I PROPHECY UNTO YOU CONCERNING THE LAST DAYS

As we draw near to the end of the two books written by Nephi, I note his great love for his people and, indeed, for all of Israel. As a seer, he has seen the destruction of his people due to wickedness and it must have broken his heart.  But even though the consequences of sin are harsh and painful to watch, Nephi still praises the Lord as being just. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been for Nephi to write those things which he had seen and heard from the Lord.  Living in a modern world filled with just such sins, it is difficult for me to even read the things Nephi wrote. His words tell a cautionary tale for us today.  President Benson said we must flood the world with the Book of Mormon.  I didn't fully appreciate what he said at the time, but I certainly understand much better now.  If people would prayerfully read the Book, they might self-identify and repent. Then again, they might not.  

The consequences of turning away from the Lord and, even worse, persecuting those who hold to the rod and walk the path of a disciple of Christ, are stark.  Here are some of those consequences found in 2 Nephi 26: 

Great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because the cast out the prophets and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them. (3)

How do people cast out prophets and saints today? Just turn on the news. Persecution of Christians is rampant in the Middle East. They are often killed for their testimonies.   Even in our country, people of faith are mocked and shamed by those in the great and spacious building.  When a former president of this nation, in his first speech to the nation, says, "America is no longer a Christian nation," he was not simply acknowledging the presence of other faiths in the country, he was stating something right out of the radical agenda. 

Wherefore, all those who are proud, and that do wickedly, that day that cometh shall burn shall burn them up. . . for they shall be as stubble. (4)

Pride is often linked with wickedness because wickedness couldn't occur without pride. We can find this theme throughout scripture as a description of the last days. 

Earthquakes, volcanoes, tidal waves:  destruction

In verses 5 and 6, Nephi describes what he sees will happen after the Savior's crucifixion to the wicked in the destructions that will come.  Nephi mourns for them, even though that destruction had not yet happened. It broke his heart and filled him with grief .  He wrote about his feelings over the coming fall and destruction of his people.

O, the pain and the anguish of my soul for the loss of the slain of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it, and it well nigh consumeth me before the presence of the Lord; but I must cry unto my God: Thy ways are just. (7)

I feel that way every time I allow myself to take in the things happening in my beloved country today.  I often look at some of the things that are said and done that are utterly beyond belief and I find myself saying: "What on earth are they thinking?" What I need to ask is: "What am I thinking?" If my thinking is full of rationalization, I am on a dangerous course.  Holding to the rod begins first in my thoughts, then my words, and actions.  Sins don't happen that weren't first considered in the heart and mind of a person.

I cannot control anyone else.  I can only live according to the light I have been given. I can share my testimony.  I can speak out against the tyranny of sin.  If we, who are Covenant keepers don't speak for Christ, who will?  People who think it can't happen here are as blind as those in Lehi's day who felt that Jerusalem would never fall.  I pray that those who worship and serve the God of this land, who is Jesus Christ, can balance the scale enough that it won't happen here.

GOD FORBID!

© February 2020 Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson