WATCHMEN ON THE TOWER

Last Saturday, I wrote a post about Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.  It is the first of the sacred fall feasts of Israel.  It is sometimes called the Feast of the Trumpets because it is heralded in by the blowing of the Shofar, the rams horn trumpet. The blowing of the Shofar ushered in the fall holy days.  It also sounded a warning to Israel to return to her God.

The Prophet Ezekiel wrote of the Lord placing watchmen upon the tower (Ezekiel 33: 1-7).  Because of his higher elevation on the tower, the watchman could see the danger afar off, long before anyone living in the city was aware.  When he saw the enemy approaching, he sounded the alarm by blowing on the Shofar.

The Feast of the Trumpets sounds as a warning to Israel that they need to prepare.  They need to look into their own souls for any thought, word, or behavior that is out of line with the will of the Lord.  Rosh Hashanah then ushers in the 10 Days of Awe; a time of repentance and turning, away from the world and toward God.

This feast of Israel is of special significance to the founding of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After four years of waiting, on September 21, 1827, the ancient prophet Moroni allowed the Prophet Joseph Smith to take possession of the Gold Plates.  That year, September 21 marked the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. A new watchman had been called to the tower and his receiving God's word fell as observant Jews around the world were sounding the warning on the Shofar: repent and prepare for Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.  Joseph's calling, and that of latter-day prophets who follow him, is the same: repent.  We are to prepare for the Second Coming of He who gave His life in the Ultimate Day of Atonement.

Moroni and Rosh Hashanah

This year, Yom Kippur falls on Monday, September 27. Five days later, on October 3 and 4, Latter-day Saints and others have the opportunity to hear fifteen modern Watchmen on the Tower.  General Conference in April was one such as had never been before.  I have faith that this October Conference will likewise be of utmost important.  

We have all seen the signs.  We know the fate of this nation and the world will be impacted by what happens in America on November 3,  2020.  Let us listen to our called and anointed Watchmen on the Tower and heed their words.  Let us strengthen our relationships with Jesus Christ.  Let us renew our faith.  Let us take stock and repent of anything out of harmony with God's teachings.  Let us seek to more fully align our wills with God's. In so doing, let us pay strict heed to Gods apostles and prophets.  Let us pray for our nation.

© Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson September 2020