Is The End Near? No! Follow The Money (Church Money)

[djones]

They say if you want to find answers you need to follow the money. I like to study about the last days and oftentimes when I do, I get a little scared. Yes it would be exciting to be alive when the Savior returns but nobody wants to go through the events leading up to that.

 

Reading different LDS blogs and message boards, it seems like a lot of people believe that some BIG event is right around the corner (economic collapse, WW3, TEOTWAWKI, etc. etc.) Although I do believe those things will happen eventually I don't think it will be anytime soon. Here's why:

 

We know that nobody knows the hour of the Saviors return. But if ANYONE knows the general time frame it would be the first presidency and the Q12. So let's assume that they did know that TEOTWAWKI was right around the corner. Would they have spent 2 billion dollars on giving SLC a facelift and rehabbing he Ogden temple, and other such projects, etc? I think not. If the end was that near they certainly wouldn't be wasting all that money on those things. It would be far better spent on other things. I do believe we are ramping up for the church to experience some big growth though (hastening the work) but I think we still have probably 20-30 years of general prosperity and it will be a time of building the kingdom, weeding out the weak hands, apostasy, and growing persecution and wickedness most likely. The world is wicked but not ripe for destruction...yet.

 

The economic indicators all point to a crash at some point but it's all relative. Yes 17 trillion in debt and 100% debt-to-GDP sounds ludicrous. But we all thought that when it was $5 trillion in debt. Who's to say we won't go to 100 trillion before it all implodes? I think the Fed and PTB have a lot more tricks up their sleeves to keep the house of cards propped up for many more years and it will provide a final window of opportunity for the work to hasten. If people are starving and killing each other and the world is too dangerous for missionaries then the work won't hasten very effectively.

 

Just my 2 cents. Opinions?

 

 

[VideoGameJunkie]

I believe the gospel has to reach all places on the earth, including the middle east, before the Second Coming happens.

[strappinglad]

Mat: 24:38 tells us what the world will be like at the second coming. Business as usual.

Oh, and by the way , according to another thread, it will just be a LOCAL firey destruction.

Edited August 25, 2014 by strappinglad

[The Nehor]

Mat: 24:38 tells us what the world will be like at the second coming. Business as usual.

Oh, and by the way , according to another thread, it will just be a LOCAL firey destruction.

 

The other thread is wrong. 

[blooit]

I believe the gospel has to reach all places on the earth, including the middle east, before the Second Coming happens.

 

Perhaps it's called the internet...  

[AndyDnom]

i don't think church actions in the past 100 years show any insight into world conditions. would love any example. the only one i can think of is when i saw hinckley say that the iraq war was an awesome idea

[Nofear]

Heber C. Kimball put it this way:

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 [utah], is it not? (Journal of Discourses, 26 vols., 3:, p.227)

 

So, I'll perk up and pay attention ever more acutely when I see Utah burn.

[ERayR]

I believe the gospel has to reach all places on the earth, including the middle east, before the Second Coming happens.

 

It already has.  There ar members all over the middle east.

[ERayR]

Heber C. Kimball put it this way:

 

So, I'll perk up and pay attention ever more acutely when I see Utah burn.

 

By then you may not be around to see it.

[thesometimesaint]

We've got a ways to go before we've taught the gospel to every living creature.

[rpn]

I think people will be shopping at the SLC Mall during the millennium (it was build to withstand earthquakes).

[Nofear]

By then you may not be around to see it.

 

Looks like a nerve was touched. /cheer

Just making sure to listen to our Apostles and Prophets, today and yesterday. Too bad Utah seems to have a hearing problem though.

 

As (then) Elder Benson said (Ezra Taft Benson. Be Not Deceived. General Conference, October, 1963):

Those of us who think “. . . all is well in Zion . . .” (2 Nephi 28:21) in spite of Book of Mormon warning might ponder the words of Heber C. Kimball when he said, “Yes, we think we are secure here in the chambers of these everlasting hills . . . but I want to say to you, my brethren, 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 against the people of God. Then is the time to look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall. For I say unto you there is a test, a Test, a TEST coming.” (Heber C. Kimball, 1856. Quoted by J. Golden Kimball, Conference Report, October 1930, pp. 59-60.)

Edit: I should perhaps note that Pres. Benson is quoting the sake Elder Kimball talk that I cited earlier. Indeed, the quotes are only a sentence or two removed.

Edited August 25, 2014 by Nofear

[wenglund]

They say if you want to find answers you need to follow the money. I like to study about the last days and oftentimes when I do, I get a little scared. 

 

Within the gospel, one finds answers by following Christ. Trusting in him helps dissipate fear, including about the last days.

 

Thanks, -Wade Englund-

Edited August 25, 2014 by wenglund

[Mystery Meat]

We've got a ways to go before we've taught the gospel to every living creature.

 

In a talk he gave at education week, Elder Bednar expressed an idea that that prophecy has been fulfilled/being fulfilled via social media and the internet. An interesting concept and one that makes me want to be a bit more prepared.

Edited August 25, 2014 by lvjd66

[Mystery Meat]

Heber C. Kimball put it this way:

 

So, I'll perk up and pay attention ever more acutely when I see Utah burn.

 

I think it has already begun. Utah is my home and I love it. But it is an interesting dynamic here. Nowhere will you find more enemies of the Church then right here in the shadow of the everlasting hills. Nowhere will you find as many people who on the outside seem like good, Mormon folk, but in reality either hate the Church or who want to change it to fit their own image. One semi-famous gay man once said that SLC was the gayest city east of San Francisco.

 

I am not sure Utah will ever be all bad, but I think an evil culture is on the rise. Ironically, the Church is both the reason why the evil is stemmed and growing.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Scriptures teach that missionary work will continue in the Millennium. So I believe the "whole world" thing can be fulfilled without every single person hearing about the Restoration. And if "whole world" thing hasn't happened yet, we are darn close.

[cdowis]

I'll pay attention when there is a major earthquake in San Franciso, when there is a MAJOR drought in California, when there is war against Israel and the US is too weak to intercede, when there are deadly diseases spreading throughout the world,  major financial upheavals, significant terrorist incursions across our southern border (the lamanite prophecy in the bom), when the church makes a major push building temples and missionary work.  

(did I forget anything?)

 

Otherwise I'll just hangout with the Cartoon Network like everybody else.

Edited August 25, 2014 by cdowis

[ERayR]

 

Looks like a nerve was touched. /cheer

 

 

What makes you think that?    You said "So, I'll perk up and pay attention ever more acutely when I see Utah burn".  I was simply noting tha by the time that happened you may not be around.

[ERayR]

I'll pay attention when there is a major earthquake in San Franciso, when there is a MAJOR drought in California, when there is war against Israel and the US is too weak to intercede, when there are deadly diseases spreading throughout the world,  major financial upheavals, significant terrorist incursions across our southern border (the lamanite prophecy in the bom), when the church makes a major push building temples and missionary work.  

(did I forget anything?)

 

Otherwise I'll just hangout with the Cartoon Network like everybody else.

 

I think you forgot about riots.

[cdowis]

I think you forgot about riots.

 

That would be political, and then I would have to mention the Constitution being destroyed, chaos in the government, etc, and let's not go there.

 

Don't want to be tossed out of the forum.

Edited August 26, 2014 by cdowis

[Avatar4321]

I think your analysis is completely wrong. Why wouldn't we be building if Christ was about to return? We will be building through the Millennium. In fact, if I am remembering correctly, the Prophets have been saying we need to be building things to last the Millennium.

 

The idea that we would stop building because the end is coming is completely contrary to anything I've seen in the Gospel. It's the end of the wicked. Not the end of us.

[Grudunza]

I think your analysis is completely wrong. Why wouldn't we be building if Christ was about to return? We will be building through the Millennium. In fact, if I am remembering correctly, the Prophets have been saying we need to be building things to last the Millennium.

The idea that we would stop building because the end is coming is completely contrary to anything I've seen in the Gospel. It's the end of the wicked. Not the end of us.

That's a good point. I've always felt as though we're supposed to live as though the world is Apocalypse-free... ever hopeful and industrious. Sure, some things may fall in the ensuing calamities, but might as well have had built the things that will stand.

[cinepro]

but I think we still have probably 20-30 years of general prosperity and it will be a time of building the kingdom, weeding out the weak hands, apostasy, and growing persecution and wickedness most likely. The world is wicked but not ripe for destruction...yet.

 

Just my 2 cents. Opinions?

20-30 years is always the best guess. Any more than that, and you sound like you lack faith. Anything less, and even the other LDS will think you're the village idiot.

[cinepro]

We know that nobody knows the hour of the Saviors return. But if ANYONE knows the general time frame it would be the first presidency and the Q12.

I would also add that Church history (especially this book) totally refutes that notion.

[mfbukowski]

The other thread is wrong. 

Not possible!

 

It's on the INTERNET!