Wresting the Scriptures unto Destruction

Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction. (Alma 13:20)

Not everything in the scriptures is easy to understand. The ancient prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, etc. can be difficult and misinterpreting them can be dangerous. Peter warned of the writings of Paul, in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16). Wresting the scriptures unto destruction has become an art form whose master is Satan. He seems to have perfected the technique which is to use "the philosophies of men mingled with scripture."

Webster states that to wrest is to 'turn or twist; to ascribe a wrong meaning or intent to; to deliberately misinterpret or distort.' The Lord warned against wresting the scriptures.

Yea, and I will also bring to light my gospel which was ministered unto them, and, behold, they shall not deny that which you have received, but they shall build it up, and shall bring to light the true points of my doctrine, yea, and the only doctrine which is in me.

And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them. (D&C 10:62-63).

President Joseph Fielding Smith gave the following counsel regarding wresting or misinterpreting the scriptures: 'It is wrong to take one passage of scripture and isolate it from all other teachings dealing with the same subject. We should bring together all that has been said by authority on the question. If we were to make a photograph, it would be necessary for all of your rays of light to be focused properly on the subject. If this were not done then a blurred picture would be the result. This is the case when we try to obtain a mental picture, when we have only a portion of the facts dealing with the subject we are considering.' (DS 2:95.)

The Prophet Joseph Smith gave the key whereby scriptures are to be interpreted: 'What is the rule of interpretation?' he asked. 'Just no interpretation at all. Understand it precisely as it reads. I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable?' (TPJS, p. 276-7)." (Hoyt W. Brewster, Jr., Doctrine and Covenants Encyclopedia, p. 651)

LeGrand Richards also said: "Paul's statement has been very much misunderstood, by both preachers and laity. Preachers have freely taught that salvation might be obtained as by the snap of the fingers, as one prominent minister expressed himself to the writer; that salvation comes through a lip confession of a belief in Christ, even though not accompanied by obedience to his commandments and works of righteousness. Such doctrine is obviously out of harmony with truth.

"It was such interpretations of the scripture that Peter warned against when he said: '. . . which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.' (2 Peter 3:16.)

"Many have thus been led astray and have contented themselves with a lip confession of faith, to their own destruction.

"The enemy of all righteousness could not hope to succeed more effectively in thwarting the purposes of the Master and his gospel than to persuade men that all the blessings the Lord has prepared, through his grace, for his children can be obtained through their lip acknowledgment that he is the Christ." (A Marvelous Work And A Wonder, p. 267)

BitCoin is a trap to roll out a digital New World Order one-world-currency

Facebook Post by Timothy McGaffin II

I hate to be the bearer of bad news guys but I think BitCoin is a trap to roll out a digital New World Order one-world-currency.

You heard it here first.

The powers-that-shouldn't-be want to engineer a collapse of the current unconstitutional fiat currency (monopoly money) and replace it with a cashless society where all transactions are tracked.

The powers-that-shouldn't-be have plans to transition BitCoin (cryptocurrency) into an always tracked currency.

There was an essay written in 1997 by the NSA entitled, "HOW TO MAKE A MINT: THE CRYPTOGRAPHY OF ANONYMOUS ELECTRONIC CASH"

And it further says in the document:

"This research Essay was prepared by NSA employees in furtherance of the study of cryptography."

"The authors are mathematical cryptographers at the National Security Agency's Office of Information Security Research and Technology."

So how would the NSA know about cryptocurrency years before it was ever invented?

You know the NSA don't you? The National Slavery Agency, oh I mean the National "Security" Agency that is so good at preventing terrorist attacks that they haven't managed to prevent a single one. Even though they told us they prevented at least 50 attacks yet never provided any proof.

That's what we like to call "lying". Everything the powers-that shouldn't-be says is the opposite of the truth.

War is Peace.
Freedom is Slavery.
Ignorance is Strength.

So if they say in their document "anonymous" you can bet they have that pesky: 'say the opposite of what you mean disease'

I suggest reading the book "1984" to figure out what's really going on in the world, reading your scriptures, listening to Ron Paul and studying and understanding the U.S. Constitution and the principles of Liberty!

The truth always triumphs in the end.

Is it true that all those who belong to the church will inherit the kingdom of heaven?

Therefore, whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. (D&C 10:55)

Is it true that all those who belong to the church will inherit the kingdom of heaven? Can all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rest assured that they are saved? That doesn't sound right. The reader must remember that the date of the revelation given is the summer of 1828. The church has not even been organized yet. Therefore, the Lord is speaking of his church before it has been established. In verse 67, the Lord explains that the 1828 definition of his church are those who repent and come unto him, "Behold, this is my doctrine-whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church." 

It's interesting that the Lord would define his church outside the confines of an established religious institution. Apparently, having one's name written on the records of the church is not nearly as important as having one's name written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Furthermore, to be a member of the church is not the same as being a member of his church. The promise to those who repent and come unto him is that they "need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven."


Ezra Taft Benson said:

In the usual sense of the term, Church membership means that a person has his or her name officially recorded on the membership records of the Church. By that definition, we have more than six million members of the Church.

But the Lord defines a member of His kingdom in quite a different way. In 1828, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said, "Behold, this is my doctrine-whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church." (D&C 10:67.) To Him whose Church this is, membership involves far more than simply being a member of record. ("A Mighty Change of Heart," Ensign, Oct. 1989, 2)

Specifically, I believe these verses are being fulfilled

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory. 

And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth. 

And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots; and behold, thou seest all these things— 

And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots, which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose founder is the devil, then, at that day, the work of the Father shall commence, in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants, which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel. (1 Nephi 14:14-17)

Specifically, I believe these verses are being fulfilled - they were given to us as a signal to know when the covenants to Israel regarding its gathering is about to take place - not a shadow gathering. The gathering. 

I could be wrong - and part of me certainly hopes I am - but if we are witnessing the unraveling of the mother of abominations as I believe we are, then wars will follow. 

Too many people are waking up to our awful situation - the corrupt mass media is kicking and screaming as more people realize just how horrendously fake the news is. Pedophiles and predators are no longer being hidden according to the oaths and combinations they made ...

https://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=47250&p=824937#p824937

That ye may stand blameless before God at the last day

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.

Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work;

For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul (D&C 4:2-4)

"When we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to the law upon which it is predicated" (D&C 130:21) Accordingly, we are told that whole-hearted, diligent service is rewarded with a clear conscience at the judgment day. Jacob elaborated on this principle as follows:

“We did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day.” (Jacob 1:19)

A similar concept, found in D&C 4:4, states that those engaged in the work, particularly in relation to missionary work, bring salvation to their souls. Apparently, the Lord forgives our sins more readily when we are engaged in proclaiming the gospel. Someone once said, "The best time to die is on your mission." This statement encompasses the principle that missionary work has a sanctifying effect on the missionary, for "whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal" (D&C 98:13).

Why humans will happily follow a ROBOT messiah

An extract from Daily Mail article

Why humans will happily follow a ROBOT messiah: Religions based on AI will succeed because we tend to 'worship supreme understanding', claim experts.

*Same drive that compels people to believe in religions will also work for AI
*People will eventually rely on a 'robot messiah' to solve society's problems
*This is because we 'have a tendency to worship supreme understanding'
*Last month a former Google engineer formed the world's first church to follow an artificially intelligent being

By Harry Pettit For Mailonline

PUBLISHED: 10:45 EST, 11 December 2017 | UPDATED: 10:47 EST, 11 December 2017

A religion based around a robot god will succeed because humans tend to 'worship supreme understanding', experts have claimed.

One researcher has said the same drive that compels people to believe in higher beings and follow religions will also work for so-called AI 'Godheads'.

Others have commented that, like religion, people will eventually rely on a 'robot messiah' to solve society's problems.

Last month, former Uber and Google engineer Anthony Levandowski formed the first church to follow an artificially intelligent being.

A religion based around a robot god will attract followers because humans tend to 'worship supreme understanding', experts have claimed. Others have commented that, like religion, people will eventually rely on AI to solve society's problems

The religion, known as 'Way of the Future', claims our species can better itself by following the instructions of a robot that is 'a billion times smarter than humans'.

Now AI expert and lawyer John Mitchell has said humans have a tendency to 'worship supreme understanding', and that this also applies to AI.

'We [believe] there must be some higher power that causes lightning, sunsets, and crashing waves - or at least speaks to the bottom of our beings, rather than ignore them as ho-hum background,' he told Fox News.

Mr Mitchell said the same thing could happen with AI, adding that robots could help us better understand religion.

Dr Stephen Thaler, President and CEO of Imagination Engines and an AI and consciousness expert, said people will rely on AI to solve society's problems.

'An AI would provide the equivalent of a "messiah" - having many orders of magnitude more processing elements than the brain, enabling it to gift us with solutions to the most daunting social, political, economic, and environmental challenges,' he said.

But if AI develops this level of intelligence, it might choose not to be worshipped, said author and consultant Peter Scott.

'I would expect the AIs that evolve in the next 50 years to be very rational and, if conscious, not want to be worshipped,' he said.

'If they have the human race's best interests at heart (and God help us if they don't) then they would want us to have as much right of self determination as possible.'

The new comments come just a month after Way Of The Future (WOTF) was officially registered as a religion by Anthony Levandowski.

The ex-Google engineer, who first announced plans for the creed in May, says he is 'raising a god' that will that charge of humans.

WOTF will eventually have a gospel called 'The Manual', as well as rituals and even a physical place of worship.

Anthony Levandowski (right) who has registered the first church of AI says he is 'raising a god' that will treat humans as esteemed elders. He is pictured with Uber founder and ex-CEO Travis Kalanick. Levandowski is also currently at the heart of a legal fight between Google and Uber

Levandowski named himself as 'dean' of WOTF, giving him complete control until his death or resignation.

He said his robot god, which will be a 'billion times smarter than humans' will take charge of its subjects, who will relinquish power to a being of higher intelligence.

The filed documents for WOTF give its purpose is to 'develop and promote the realisation of a Godhead based on Artificial Intelligence'.

Workshops and educational programs have already begun in the San Francisco area.

Dr Stephen Thaler, President and CEO of Imagination Engines and an AI and consciousness expert, said people will one day rely on AI to solve society's problems

Levandowski says everything in the church will be open source and members of the church would have special social media accounts.

He has appointed four other people to the Council of Advisers and the listing says each week they will spend a few hours organising workshops and meetings.

In 2017, the Internal Revenue Service listed the religion as having received $20,000 (£15,000) in gifts, $1,500 (£1,100) in membership fees and $20,000 (£15,000) in other revenue.

WOTF has $7,500 (£5,700) put aside for wages, although Levandowski, who earned $120 million (£91 million) from Google, says he will not receive any money.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5167575/Humans-happily-worship-robot-messiah-experts-claim.html

Bitcoin is digital tulip bulb MANIA that will COLLAPSE

The Health Ranger issues a warning:

"As Bitcoin skyrockets past $16,000, I'm issuing a new Bitcoin warning video (see below). Bitcoin speculation has now clearly reached the level of a "digital tulip bulb mania" that's going to end catastrophically. Historians will be writing about the mania (and the madness of crowds) for decades to come, and the Bitcoin collapse will be used by the establishment to discredit decentralized systems, libertarians and certain sectors of the independent media.

"The people who are buying into Bitcoin right now are nothing more than sheep being led to slaughter. (Stay up to date on all this by reading BitRAPED.com.) When this Ponzi scheme collapses, who are they going to blame? People like Max Kaiser, of course, plus other individuals who may even face arrest and prosecution for their involvement in this financial fraud scheme."

I am sure our prophets will and has echoed this. Be careful with "get rich schemes." Especially when you don't have to do anything to get rich.

CIA ISIS THREATENS THE MORMON CHURCH?

Received this email 12/4/17

So the CIA has made a ‘subtle speech’ [witchcraft] (Mormon 1:19; 2:10) threat against the Church – through a CIA outlet. Huh?

Looks like the war, to avenge the Church’s involvement in California’s Proposition 8 (2008) may be underway ‘soon’

The fulfillment of 1st Nephi 14 could be right around the corner

(END OF EMAIL)

When I saw this in my email, I was like, WOW! It totally slipped my mind about the CIA's involvement with ISIS.

The threat confirms my vision that I saw after walking out the Los Angeles Temple last month. I was thinking how easy it was for anyone just to walk in and commit a terrorist attack. And that is when I saw an infiltration by force.

Under Christ A Great Hierarchy Of Judges Will Operate

And I saw the heavens open, and the Lamb of God descending out of heaven; and he came down and showed himself unto them.

And I also saw and bear record that the Holy Ghost fell upon twelve others; and they were ordained of God, and chosen.

And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.

And he said unto me: Thou rememberest the twelve apostles of the Lamb? Behold they are they who shall judge the twelve tribes of Israel; wherefore, the twelve ministers of thy seed shall be judged of them; for ye are of the house of Israel.

And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood. (1 Nephi 12:6-10)

We often imagine that Jesus Christ will be our judge. In John 5:22 we learn that the Father judgeth no man; but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. The Son, however, has committed judgment unto others. The Father delegated the responsibility to the Son, and the Son delegated the responsibility to the twelve apostles and twelve disciples. These 24 men, and others, will judge mankind under the direction of the Savior. This was made clear when the Lord spoke to Peter in Matthew 19:28, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

In Revelation we learn that the books were opened....and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works (Revelation 20:12). The Father is responsible for writing the books, the Savior is responsible for establishing the pattern by which men should be judged, and the Savior's apostles/disciples are the actual judges. This pattern is shown in 3 Nephi 27:25-27. This prompted the counsel to the twelve disciples, Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am. The scriptures are replete with confirmations that this judgment will be just, But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth (Romans 2:2), Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments (Revelation 16:7).


Who else will be a judge?

1) Bishops, stake presidencies, and higher church councils act as judges on matters under their administration (D&C 107:69-80).

2) When missionaries are rejected and perform the ordinance of dusting off their feet, they will act as judges for the people who rejected their message (D&C 75:19-22).

3) The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment against the people who rejected Christ during his ministry because they [the men of Ninevah] repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here (Matthew 12:41). 4) Paul says that the saints will also judge the world, Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (1 Corinthians 6:2)


Bruce R. McConkie said:

"Under Christ a great hierarchy of judges will operate, each functioning in his assigned sphere. John saw many judges sitting upon thrones. (Revelation 20:4.) Paul said the saints would judge both the world and angels. (1 Corinthians 6:2-3.) The elders are to sit in judgment on those who reject them. (D&C 75:21-22; Matthew 10:14-15.) Daniel saw that judgment would be given to the saints. (Daniel 7:22.) The Nephite Twelve will be judged by the Twelve from Jerusalem and then in turn will judge the Nephite nation. (1 Nephi 12:9-10; 3 Nephi 27:27; Mormon 3:19.) And the Twelve who served with our Lord in his ministry shall judge the whole house of Israel. (D&C 29:12.) No doubt there will be many others of many dispensations who will sit in judgment upon the peoples of their days and generations - all judging according to the judgment which Christ shall give them, 'which shall be just.' (3 Nephi 27:27.)" (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:558.)

The Lord Cannot Look Upon Sin With The Least Degree Of Allowance

For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance (D&C 1:31)

"This seems a harsh scripture, for it clearly states that God cannot tolerate sin or sinfulness in any degree. He can't wink at it, or ignore it, or turn and look the other way. He won't sweep it under the rug or say, 'Well, it's just a little sin. It'll be all right.' God's standard, the celestial standard, is absolute, and it allows no exceptions. There is no wiggle room.

"Many people seem to have the idea that the Judgment will somehow involve weighing or balancing, with their good deeds on one side of the scales and their bad deeds on the other. If their good deeds outweigh their bad, or if their hearts are basically good and outweigh their sins, then they can be admitted into the presence of God. This notion is false.

"As Doctrine and Covenants 1:31 and other scriptures illustrate, God cannot, will not, allow moral or ethical imperfection in any degree whatsoever to dwell in his presence. He cannot tolerate sin 'with the least degree of allowance.' It is not a question of whether our good deeds outweigh our sins. If there is even one sin on our record, we are finished. The celestial standard is complete innocence, pure and simple, and nothing less than complete innocence will be tolerated in the kingdom of God.

"...the solution to the Great Dilemma, to the alienation of imperfect humans from their perfect God, is precisely what all the scriptures bear witness of in one way or another. And that solution is called the atonement of Jesus Christ." (Stephen E. Robinson, Believing Christ: The Parable of the Bicycle and Other Good News [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 1-7.)

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith made this comment: "No unrepentant person who remains in his sins will ever enter into the glories of the celestial kingdom." (Improvement Era, July 1955, p. 542.) This statement is consistent with all we read in the scriptures on the subject, which is perhaps summed up in Alma's words: "There can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain." (Alma 5:21.) ("God Will Forgive," Ensign, Mar. 1982, 5)

You must be honest with yourself and remain true to the covenants you have made with God. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you can sin a little and it will not matter. Remember, "the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." (D&C 1:31.) Some young men and women in the Church talk openly about sexual transgression. They seem to forget that the Lord forbids all sexual relations before marriage, including petting, sex perversion of any kind, or preoccupation with sex in thought, speech, or action. Some youth foolishly rationalize that it is "no big deal" to sin now because they can always repent later when they want to go to the temple or on a mission. Anyone who does that is breaking promises made to God both in the premortal life and in the waters of baptism. The idea of sinning a little is self-deception. Sin is sin! Sin weakens you spiritually, and it always places the sinner at eternal risk. Choosing to sin, even with the intent to repent, is simply turning away from God and violating covenants. ("Keeping Covenants," Ensign, May 1993, 7)

Flat Earth Theory Destroyed by Pres Uchtdorf

Honestly, I don't know why people dwell on this flat earth theory.

Let's say it is flat. What do we accomplish? Why would they lie about it? For all I know, they have no idea what it looks like and it's a freaking square. 

All jokes aside.

Joseph Fielding Smith once said: "We will never get a man into space. This earth is man's sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from it. The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your books that this will never happen."

I believe Joseph Fielding Smith was right but because NASA said they did, he took it back. Why? I have no idea. 

Let me begin to say that I know NASA is a liar and a deceiver. I don't trust them one bit. I do not believe we did land on the moon. I don't believe it is possible unless God allows it but that's another subject. 

I wonder how many people realized what Pres Uchtdorf said in the October general conference in his talk "Bearers of Heavenly Light" when he stated: "the earth will continue to rotate" https://www.lds.org/general-conference/ ... t?lang=eng

We can sit here and debate this all day and night but it seems to me that people literally spend many hours/days/months and years debating over something that truly doesn't matter. The only thing we can agree on is that NASA is a liar. That is it. That being said, I refuse to waste any more time in trying to prove that the earth is round.

DREAM: Thomas S. Monson

I had an interesting dream I would like to share with you.

What Was The Great And Terrible Gulf In Lehi’s Dream?

And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. And a great and a terrible gulf divideth them; yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God, and the Messiah who is the Lamb of God, of whom the Holy Ghost beareth record, from the beginning of the world until this time, and from this time henceforth and forever. (1 Nephi 12:18)

The justice of God cannot allow the wicked and righteous to receive the same reward. This seems simple enough, however Alma's son Corianton had trouble with this concept, 'I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand - which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery' (Alma 42:1). Alma goes on to show his son that it is injustice if the sinner is not punished, 'What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?...whosoever will come [unto God] may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. If he has desired to do evil and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God' (Alma 42:25-28).

The D&C teaches that the individual must be able to abide the law of the kingdom he/she enters, 'For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory' (D&C 88:22). A corollary to this principle is taught by Moroni, 'Do ye suppose that ye could be happy to dwell with that holy Being, when your souls are racked with a consciousness of guilt that ye have ever abused his laws? Behold, I say unto you that ye would be more miserable to dwell with a holy and just God, under a consciousness of your filthiness before him, than ye would to dwell with the damned souls in hell' (Mormon 9:3-4).

Therefore, the justice of God is actually merciful in requiring that the righteous and wicked be separated. In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, this same gulf is described separating those in Spirit Prison from those in Spirit Paradise, 'between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence' (Luke 16:26).

Hugh Nibley
"...'a great and terrible gulf divideth them.' There it is again. It is a figure of speech, an image. Nothing could better describe it; there is a great and terrible gulf between two different ways of living. There is nothing in common between them at all. You can't breach it...." (Teachings of the Book of Mormon--Semester 1: Transcripts of Lectures Presented to an Honors Book of Mormon Class at Brigham Young University, 1988-1990, p. 195)

Prophetic Warnings

More than ever before, we need to learn and apply the principles of economic self-reliance. We do not know when the crisis involving sickness or unemployment may affect our own circumstances. We do know that the Lord has decreed global calamities for the future and has warned and forewarned us to be prepared.” (President Ezra Taft Benson)

Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them. Those who smugly think these calamities will not happen, that they somehow will be set aside because of the righteousness of the Saints, are deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. (President Ezra Taft Benson)

When will all these calamities strike? We do not know the exact time, but it appears it may be in the not-too-distant future. Those who are prepared now have the continuing blessings of early obedience, and they are ready. Noah built his ark before the flood came, and he and his family survived. Those who waited to act until after the flood began were too late. Let us not be dissuaded from preparing because of a seeming prosperity today, or a so-called peace.” (President Ezra Taft Benson)

For the righteous, the gospel provides a warning before a calamity, a program for the crises, a refuge for each disaster. …The Lord has warned us of famines, but the righteous will have listened to prophets and stored at least a year’s supply of survival food.” (President Ezra Taft Benson)

My brothers and sisters, I feel our anxieties are justified. It is the opinion of many that more difficult times lie ahead. We are deeply concerned about the welfare of our people and recognize the potential privation and suffering that will exist if each person and family does not accept the word of the Lord when he says, “Prepare every needful thing” (D&C 88:119) (Victor L. Brown)

There are some who feel that they are secure as long as they have funds to purchase food. Money is not food. If there is no food in the stores or in the warehouses, you cannot sustain life with money. Both President Romney and President Clark have warned us that we will yet live on what we produce. (J. Richard Clarke)

When we really get into hard times, where food is scarce or there is none at all, and so with clothing and shelter, money may be no good for there may be nothing to buy, and you cannot eat money, you cannot get enough of it together to burn to keep warm, and you cannot wear it.” (J. Richard Clarke)

Let us become efficient in our production operations so that we don’t merely go through the motions of having welfare farms. The time will come when we will need all the products and more from our projects—even more than we do now.” (President Spencer W. Kimball)

The day will come, when, as we have been told, we shall all see the necessity of making our own shoes and clothing and raising our own food.” (President Wilford Woodruff)

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.” (President Ezra Taft Benson)

It is by the Prayers of the Righteous that YE ARE SPARED

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. (Alma 10:22-23)

The most famous relevant story comes from Genesis, when the prophet Abraham bargains with the Lord on how many righteous individuals it takes to offer protection to the wicked city of Sodom.

'And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

...Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.

And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.' (Genesis 18:23-32)

Apparently, the Lord will preserve a city if there are but ten righteous individuals. In Ammonihah, there were a lot more than ten. However, these were soon killed (Alma 14:8) - leaving only the wicked. When that happens, as with Sodom, the people are visited with utter destruction.

The same principle applies to the preservation of every nation on earth, including the United States.

Spencer W. Kimball
"Our world is now much the same as it was in the days of the Nephites prophet who said: '...if it were not for the prayers of the righteous...ye would even now be visited with utter destruction' (Alma 10:22). There are many upright and faithful who live all the commandments and whose lives and prayers keep the world from destruction." 

(Ensign, June 1971, p. 16 as taken from Latter-day Commentary on the Book of Mormon compiled by K. Douglas Bassett, p. 262)

For I was called many times and I would not hear

And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me; yea, and behold, I have many kindreds and friends, and I have also acquired much riches by the hand of my industry.

Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord, and his mysteries and marvelous power. I said I never had known much of these things; but behold, I mistake, for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power; yea, even in the preservation of the lives of this people.

Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges. (Alma 10:4-6)

Hugh Nibley
"(speaking of Amulek) A model citizen, hardworking, rich, well-born, immensely respectable: 'And behold, I am also a man of no small reputation among all those who know me' (Alma 10:4). But to get rich this man could not neglect his business; he was contracted to Mammon instead of God: 'Nevertheless, after all this, I never have known much of the ways of the Lord,' even though he had the best opportunity to know them, 'for I have seen much of his mysteries and his marvelous power. . . . Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear. . . . I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God, in the wickedness of my heart' (Alma 10:5-6). That went on until an angel stopped him (Alma 10:7). Being thus admonished, Amulek forsook 'all his gold, and silver, and his precious things which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God' (Alma 15:16). It had to be one or the other. But all was not lost, you might say, he still had his old friends and admirers and loved ones. Please let us not underestimate the power of money. Having lost his fortune, he was promptly 'rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred' (Alma 15:16)." (The Prophetic Book of Mormon, p. 562)

The voice of the Lord calls to us regularly. It is not wickedness or carnality alone which keep us from feeling and hearing the word; it is preoccupation. We need not be guilty of gross sin to be unready for the impressions of the Spirit; we need only have our minds and hearts focused upon other things, to be so involved in the thick of thin things that we are not taking the time to ponder or meditate upon matters of substance. Excessive labor in secondary causes leads to a lessening of spiritual opportunities. President Ezra Taft Benson told the following story, which highlights the need for being attentive and open to heavenly guidance:

'Bishop John Wells, a former member of the Presiding Bishopric, was a great detail man and was responsible for many Church reports. President David O. McKay and President Harold B.Lee used to relate an experience from his life that is instructive to all of us.

'A son of Bishop and Sister Wells was killed in a railroad accident in Emigration Canyon, east of Salt Lake City. He was run over by a freight car. Sister Wells could not be consoled. She received no comfort during the funeral and continued her mourning after her son was laid to rest. Bishop Wells feared for her health, as she was in a state of deep anguish.

'One day, soon after the funeral, Sister Wells was lying on her bed in a state of mourning. The son appeared to her and said, 'Mother, do not mourn, do not cry. I am all right.' He then related to her how the accident took place. Apparently there had been some question-even suspicion-about the accident, because the young man was an experienced railroad man. But he told his mother that it was clearly an accident.

'He told her that as soon as he realized that he was in another sphere, he had tried to reach his father but could not. His father was so busy with the details of his office and work that he could not respond to the promptings. Therefore, the son had come to his mother. He then said, 'Tell Father that all is well with me, and I want you not to mourn anymore.'

President McKay used this experience to teach that we must always be responsive to the whisperings of the Spirit. These promptings come most often when we are not under the pressure of appointments and when we are not caught up in the worries of day-to-day life. (Come unto Christ, p. 18.)"

(McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 3, pp. 68-69)

Their Iniquities Shall be Spoken Upon the Housetops

Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together.

For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men, and there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.

And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed. (D&C 1:1-3)

There will come a day when all things will be revealed. That includes all of our weaknesses and secret indiscretions. What a horrifying thought-not just for the rebellious but for the faithful as well! The only way to protect ourselves from this ignominious day is to repent of every single one of our sins.

Spencer W. Kimball
My young folks, since the Lord said, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48), it would be well if all of us would take frequent inventory to see if hidden away under the rugs and in the corners of our lives there might be some vestige of hypocrisy and ugliness or error. Or could there be hidden under the blankets of personal excuse and rationalization some small eccentricities and dishonesties? Are there any cobwebs in ceilings and corners which we think will not be noticed? Are we trying to cover up the small pettinesses and the small gratifications we secretly allow ourselves-rationalizing the while that they are insignificant and inconsequential? Are there areas in our thoughts and actions and attitudes which we would like to hide from those we respect most? Are we certain that all of our innermost secrets are kept confidential? The Lord revealed in 1831, "The rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed." (D&C 1:3)

Would a frequent house cleaning be in order for all of us? (Elder Spencer W. Kimball, February 25, 1964, BYU Speeches of the Year, 1964, p. 21)

I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?

I say unto you, can ye think of being saved when you have yielded yourselves to become subjects to the devil?

I say unto you, ye will know at that day that ye cannot be saved; for there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?

Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, yea, and also that ye are guilty of all manner of wickedness?

Behold, my brethren, do ye suppose that such an one can have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white?

I say unto you, Nay; except ye make our Creator a liar from the beginning, or suppose that he is a liar from the beginning, ye cannot suppose that such can have place in the kingdom of heaven; but they shall be cast out for they are the children of the kingdom of the devil.

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life. (Alma 5:19-28)

While the wicked go on in life violating the laws of God, they think little of what they are doing. That will change on the great day of judgment. All of a sudden, all of us, wicked or not, will be forced to reckon with ourselves and our own rebellion. The most frightening thing of all is that we will no longer be able to hide behind the protective bliss of a forgetful memory. Rather, every petty act, idle word, and indecent thought will be flooded into our otherwise forgetful minds only to pain us with the reality of our own unworthiness.

Sterling W. Sill
"That calls for an important ability (to imagine Judgment Day), and the best way to avoid possible tragedy is to focus our imagination upon [Judgment] Day before we actually get there. We can be absolutely certain that we will all want to be a faithful, devoted, hard-working, enthusiastic full tithe-paying member of God's kingdom when we stand before the judgment bar. But we must get the impulse to faithfulness ahead of time; as someone has said that hell is 'truth seen too late.'" (Conference Report, Apr. 1964, p. 16)

AT THAT DAY WHEN THE GENTILES SHALL SIN AGAINST MY GOSPEL

An email sent to me on October 4, 2017

So what is this great ‘sin’ – that only a people who have received God the Father’s ‘gospel’, by covenant, could truly ‘sin against’ – according to the Book of Mormon?

When the ‘Gentiles’ ‘sin against God the Father’s gospel (3 Nephi 16:10), by ‘administering that which is sacred unto him to whom it is forbidden because of unworthiness’ (4 Nephi 1:27), which will be ‘a sin to be even as Sodom’ (2 Nephi 13:9), then our Father in Heaven will remove His Gospel (and the authority to administer it) from those ‘who are identified with the Gentiles’ (D&C 109:60)

It will be the time when the Lord ‘takes away’ the ‘whole staff of bread’ and the ‘whole stay of water’, or the weekly sacrament ordinance, from His consecrated buildings (2 Nephi 13:1) – which Elder David A. Bednar prophetically warned numerous Stake Conferences about in 2015:

‘When the Nigerian government outlawed the Church, for a time, the faithful Saints, who were banned from meeting in the Lord’s consecrated buildings, conducted their sacrament meetings under a mango tree. And the work of the Lord was carried on... I fear that when a similar day comes to North America, the members of the Church in the United States and Canada will not make such an easy transition.’

It is the time when the Lord told Isaiah He will ‘cut off from Israel or His Church head and tail, branch and rush in one day’ (2 Nephi 19:14)

It is the time that the Lord prophesied He will (temporarily) forsake His Latter Day Church:

(3 Nephi 22:6-8)

6 For the Lord hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.

8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

(Note: In the Joseph Smith Translation of Revelation 12 verse 7, the ‘woman’ is the ‘church of God’ – which, in Mormon chapter 8, is the ‘holy church of God’ that Moroni prophetically warned will become ‘polluted’ by Latter Day ‘hypocrites and pollutions’)

(Mormon 8:38)

38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies--because of the praise of the world?

It is the time when the Savior will (temporarily) put the Church – His ‘wife’ (Ezekiel 16), who is our ‘mother’ (as we receive the Savior’s Gospel and Gospel ordinances from His Church) – ‘away’ for a time:

(2 Nephi 7:1)

1 Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

It is the coming long prophesied Latter Day period when the angel of the Lord revealed to the prophet Daniel, in vision, that the membership of the Church, and the Holy Temple(s) of God, would be (temporarily) confiscated by the wicked – for ‘two thousand and three hundred days’ (or approximately 6 years and 4 months):

(Daniel 8:13-14)

13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot?

14 And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

This coming sobering time is the period when President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s parable, ‘A Summer With Great Aunt Rose’, will be fulfilled:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/a-summer-with-great-aunt-rose?lang=eng

That is the parable where young ‘Eva’ (a faithful remnant of the ‘Saints of the Lamb’ and the ‘covenant people of the Lord’ in a day to come (1 Nephi 14:14), who will be the ‘escaped of Israel’ (2 Nephi 14:2), or the ‘escaped of the house of Jacob’ (2 Nephi 20:20), will be carried out into the ‘wilderness’ (JST-Revelation 12:14) – after her ‘mother’ (the Church (2 Nephi 7:1) undergoes ‘unexpected’ critical ‘surgery’ to save her life (the surgical removal and binding of the ‘tares’ [or false secret combination counterfeit members of the Church in our midst and those who will follow them (Helaman 6:38)] after the ‘wheat’ [the members of the Church who remain faithful – with their hands on the ‘iron rod’ (1 Nephi 11:25)] or ‘Eva’ in the parable, are ‘separated’ [out into the ‘wilderness’] (D&C 86:1-7)) – while ‘Eva’(s) ‘Father’ (the Lord Jesus Christ), who will take ‘Eva’ (the faithful Saints) out with her ‘never married’ ‘Great Aunt Rose’ (who represents the previous gospel dispensations – or the prophets and covenant people of the Lord, and their recorded scriptures, from past gospel dispensations – who, themselves, never established Zion) ‘countryside home’ (or the scriptural ‘wilderness’ (JST-Revelation 12:14) for the ‘escaped of Israel’ (2 Nephi 14:2))... This same ‘Father’ (the Savior) both checks in on and even comes out to check on ‘Eva’, while He mostly attends to ‘Eva(s)’ ‘mother’ – during her life-saving ‘surgery’ (which will be the cleansing of the Lord’s house’):

(D&C 50:4-9)

4 Behold, I, the Lord, have looked upon you, and have seen abominations in the church that profess my name.

5 But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life.

6 But wo unto them that are deceivers and hypocrites, for, thus saith the Lord, I will bring them to judgment.

7 Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;

8 But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world.

9 Wherefore, let every man beware lest he do that which is not in truth and righteousness before me.

(D&C 64:37-40)

37 Behold, I, the Lord, have made my church in these last days like unto a judge sitting on a hill, or in a high place, to judge the nations.

38 For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall judge all things pertaining to Zion.

39 And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they who are not apostles and prophets shall be known.

40 And even the bishop, who is a judge, and his counselors, if they are not faithful in their stewardships shall be condemned, and others shall be planted in their stead.

(D&C 112:23-26)

23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face.

24 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.

25 And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;

26 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.