Are We Fully Prepared

Are We Fully Prepared?
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. (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Oct 1987)
The Coming Crisis There will be no neutrals in the approaching controversy.One far greater than any Pope or Prelate is soon to be revealed, and He will claim to be worshiped as God. And the elect will barely escape the power of his sorceries, enchantments, and miracles...Oh man, you cannot be neutral.Those who take refuge in the name of the Lord and in immediate revelation from heaven, will be safe, and no others. He that is not for God and the principle of immediate revelation, will inevitably be ensnared, overcome, and destroyed. Because he that is not for Him must be against Him. (Millennial Star, 15:273-76) President Wilford Woodruff and the Prophet Joseph Smith declared that it was their duty and should be the duty of every righteous man to raise the warning voice and proclaim the fact that these calamities are at our doors, and I have been condemned because I have done that. (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Signs of the Times, pp. 124-137) ELDERS TO WARN OF FINAL WARS. Much more could be written in detail regarding these conflicts, but is it not the duty of the elders of Israel to speak of these things with a warning voice? Shall we close our eyes and our ears and seal our understandings simply because some things are unpleasant to the ear and to the eye? Shall we refuse to raise a warning voice when danger approaches, when trouble is near, when destruction is at our door? Such a course would be cowardly if we know the truth. We cannot cry all is well when danger lurks on every side. We must not lull the people to sleep in a false security. President Woodruff declared that no man that is inspired by the Spirit and power of God can close his ears, his eyes, or his lips to these things! And it is for us, Latterday Saints, to understand the position we occupy (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p.48) Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Churchand the need for that cleansing seems to be increasinga famine in this land of one years 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. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, P. 265) [Pres. Benson considers members without a years supply of food to be slothful members] He that watches not for me shall be cut off. (D&C 45:44) Oct. 19987 years of Plenty begin I wish to speak to you about temporal matters. As a backdrop for what I wish to say, I read to you a few verses from the 41st chapter of Genesis. Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, dreamed dreams which greatly troubled him. . . . And I saw in my dream . . . seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: . . . (Josephs interpretation) Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine. . . And god will shortly bring it to pass. (Gen. 41:20, 26, 30, 32) Now, brethren, . . . I am not predicting years of famine in the future. But I am suggesting that the time has come to get our houses in order. . . . There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heedThats all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable (President Hinckley, Conference 1998, Priesthood Session.) Oct. 20057 years of Lean begin Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn and the blasted ears, the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity. (President Hinckley, October Conference, 2005.) Admonition to LDS Members
It was not because of Rain but because of Obedience that Noah build the ark.
Page 1
2/t/jjjj

It is not the Lords intention to do for the Saints what they can do for themselves. All the tribulation attendant to the Second Coming of the Savior cannot and will not be modified to meet the needs of a people adequately warned but who refuse, or otherwise fail, to prepare.
In the November, 2005 multi-regional conference, held in the Convention Center, Elder Ballard told the Saints along the Wasatch Front to Get out of debt, and get out of debt NOW. He also said that If you do not have a years supply of food, it may almost be too late. Put away a 1 year supply of food We encourage families to have on hand this years supply; and we say it over and over and over and repeat over and over the scripture of the Lord where he says, Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46) How empty it is as they put their spirituality, so-called, into action and call him by his important names, but fail to do the things which he says. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 375) I remember when the sisters used to say, Well, but we could buy it at the store a lot cheaper than we can put it up. But that isnt quite the answerBecause there will come a time when there isnt a store. (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Oct 1980) Now dont think of storing all that you are accustomed to having. But store enough of what would keep you alive if you didnt have anything else to eat [Wheat, honey, powdered milk, salt]. Think of storing that for a years supply. (Harold B. Lee, Dec. 13, 1973, his last public address) 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, Conference Report, Oct. 1980) There are many very good people who keep most of the Lords commandments with respect to the virtuous side of life, but who overlook His commandments in temporal things. They do not heed His warning to prepare for a possible future emergency, apparently feeling that in the midst of all this trouble it wont happen to us. (Mark E. Peterson, Conference Report, April 1981) Too often we bask in 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 happenare deceived and will rue the day they harbored such a delusion. (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, Oct. 1980) And then I hear them argue, Well, suppose we do put away a lot and then someone comes and takes it from us, our neighbors who do not believe. Thats been answered this morning. And so my feeling is today that we emphasize these two scriptures. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven (Matt. 7:21) And the other: Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Luke 6:46) (Spencer W. Kimball, April 1976 General Conference) Judgments will start with the Saints 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; D&C 112:23-24
Should the Lord decide at this time to cleanse the Churchand the need for that cleansing seems to be increasinga famine in this land of one years 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. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, P. 265)
Page 2
2/t/jjjj

There will not many calamities come upon the nations of the earth, until this people first feel their effects, and when hard times commence, they will begin at the house of God, and if there is any house of God on the earth where is it? It is here, is it not? (Heber C. Kimball, JD 3:227; Deseret News, March 2, 1856) So in these days when judgments come, they will begin among his Saints, and those who have not attended to the word of wisdom and the laws of life that he has pointed out and have no claim to mercy and favor, God is no respecter of persons. They who have great light and yet sin will endure tribulations and indignation from his hand unless they repent. Amen, (JD 15:341 People will be indifferent to counsel of the Church Great beautiful homes covered the city, and he said that the city was extended almost to the point-ofthe-mountain (south of the state prison). The people had become indifferent to the counsel and advice of the authorities of the Church, and were more interested in the accumulation of wealth than they were in living their religion, and at this time there began to be war and bloodshed. (John Taylor Vision, while staying with the Lunt family in Cedar City, from the Lundwall Rare Manuscript File, Microfilm Roll 2) [Bishop Vaughn J. Featherstone] spoke on food storage and the concern the General Authorities have concerning those church members who wont heed the counsel of the leaders on this subject. (Church News, April 3, 1976, p. 9) Our Army will be in foreign lands The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, Lets divide up the lands of the United States. (Prophecy by Joseph Smith, Mosiah Hancock Journal, pp. 19-20) Church will quietly and quickly prepare Places of Refuge -- Happening right now Fear shall come upon all people. But you and I know that the Lord has prepared places of safety to which He is eager to guide us. I think of that often. . . .The Lord is anxious to lead us to the safety of higher ground, away from the path of physical and spiritual danger. His upward path will require us to climb. (Elder Henry B. Eyring, BYU-Idaho Devotional, January 25, 2005) I saw high officials in council, and under inspired guidance, issue instructions to your people to reconsecrate their lives and energies to their faith, to voluntarily discipline themselves by abstaining from all those forms of indulgence which weaken the body, sap the mentality, and deaden the spirit, or waste their incomes. I saw further on, instructions given whereby the places of refuge were prepared quietly but efficiently by inspired Elders.I saw the territory carefully surveyed and mapped out for the camping of a great body of people of the Church. I saw these things going on practically unknown to the Gentile world.All this was going on, piece by piece, as the Elders were instructed, for the refuge of Zion. I saw a liquidation of properties and effects disposed of quietly but quickly, by members of the Church as the spiritual influences directed them. (Sola Cuardisto, a Quaker at the time, Vision which occurred as she toured the Cardston Temple in the Winter of 1921. As she toured with the Temple President a second time, the same vision came again. She wrote this vision down and gave it to Temple President Edward J. Wood, who confirmed the vision.) Members should prepare so that our flight is not made in haste Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily, thus saith the Lord, let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goeth, let him not look back lest sudden destruction shall come upon him (D&C 133:14-15)
Page 3
2/t/jjjj

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 wellbefore the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all Gods 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. (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1948) Prepare while we still have the means to prepare These man-made money busters have been scheduled every seven to ten years for the past two centuries. People used to think these were unavoidable. Economic cycles, they called them. Then Dr. Milton Friedman found out they were money-manager cycles. The money supply is expanded which means easy creditand then the signal goes out for a contractionand that means depression, bankruptcy, unemployment, foreclosures on homes and farms, a stock market crash and a lot of broken hearts So with the money managers standing in the wings ready to bring down the curtain and call for another crunch, you need to get ready. Get out of debt. (W. Cleon Skousen, The Constitution) Members will be invited to come to Places of Refuge for a year. Can we survive, over a winter, without a Years Supply of Food? 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; (D&C 63:54) . . . 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. (Alma 26:5-7.) The end of the world is the destruction of the wicked, the harvest and the end of the world have an allusion directly to the human family in the last days, instead of the earth, . . . and the angels are to have something to do in this great work, for they are the reapers. . . We understand that the work of gathering together of the wheat into the barns, or garners, is to take place while the tares are being bound over, and preparing for the day of burning; (Joseph Smith, Teachings, pp. 100-101.) For behold, the Lord has led away from time to time from the house of Israel, according to his will and pleasure. (2 Nephi 10:22) 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. (Jacob 3:4) Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations; And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth. (D&C 115:5-6) In addition to all temporal blessings, there is no other way for the Saints to be saved in these last days, than by gathering. . .It is also the concurrent testimony of all the prophets, that this gathering together of
Page 4
2/t/jjjj

all the Saints, must take place before the Lord comes to take vengeance upon the ungodly, and to be glorified and admired by all those who obey the Gospel. (Joseph Smith, DHC 4:272, January 8, 1841) The destroying angel willexercise his tremendous mission upon the children of disobedience; and destroy the workers of iniquity, while the Saints will be gathered out from among them. (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 92) 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 wellbefore the frightening events concerning the fulfillment of all Gods 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. (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1948) If we thought deeply about the events of the centennial year, perhaps we were stirred by the realization that we were but commemorating, the operation of a principle that is as old as the human family, a principle which has been invoked by the command of the Lord in every gospel dispensation. I refer to the principle of gathering. (Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1948) He [Joseph Smith] was a Prophet of God, and they [our nation] cannot help themselves. They slew him, and that nation has got to smart for it, and it will be as much as the Saints can do to gather out of it. If they stay there, they will not gather from there; it is necessary to gather the wheat, and put it into the barn; if it is left out, the storms will come and actually waste or destroy it. (Heber C. Kimball, JD 8:143. 1860) Fear shall come upon all people. But you and I know that the Lord has prepared places of safety to which He is eager to guide us. I think of that often. . . .The Lord is anxious to lead us to the safety of higher ground, away from the path of physical and spiritual danger. His upward path will require us to climb. (Elder Henry B. Eyring, BYU-Idaho Devotional, January 25, 2005) World conditions, already bad and getting worse, will become like the days of Noahfilled with violence, corruption and natural disasters (see Genesis 6:11, 13). But, as is always the case, the Lord provided a means of escape for the righteous . . . (see Genesis 6:18; 7:1). . . . We must both learn what these signs are and then identify them correctly when they occur. They can and will strengthen our faith in Christ and His prophets, if we know the scriptures. Just as in the days of Noah, a way is already prepared for the escape of the Lords elect Latter-day Saints, if they are in tune with His prophets: . . . (Elder H. Aldridge Gillespie, Second Quorum of Seventy, LDS Business College Devotional, February 9, 2005) I promise you tonight in the name of the Lord whose servant I am that God will always protect and care for his people. . . .The Lord has power over his Saints and will always prepare places of peace, defense, and safety for his people. . . . But if our faith and hope is anchored in Christ, and in his teachings, commandments, and promises, then we are able to count on something truly remarkable, genuinely miraculous, that can part the Red Sea and lead modern Israel to a place where none shall come to hurt or make afraid. Are we prepared to surrender to Gods commandments? (Howard W. Hunter, An Anchor to the Souls of Men, BYU Fireside, Feb 7, 1993) In this dispensation there is a principle or commandment peculiar to it. What is that? It is the gathering of the people to one place. The gathering of this people is as necessary to be observed by believers, as faith, repentance, baptism, or any other ordinance. It is an essential part of the Gospel of this
Page 5
2/t/jjjj

dispensation, as much so as the necessity of building an ark by Noah for his deliverance, was a part of the Gospel in his dispensation. Then the world was destroyed by a flood, now it is to be destroyed by war, pestilence, famine, earthquakes, storms, and tempests, the sea rolling beyond its bounds, malarious vapors, vermin, disease, and by fire and the lightnings of Gods wrath poured out for destruction upon Babylon. (Joseph F. Smith, JD, Vol. 19, p. 192, Sept. 30, 1877)
Page 6
2/t/jjjj

Are We Fully Prepared

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Оригинальное название

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Are We Fully Prepared

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Are We Fully Prepared?