Mormons Hoarding Against "the End Of The World"?

[smac97]

Here: Some Mormons stocking up amid fears that doomsday could come this month

 

> Mixing a brew of biblical prophecies, the Hebrew calendar, a volatile economy, world politics, and astronomical occurrences, hordes of Utahns have become convinced that calamitous events are imminent — maybe by month’s end — and are taking every precaution.

 

> They are called “preppers” and are buying up food-storage kits, flashlights, blankets and tents. Some are even bracing to leave their homes, if need be.

 

> At American Fork’s Thrive Life, which sells mostly freeze-dried food, sales have shot up by “500 percent or more in the past couple of months,” says customer-service representative Ricardo Aranda. “There is a sense of urgency, like something is up. A lot of people are mentioning things about September, like a financial collapse.”

 

==I know a lot of people who are concerned about provident living generally (and have been working on it for a long time), but not about a collapse in September.

 

> Here’s how the doomsday scenario plays out: History, some preppers believe, is divided into seven-year periods — like the Hebrew notion of “shemitah” or Sabbath. In 2008, seven years after 9/11, the stock market crashed, a harbinger of a devastating recession. It’s been seven years since then and Wall Street has been fluctuating wildly in recent weeks in the wake of China devaluing its currency.

 

> Thus, they believe, starting Sept. 13, the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, there will be another, even larger financial crisis, based on the United States’ ”wickedness.” That will launch the “days of tribulation” — as described in the Bible.

 

> Sept. 28 will see a full, red or “blood moon” and a major earthquake in or near Utah. Some anticipate an invasion by U.N. troops, technological disruptions and decline, chaos and hysteria.

 

==This all strikes me as rather cobbled together and hokey.

 

> Some of these speculations stem from Julie Rowe’s books, “A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil” and “The Time Is Now.”

 

> Rowe, a Mormon mother of three, published the books in 2014 to detail a “near-death experience” in 2004, when the author says she visited the afterlife and was shown visions of the past and future.

 

> Though Rowe rarely gives specific dates for predicted events, she did describe in a Fox News Radio interview “cities of light,” including scores of white tents where people will live in the mountains and sometimes be fed heavenly “manna.” She she saw a “bomb from Libya landing in Israel, but Iran will take credit.”

 

...

 

> For the past year, the popular writer has been sharing her experience and visions at Mormon venues nationwide, drawing crowds of eager — and worried — listeners. Her two books have sold more than 20,000 copies apiece.

 

> In a rare move, officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent a memo to administrators and teachers in the Church Educational System, saying, that although Sister Rowe is an active member of the LDS Church, “her book is not endorsed by the church and should not be recommended to students or used as a resource in teaching them. The experiences . do not necessarily reflect church doctrine or they may distort doctrine.”

 

==I'm glad the Church is taking these steps.  I believe the scriptural prophecies regarding the latter days, but I don't believe the Saints need to look to self-appointed folks like Julie Rowe for guidance on such important matters, particularly where what she says is not reflected in the counsel from the Brethren (and, apparently to some extent, not reflected in the doctrines of the Church).

 

> The late Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer said in a 2011 LDS General Conference that the “end” was not near and urged young Latter-day Saints to plan to live long, productive lives.

 

> “You can look forward to doing it right.” Packer said, “ — getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.”

 

==Here's a link to Elder Packer's October 2011 General Conference talk: Counsel to Youth

 

==Here's the key bit:

 

Sometimes you might be tempted to think as I did from time to time in my youth: “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” Not so! You can look forward to doing it right—getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.

 

If you will follow these principles, you will be watched over and protected and you yourself will know by the promptings of the Holy Ghost which way to go, for “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” I promise you that it will be so and invoke a blessing upon you, our precious youth, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

==Well said.  The Church's counsel regarding provident living remains.  I believe we can and ought to be doing more to live in accordance with the doctrine and counsel we have received.  But the hysteria described in this story is, I think, misplaced.  And to the extent it has been caused by Julie Rowe, I hope she becomes more circumspect in her public statements.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

Edited September 11, 2015 by smac97

[Duncan]

 

Here: Some Mormons stocking up amid fears that doomsday could come this month

 

> Mixing a brew of biblical prophecies, the Hebrew calendar, a volatile economy, world politics, and astronomical occurrences, hordes of Utahns have become convinced that calamitous events are imminent — maybe by month’s end — and are taking every precaution.

 

> They are called “preppers” and are buying up food-storage kits, flashlights, blankets and tents. Some are even bracing to leave their homes, if need be.

 

> At American Fork’s Thrive Life, which sells mostly freeze-dried food, sales have shot up by “500 percent or more in the past couple of months,” says customer-service representative Ricardo Aranda. “There is a sense of urgency, like something is up. A lot of people are mentioning things about September, like a financial collapse.”

 

==I know a lot of people who are concerned about provident living generally (and have been working on it for a long time), but not about a collapse in September.

 

> Here’s how the doomsday scenario plays out: History, some preppers believe, is divided into seven-year periods — like the Hebrew notion of “shemitah” or Sabbath. In 2008, seven years after 9/11, the stock market crashed, a harbinger of a devastating recession. It’s been seven years since then and Wall Street has been fluctuating wildly in recent weeks in the wake of China devaluing its currency.

 

> Thus, they believe, starting Sept. 13, the beginning of the Jewish High Holy Days, there will be another, even larger financial crisis, based on the United States’ ”wickedness.” That will launch the “days of tribulation” — as described in the Bible.

 

> Sept. 28 will see a full, red or “blood moon” and a major earthquake in or near Utah. Some anticipate an invasion by U.N. troops, technological disruptions and decline, chaos and hysteria.

 

==This all strikes me as rather cobbled together and hokey.

 

> Some of these speculations stem from Julie Rowe’s books, “A Greater Tomorrow: My Journey Beyond the Veil” and “The Time Is Now.”

 

> Rowe, a Mormon mother of three, published the books in 2014 to detail a “near-death experience” in 2004, when the author says she visited the afterlife and was shown visions of the past and future.

 

> Though Rowe rarely gives specific dates for predicted events, she did describe in a Fox News Radio interview “cities of light,” including scores of white tents where people will live in the mountains and sometimes be fed heavenly “manna.” She she saw a “bomb from Libya landing in Israel, but Iran will take credit.”

 

...

 

> For the past year, the popular writer has been sharing her experience and visions at Mormon venues nationwide, drawing crowds of eager — and worried — listeners. Her two books have sold more than 20,000 copies apiece.

 

> In a rare move, officials with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent a memo to administrators and teachers in the Church Educational System, saying, that although Sister Rowe is an active member of the LDS Church, “her book is not endorsed by the church and should not be recommended to students or used as a resource in teaching them. The experiences . do not necessarily reflect church doctrine or they may distort doctrine.”

 

==I'm glad the Church is taking these steps.  I believe the scriptural prophecies regarding the latter days, but I don't believe the Saints need to look to self-appointed folks like Julie Rowe for guidance on such important matters, particularly where what she says is not reflected in the counsel from the Brethren (and, apparently to some extent, not reflected in the doctrines of the Church).

 

> The late Mormon apostle Boyd K. Packer said in a 2011 LDS General Conference that the “end” was not near and urged young Latter-day Saints to plan to live long, productive lives.

 

> “You can look forward to doing it right.” Packer said, “ — getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.”

 

==Here's a link to Elder Packer's October 2011 General Conference talk: Counsel to Youth

 

==Here's the key bit:

 

Sometimes you might be tempted to think as I did from time to time in my youth: “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” Not so! You can look forward to doing it right—getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.

 

If you will follow these principles, you will be watched over and protected and you yourself will know by the promptings of the Holy Ghost which way to go, for “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” I promise you that it will be so and invoke a blessing upon you, our precious youth, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

 

==Well said.  The Church's counsel regarding provident living remains.  I believe we can and ought to be doing more to live in accordance with the doctrine and counsel we have received.  But the hysteria described in this story is, I think, misplaced.  And to the extent it has been caused by Julie Rowe, I hope she becomes more circumspect in her public statements.

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

 

 

I agree with everything you say, one questino I have though is why are hastening the work if the end isn't near?

[TheSkepticChristian]

ome Mormons stocking up amid fears that doomsday could come this month

 

Most faithful LDS don't fear the apocalypse. In fact they want it to happen. 

Perhaps that is the reason why some want war? I don't know.

[hope_for_things]

If I take every element of religious belief away from this subject what do I have left.  I have people preparing for disasters, natural, economic, and political.  But who’s to say that those preparations will actually be enough to help if these dooms day scenarios come true.

 

I believe it is important to have some level of insurance against catastrophe.  But as with anything you can take that principle way too far, and become obsessed with it.  The anxiety that these people must be coping with is hard for me to fathom. 

 

Use your common sense, have a little extra food and water on hand, but don’t go overboard.  This kind of extreme can’t be a fulfilling way to live your life.  

[The Nehor]

Itching ears in action.

[smac97]

Most faithful LDS don't fear the apocalypse. In fact they want it to happen. 

Perhaps that is the reason why some want war? I don't know.

 

Some Latter-day Saints "want war?"  Really?  CFR, if you please.

 

Meanwhile, I note the following instruction in D&C 98:16 (emphasis added): 

 

14 Therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy.

 

15 For if ye will not abide in my covenant ye are not worthy of me.

 

16 Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;

 

Thanks,

 

-Smac

[Mark Beesley]

President Packer's statement does not foreclose a rather imminent advent of the millennium, during which time people will have jobs, get married, raise children, and die.

Anyway, it appears Julie Rowe is enjoying her 15 minutes of fame. I guess she missed that seminary lesson about who is charged with providing prophetic counsel to the world at large. Whatever experiences she may have had, she should have, first and foremost, treasured them in her heart (like a certain young virgin did when she received prophetic news), and then shared with select, intimate friends. Book publishing . . . Smacks of priestcraft in this instance.

[Tacenda]

Good post Smac. I'm a big sucker for these things, and mentally figuring out the dates in September. One week will be in Bear Lake...but will be back in time for the 25th when the Cern will collide. I feel the need to get ready for anything, Julie Rowe or not. I read an article about Cern causing earthquakes. Watching this...http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=3dDlSYl3J6c...scary. Maybe Julie started her visions/dreams after hearing about Cern.

I do feel better knowing the rest of the world isn't worried about it.

But at one point in the video they say they don't know what will happen, kind of risky sounding to me. Again, IMO, as risky as nuclear bombs.

 

ETA: Running out of posts, now is the time I wish I wasn't on "limited", really wanted to discuss.  Maybe I'll keep editing.  But it's not like what I say is all that interesting anyway, lol.  But hopefully you'll listen, wish they had it in written form. 

 

http://mormonstories.org/julie-rowe-preppers/

 

I know most won't listen because it's on MS's, but this is interesting stuff.  One of the gentlemen was in a FB group that are "preppers", but eventually got kicked off.  He was able to gather a lot of inside information.  These poor people are cashing in their 401k's and buying this off the wall food storage, like several pounds of candy etc.  There is a whole bunch of Obama haters also.  Anyway, haven't listened to all of it.  A lot of conspiracy theorists about the New World order etc.  They also mention Cleon Skousen...I remember my husband's boss loaned him a book called "The 5000 Year Leap"  I don't know if that's anything to do with this phenomenon.     

 

There are people that know a lot of what's happening out there by being part of a secret FB or somehow getting inside info.  One man that just came on is named Jared.  Several preparations by the "preppers" besides selling their homes etc. is operating on beef to practice in case they have to do it in the wild. 

Edited September 11, 2015 by Tacenda

[Mark Beesley]

Some Latter-day Saints "want war?"  Really?  CFR, if you please.

 

-Smac

I am familiar with an active LDS man, who was excited at the invasion of Iraq because, as he put it, the Spirit testified to him that it would end up getting missionaries into that country. (Not in our lifetime, apparently.)

During the MX Missile controversy in the 70s, popular support for the system in Utah was high until the church condemned the program.

Unfortunately, LDS have not always been in the forefront of suing for peace rather than supporting armed conflict.

So, while it may not be accurate to say LDS want war, it can fairly be said that some LDS do not abhor war the way we probably should.

[The Nehor]

President Packer's statement does not foreclose a rather imminent advent of the millennium, during which time people will have jobs, get married, raise children, and die.

Anyway, it appears Julie Rowe is enjoying her 15 minutes of fame. I guess she missed that seminary lesson about who is charged with providing prophetic counsel to the world at large. Whatever experiences she may have had, she should have, first and foremost, treasured them in her heart (like a certain young virgin did when she received prophetic news), and then shared with select, intimate friends. Book publishing . . . Smacks of priestcraft in this instance.

It is even more depressing that she can drum up an LDS following.

[TheSkepticChristian]

 

Some Latter-day Saints "want war?"  Really?  CFR, if you please.

 

Meanwhile, I note the following instruction in D&C 98:16 (emphasis added):

 

Most American LDS did want preemptive strickes in Iraq. Gallup polls shows American Mormons, more than any other religious group, believed the United States was right to invade Iraq. Very Sad.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/26677/among-religious-groups-jewish-americans-most-strongly-oppose-war.aspx

 

However, most American LDS changed their mind, but they still want war because war is required for the second comming.

 

They do not like war, but deep inside they want it for the Second Comming.

Edited September 11, 2015 by TheSkepticChristian

[Gray]

This Julie Rowe thing really bothers me. A lot of well meaning people are going to be left high and dry because they've wasted their life savings/401k on survival gear. 

[bluebell]

Most faithful LDS don't fear the apocalypse. In fact they want it to happen. 

Perhaps that is the reason why some want war? I don't know.

 

I think that some of them don't want war, they want to be right, and when the 'end' comes is when they can do the whole 'I told you so' dance that we humans often find so appealing.

[The Nehor]

Most American LDS did want preemptive strickes in Iraq. Gallup polls shows American Mormons, more than any other religious group, believed the United States was right to invade Iraq. Very Sad.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/26677/among-religious-groups-jewish-americans-most-strongly-oppose-war.aspx

 

However, most American LDS changed their mind, but they still want war because war is required for the second comming.

 

They do not like war, but deep inside they want it for the Second Comming.

It is a sad truth that when military conflict occurs the initial response is a form of elation which diminishes as the conflict goes on. When your nation has a strong upper hand and is in little real danger (every war the United States has been in since World War 2) that excitement is magnified due to the low risk.

Ideally we should look at the potential conflict soberly before starting and then, if we judge the risks to be worth it, stoically continue. Instead we run headlong into conflict and then regret it later.

[bluebell]

This Julie Rowe thing really bothers me. A lot of well meaning people are going to be left high and dry because they've wasted their life savings/401k on survival gear. 

 

This.

 

People do really stupid things when they believe the end of the world is coming and lose hope in the future.  

[Sleeper Cell]

Most American LDS did want preemptive strickes in Iraq. Gallup polls shows American Mormons, more than any other religious group, believed the United States was right to invade Iraq. Very Sad.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/26677/among-religious-groups-jewish-americans-most-strongly-oppose-war.aspx

 

However, most American LDS changed their mind, but they still want war because war is required for the second comming.

 

They do not like war, but deep inside they want it for the Second Comming.

 

Isn’t that sort of like saying that LDS want to die because death is required for entering into the celestial kingdom?  

 

LDS do not like death, but deep inside they want it for themselves and their loved ones … ?

 

BTW, if most American LDS supported the invasion of Iraq as a preemptive measure, doesn't that mean that they did not believe it would lead to greater wars -- let alone apocalyptic wars?  If one really wanted the sort of “end of the world” type wars that would supposedly hasten the second coming, wouldn’t it make more “sense” to rejoice at the thought of homicidal dictators and terrorist groups acquiring and using WMD, than to try to prevent them? 

[mrmarklin]

_{The extent to which some people go in "preparedness" is absurd.}

 

_{If the economy ceases to exist as we know it, the limiting factor will be getting water.  At most, one can live only a week without water.  Since most of us live in urban areas, and sometimes our water supplies are hundreds of miles from where we live no one really has a chance.}

 

_{Best advice:  Keep a 72 hour supply, and wait for rescue.  Planning for the Apccalypse is absurd:  One Cannot.}

[thesometimesaint]

 

Isn’t that sort of like saying that LDS want to die because death is required for entering into the celestial kingdom?  

 

LDS do not like death, but deep inside they want it for themselves and their loved ones … ?

 

BTW, if most American LDS supported the invasion of Iraq as a preemptive measure, doesn't that mean that they did not believe it would lead to greater wars -- let alone apocalyptic wars?  If one really wanted the sort of “end of the world” type wars that would supposedly hasten the second coming, wouldn’t it make more “sense” to rejoice at the thought of homicidal dictators and terrorist groups acquiring and using WMD, than to try to prevent them? 

 

 

A lot of dictators have been homicidal not too many have been suicidal. The purpose of war is not to die for your country, but to get the other guy to die for his.

[mrmarklin]

_{The extent to which some people go in "preparedness" is absurd.}

 

_{If the economy ceases to exist as we know it, the limiting factor will be getting water.  At most, one can live only a week without water.  Since most of us live in urban areas, and sometimes our water supplies are hundreds of miles from where we live no one really has a chance.}

 

_{Best advice:  Keep a 72 hour supply, and wait for rescue.  Planning for the Apccalypse is absurd:  One Cannot.}

[Scott Lloyd]

Elder Oaks and Richard Turley spoke at a fireside in Boise some months ago, apparently to quell this sort of nonsense. An audio recording can be found online, but I think it was probably made and posted without authorization, so I won't link to it.

Apparently this stuff is partly what Cassandra Hedelius had in mind when she gave her presentation at the FatrMormon Conference last month. The full text and my Church News report are both online.

[bluebell]

Someone just told me on Facebook that Pres. Monson's talk last sept. says that "the "laborers" don't want to scare the chickens (the saints) because we would stop being productive." and that's why the Brethren have not told us to prepare for all the calamities that Rowe is prophesying.

 

The faithful will be prepared because they've been paying attention, and that's all that matters.

[The Nehor]

This.

 

People do really stupid things when they believe the end of the world is coming and lose hope in the future.

I find that is only rarely the motivation. More often they want the catharsis of being proven right, they want to abandon more mundane responsibilities for more survival oriented ones, want to surrender responsibility to Christ so they can slack off, or even long for a violent future of extremes. For the last one. War is attractive for a reason. Most people (and I would hazard males in particular) have felt in them a lust for battle and violence. Some imagine the Last Days as a time where in extremity they will be free to be suspicious, violent, and kill for a good cause (self and family defense). This might happen but those who want it should probably do some self-examination.

[The Nehor]

Someone just told me on Facebook that Pres. Monson's talk last sept. says that "the "laborers" don't want to scare the chickens (the saints) because we would stop being productive." and that's why the Brethren have not told us to prepare for all the calamities that Rowe is prophesying.

 

The faithful will be prepared because they've been paying attention, and that's all that matters.

The prophets are not allowed to tell the truth but your average schlub on Facebook can. This is not the first time a faction has formed saying the Brethren secretly support them but have to keep quiet for some reason. One would think if they believed it they would follow prophetic example and also shut up about it but people are not good at the whole rational consistency thing.

[carbon dioxide]

_{The extent to which some people go in "preparedness" is absurd.}

 

_{If the economy ceases to exist as we know it, the limiting factor will be getting water.  At most, one can live only a week without water.  Since most of us live in urban areas, and sometimes our water supplies are hundreds of miles from where we live no one really has a chance.}

 

_{Best advice:  Keep a 72 hour supply, and wait for rescue.  Planning for the Apccalypse is absurd:  One Cannot.}

Wait for rescue from whom?  FEMA???

 

I don't see a problem with people buying as much supplies as they want as long as they can afford it without going into debt or using retirement funds.   Having a year supply is recommended.  Also one should use that supply in their normal lives to rotate the food.  I have two 55 gallon barrels of water in my garage.  If I was to dedicate 2 gallons of water a day for drinking and food for my family of 4, that would give me 55 days worth.  I can easily double that by buying another 2 barrels for a 100 bucks.

[HappyJackWagon]

 

The prophets are not allowed to tell the truth but your average schlub on Facebook can. This is not the first time a faction has formed saying the Brethren secretly support them but have to keep quiet for some reason. One would think if they believed it they would follow prophetic example and also shut up about it but people are not good at the whole rational consistency thing.

 

This is the basis for most fundamentalist breakoffs practicing polygamy. They have the deeper truth and secret support of the brethren but can't cast pearls before swine. We're the swine.