the worst films coming out of Hollywood.

In 1988, Sir John Templeton, the late billionaire philanthropist and entrepreneur who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II, called Baehr to share a new proposal.

"He said, 'I see what you're doing in Hollywood. You're having a good effect, and I've always felt that we should have an award for Hollywood because the Templeton Prize, which is the award for science and religion, has been so effective," Baehr said. "I didn't even know him. He just called out of the blue."


Chuck and Gena Norris present award at 2009 Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala


Baehr welcomed the idea with enthusiasm, and the Christian Film & Television Commission initiated the Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards Gala and Report to the Entertainment Industry in 1992 in Los Angeles.

The gala honors "good and uplifting" productions in film and television and has become a wild success.

"We always focus on Jesus at the gala, and we get a lot of non-Christians there because we're in Hollywood," he said. "People talk about Jesus. We talk about Jesus. We're giving them church. The films testify to Jesus. Everything about it testifies to Him. That's our major point."

Many now refer to the event as the "Christian Oscars," and along with the Report to the Entertainment Industry, it has led to a dramatic increase in family movies and movies with positive moral content.

"When we started, there was only one movie with positive Christian content, and last year it was 44 percent of the movies," Baehr said. "Christian movies always do better because people want redemption. They have a tough life. They want to go to a movie and be delivered from all of that."

The Annual Report to the Entertainment Industry has shown that moviegoers prefer clean movies without explicit sex, nudity, foul language and drug abuse. According to Movieguide's analysis of the top movies released in 2008, box office earnings for movies with 0-25 obscenities/profanities made $32,145,527 at the box office while movies with no obscenities or profanities made $55,569,733. Likewise, movies with no sex, no nudity and no drug references regularly made tens of millions of dollars more at the box office than movies with immoral content.

Additionally, a seven-year Movieguide study of the top 275 movies reveals that Americans prefer conservative, patriotic, pro-American movies with traditional, Judeo-Christian values and free-market ideals rather than films pushing anti-capitalist, socialist, atheistic, communist or anti-Christian agendas.

"In fact," Baehr added, "movies with more conservative values averaged more than seven times as much money as those movies promoting liberal or leftist values, $81.2 million versus only $11.4 million."



He said viewers are looking for three things in a film.

"They want to be entertained, so they want great drama; they want a moral worldview; and then they want a savior," he said. "They always want someone to come in and rescue them, so movies about salvation do incredibly well."

Baehr said it is pertinent that parents pay attention to the movies and television shows their children watch.

"We're concerned about the vulnerability of kids at different stages of their development. They need to be protected," he said. "Parents can't be there all the time, so we want to ensure that children are self-motivated to do the right thing and make the right choices."

A 'rotten' ratings system

Parents must never rely on the traditional rating system to determine whether films are appropriate for their families.

"The ratings system is rotten," he said. "In the movie industry, you can use whatever words you want. They just color it blue and give you an 'R' or whatever it happens to be. But the system has no basis on any understanding of cognitive development. It has no basis for understanding values."

Each year two or three "G"-rated films have a completely occult and new-age worldview, he said. They contain propaganda and condition children to be anti-parent. At the same time, a movie such as "The Passion of the Christ" – with a healthy message – is inexplicably rated "R."

"In the old days, they would say that you could have violence, but you couldn't have it in such a way that a susceptible youth would want to copy the violence," he said. "The question is, how do you do it? Today we seem to be so simplistic that we can't figure that out. The violence in 'The Passion of the Christ' is such that nobody will be attracted to being a Roman centurion whipping Christ."


"Watchmen" (2009)


On the other hand, violence in movies such as Warner Brothers' "Watchmen" is meant to be exciting and entertaining.

"In one scene, they're out killing and chopping and maiming. They are superheroes, so they're beating the other guys up. There's lots of blood. Arms are sawed off. Things are splattered, and they look at each other and say, 'This is fun.' So they have sex together," he said. "When you combine sex and violence in a way that it's a pleasurable relief, that is a very bad motivation for kids."

Baehr continued, "They tell you it's fun. They tell you it's exciting, but the more intelligent children are, the more likely they will respond to those scripts. They create our view of reality."

WND asked Baehr which film is his favorite and which one he believes is the worst ever produced.

"My overall favorite popular film of all time is 'Finding Nemo,'" he said. "It's the story of the Prodigal Son and the love of a father. It's also a well-plotted movie with wonderful dialogue and construction."

He continued, "One of the worst films of all time, the worst made and the worst topic, is 'Hounddog.'"


Dr. Ted Baehr holds 'Teddy Bear' Award for best family friendly films


"Houndog" is a story about a sexual assault of a young girl played by actress Dakota Fanning.

In terms of impact, he said one of the worst films of all time was "The Da Vinci Code," starring Tom Hanks. Baehr said the book suggests Jews had orgies in the temple.

"To me, that's extremely offensive, because the Jews protected the temple with their lives," he said. "They would never defile a temple. So this is just outlandishly anti-Semitic. It's just vile stuff."

Despite these films, Baehr has encouraging news for parents and moviegoers: The six major Hollywood studios have all begun focusing on making more family films in recent years.

"Now there are more than 100 ministries in Hollywood. There are conservative groups in Hollywood," he said. "We've told producers, if they put this into their work, their movies will do better at the box office. It has now become the buzz in Hollywood that you will do better at the box office when you do movies with faith and values in them. It has made a tremendous impact on Hollywood."

Academy Awards ≠ Hollywood

But don't look to the Academy Awards for proof of this family friendly trend, he said. Many awardees are from independent films and not Hollywood studios.



"Movies like 'Harvey Milk' are not Hollywood movies," Baehr said. "Most of those are made by kids who want to go to the Sundance Film Festival, which is one of the most debauched places on the face of the planet. There's a whole other side of Hollywood, which is the suits behind the scenes. You will find more conservatives and Christians than you expect."


Baehr with actor Michael Clarke Duncan

He said studios lost control of the Academy Awards in 1989. So if moviegoers want to know about family films, they must look to Movieguide.

Baehr now has many relationships with famous Hollywood figures and serves on the board or board of advisers of more than 20 groups, including the National Religious Broadcasters, the American Theater of Actors and the Theological Summit Conference.

He has appeared on major networks and shows such as "Hannity & Colmes," CNN, ABC, Fox News, MSNBC, "Oprah" and "Entertainment Tonight." His commentary pieces have been featured in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post, Time magazine and WorldNetDaily.

'Everything relates to Christ'

On Feb. 11, Movieguide held its 17th Annual Faith & Values Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. The movie "Fireproof" received a $100,000 Epiphany Prize for the Most Inspiring Movie of 2008, sponsored by the John Templeton Foundation.

For television, "The Christmas Choir," a story of homeless men who form a choir, also won an Epiphany Prize. The prizes are awarded to encourage filmmakers and television producers to create movies and television shows that help increase man's understanding and love of God.

Movieguide and the John Templeton Foundation also presented Kairos Prizes at the gala. The top three winners were: "A Matter of Time," "Touched" and "Moody Field."

According to Movieguide, the purpose of the Kairos Award is to "inspire first-time and beginning screenwriters to produce compelling, entertaining, spiritually uplifting scripts that result in a greater increase in man's love or understanding of God."


Baehr family, from left to right: Daughter Evelyn, son Pierce,Ted, wife Lili, son Robby and son James



Because Movieguide is a Christian organization, Baehr said everything relates to Christ and glorifies Him. He said he has felt God's hand in his work since the very beginning.

On numerous occasions, God has protected and provided for the ministry. And after Baehr prayed for His help during tough economic times, anonymous donors delivered six and seven-figure checks to the commission.

"They were not from people I knew," he said. "To this day, I don't know who gave them."

Baehr said his goal is to see the Christian and Television Commission grow beyond movies into television, because many TV shows have morally deteriorated in recent years.

"There's so much work to do. One person said that God never takes you home until you finish your mission," he said. "Well, I figure this mission is so big that I'm going to be doing this for a long time."