6/23/2017 - Section 45:7-34

June 23, 2017

Section 45:7-34

Earth’s Time, Lord’s Time, Gospel is Preparer For Us, End of the World, Last Days, Scripture’s Love and Prophecies, Peace VS Turmoil, Agency,

This has to do with yesterday’s reading and I wanted to keep it as a reference to ‘time’: p 92 “Three scriptures contribute to an understanding of this phrase. Modern revelation states that the earth’s temporal history spans seven thousand years, divided into periods of one thousand years each (see D&C 77:6-7). Peter and Abraham taught that time on earth, compared to the time where God dwells, is at a ratio of a thousand of earth’s years to one day of God’s time (see 2 Peter 3:8); Abraham 3:4). Since the earth will have a temporal existence before it is celestialized, and since it is known that the earth is now in the sixth period of a thousand years, or the period is ‘today’ and Christ will come ‘tomorrow’. In a later revelation, the Lord used this same terminology, indicting that “now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man,” that “after today cometh the burning,” that “tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly, shall be as stubble” (D&C 64:23-24)

Now on to today’s reading. V 9 tells us why we have the gospel: it is to be a preparer for us: “…I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me.”

Christ told the saints of the restoration the same things He told his apostles when he was on earth and they didn’t understand His words as He spoke of the ‘end of the world’ and ‘ the heavens and the earth shall pass away’ (v 22). Elder Bruce R McConkie explained the way this phrase is used in the scriptures: “The end of the world is the end of unrighteousness or of worldliness as we know it, and this will be brought about by ‘the destruction of the wicked.’ [JS—M] 1:4) Then our world ends and the millennial era begins, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Isa 65:17-25; D&C 101:23-24) Lust, carnality, and sensuousness of every sort will cease, for it will be the end of the world.” (Mormon Doctrine, p848)

Christ speaks of the time prior to the end of the world and describes it as a time of “wars and rumors of wars, the whole earth in commotion, men’s hearts failing them,(President Benson described this as peoples’ hearts failing them not just physically but also spiritually –they give up—they commit suicide as Satan works to increase their despair by encouraging discouragement, despondency and depression)  the love of men waxing cold, iniquity abounding (v 26-28). Then in v28 & 29 He speaks of the light of the gospel which can shine through all that is going on, but people will not receive it “for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.” But the Lord will know his disciples for they “shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved” (V 32) when all around will be earthquakes and desolations, and men becoming ever more hardened and fighting to kill one another.(v 33)  As His disciples worried about the terrible scenes He described, Christ was quick to tell them: “Be not troubled”!!! and then he gives them reasons to stay strong, following Him and His teachings for the purposes of the earth will soon be fulfilled and He repeatedly reminds us of the light of the gospel. We have been warned that these times will come—which should reinforce us for it also means that Christ’s return is nearing. As long as we stay close to Him we will have peace with ourselves even when there is not peace in the rest of the world. He tells us to “stand in Holy Places” and to “be not troubled”. This can happen within the walls of the temple, or the walls of our bedroom. It happens when we cleave unto Him and His teachings. Doing that changes us in all good ways. “And when the light shall begin to break forth, it shall be with them…” (v 34)

4/27/2021 – D&C 45:18-43

Beginning in v 18, He then tells us many of the things that will occur just prior to His Second Coming, and they are frightening things: so much iniquity, war, and desolation---But then He tells us “be not troubled, for when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled” (v 35) So as we read, know He is preparing us for very troubling times, but at the same time He is telling us of the blessings that are promised if we simply stay close to Him.

V 26 tells us of “wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them [I always wonder if that is His way of speaking of suicide—for suicide can come when our hearts fail us], the love of men shall wax cold [people become without feeling]. Later on He tells of earthquakes and desolations. He then tells us that there will be light for us, and that “it shall be the fulness of my gospel” (v 28)  

He then gives us the words, that if followed, will keep us safe: “But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved” (v 32)  

As I see many of these signs all around me, I remind myself to ‘stand in holy places, and be not moved’. In desperate times of the last days, my plans are to attend the temple, if that is possible (they have been closed for a year due to the Covid Pandemic), to be obedient to the Lord. I have found that spiritual peace is deeper than any hardship or disaster. It strengthens us to go forward, instead of collapsing under an ugly burden.  The Lord actually tells us that the end He speaks of is to be looked forward to—for it is the ending of our earthly schooling. “…Be not troubled, for when all these things shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled. And the light shall begin to break forth, it shall be with them like unto a parable which I will show you—Ye look and behold the fig trees, and ye see them with your eyes, and ye say when they begin to shoot forth, their leaves are yet tender, that the summer is nigh at hand” v’s 35-37) One of my institute instructors told us that the fig tree is one of the last trees to blossom before summer.  This timing tell us to look forward to Christ’s Second Coming. My plan is not to wait for the worst to come, but to do my preparations now. For when I am close to Him, everything is better.