Saturday, December 24, 2011


SOME NOTES ON OUR TIMES

And that every man should take righteousness in his hands and faithfulness upon his loins,
and lift a warning voice unto the inhabitants of the earth; and declare both by word and by
flight that desolation shall come upon the wicked.  Doctrine & Covenants 63:37

Pres Hinckley read D&C 43:17 – 35 to the general authorities in February of 2004.

A local Area 70 returned from general authority training and told of the discussions among the brethren of the nearness of the Second Coming.  Speaking of things which are to come to pass, the brethren noted that as far as the prophecies are concerned, “All the boxes have been checked.”

Suppose the forces of evil reach their zenith in the next year or two.

Suppose the monetary systems in the world collapse in the next year or two – that we all go the way of Greece and Italy. 

Suppose social and economic chaos results.

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear. (D&C 38:30)

Why not fear?  Because when the Savior comes he will heal the earth, it will be spiritually reborn and all evil will be done away.  It will indeed be a paradise! (See Article of Faith #10.)

Make no mistake, the time are perilous.  There are some interesting scriptures which outline the social, spiritual and economic conditions before the savior’s first coming.  The revelations outline similar circumstances for His second coming.

We each need to look into ourselves and ask “Am I prepared?”  Imagine the Savior appearing to the world – would you run out to meet him?  Would you hide in the closet?  When the disasters hit the Nephite world at the time of the Savior’s death and they were enshrouded in thick impenetrable darkness for three days (i.e., the Spirit, the Light of the World, was withdrawn) and they lamented mightily having put off their repentance, both of attitude and deed. (3 Ne 8:23-25)

In our times the prophets have given great warnings.  I think none so vivid and chilling as a message from the First Presidency, read in conference By David O. McKay in 1942. 

No Heart He Would Not Break
David O. McKay, General Conference Report, October 1942, p. 13

These days through which we are now passing present many problems which are new to all of us but are particularly strange to the younger generation -- those who have little background of experience and whose knowledge is limited and immature. Infidelity, atheism, unchastity, intemperance, civil corruption, greed, avarice, ambition -- personal, political, national -- are more powerful today than at any other time in the lives of us now living. They are pulling and thrusting us almost at will into new fields of action, new lines of thought. They are shaking the faith, undermining the morals, polluting the lives of the people. They have thrown many so far off balance in all of their activities, economic, social, political, and religious, that they stand in real danger of falling. Satan is making war against all the wisdom that has come to men through their ages of experience. He is seeking to overturn and destroy the very foundations upon which society, government, and religion rest. He aims to have men adopt theories and practices which he induced their forefathers, over the ages, to adopt and try, only to be discarded by them when found unsound, impractical, and ruinous. He plans to destroy liberty and freedom -- economic, political, and religious, and to set up in place thereof the greatest, most widespread, and most complete tyranny that has ever oppressed men. He is working under such perfect disguise that many do not recognize either him or his methods. There is no crime he would not commit, no debauchery he would not set up, no plague he would not send, no heart he would not break, no life he would not take, no soul he would not destroy. He comes as a thief in the night; he is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Without their knowing it, the people are being urged down paths that lead only to destruction. Satan never before had so firm a grip on this generation as he has now.


So, each of you face the reality of a wicked world, where Satan has convinced many that the things which are wrong are, in reality, right.  And vice versa, Satan has convinced many that truth is error.  Much of it is just Korihor revisited.  After telling the people that the traditions of their fathers, their religion, was a product of a frenzied mind and designed to put them in bondage, he said preached that there was no such thing as sin, that “Every man fared according to the management of the creature . . . and whatsoever a man did was no crime.”  He later admitted the devil had taught him these things and sent him out to teach others, which he did because these things are “Pleasing to the carnal mind.”

“And I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.” (See Alma 30)

President Heber C. Kimball was well known throughout the church for his gift of prophecy.  He was bold and humble, but he spoke the truth by the spirit.  He warned the church in the 1800’s that they would face some fearsome trials.  His words were fulfilled.  Yet today they sound equally as important and ever more relevant. They are words for us today.

The time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Look out for the great sieve, for there will come a great sifting time and many will fall. For I say unto you there is a test, there is a test. There is a test coming and who will be able to stand?  You imagine that you what would have stood by the Prophet Joseph Smith, for many have said they would have liked to have been associated with him. If you would have stood by him when persecution raged and he was assailed by foes within and without, you would have defended him and been true to him in the [mi[d]st of every trial. You think you would have been delighted to have shown your integrity in the days of mobs and traitors. Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his way. This Church has before it many close places through which you will have to pass, before the work of God is crowned with victory.    

To meet the difficulties that are coming it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of the work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not until you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself.     (See The Life of Heber C. Kimball by Orson F. Whitney, pp. 449-450.)

Many of us will live to see the day when these prophesies and pronouncements will be fulfilled so clearly that each of us will recognize it.  We will say, “the prophets were right!”  Indeed, it may be on our very doorstep!

What are we to do?  Each of us needs to look within himself or herself and assess where we are. 
Are we moving toward the light?  Do we stand for truth and righteousness?  Are we willing to do what the Lord desires of us? [And he only desires for us what we would want for ourselves if we had a perfect knowledge of things.] We know enough, however, to live by faith and understand that the Lord has done all things, from the creation to the atonement to the restoration, so we could live with Him again in His kind of life!!!  I testify of this to each of you!!!  Soften your hearts and be believing and obedient and you shall receive the greatest of the gifts of God!

One of my favorite songs is to hear the children sing:

            I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
            I KNOW WHO I AM.  I know God’s plan.
            I’ll follow Him in faith.
            I believe in the Savior Jesus Christ.  I’ll honor His name.
            I’ll do what is right; I’ll follow His light.
            His truth I will proclaim.  (Children’s Songbook, 77.)

You know who you are.  Most don’t.  Remember who you are and remember your destiny and the blessing of the covenant under which you were born.

Parents, please have a Family Home Evening on this topic as a start to the new year.

At the end of his life, Lehi he called his children and grandchildren around him.  He gave them encouragement and instruction as well as blessings.  His heart was very tender toward them and he pled with them: “Remember the words of thy dying Father.”  I feel the same urgency to tell you all these things in love and pray they will go deep into your hearts.