I’d like to start by relating something Mormon said in relation to what is happening today. He like me looks forward to the coming of Christ but knowing what that entails he had searched the records and deeply considered their meaning. “And now I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written. For after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi. And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ, and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled — yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass” Words of Mormon 1:2 RE.

By this we know that many of the prophecies have been fulfilled and many more will be fulfilled in preparation for His coming.

1 Nephi 3:29-30 RE “And it came to pass that I beheld that the wrath of God was poured out upon that great and abominable church, insomuch that there were wars and rumors of wars among all the nations and kindreds of the earth. And as there began to be wars and rumors of wars among all the nations which belonged to the mother of abominations, the angel spake unto me, saying, Behold, the wrath of God is upon the mother of harlots, and behold, thou seest all these things. And when the day cometh that the wrath of God is poured out upon the mother of harlots — which is the great and abominable church of all the earth, whose foundation is the Devil — then at that day the work of the Father shall commence in preparing the way for the fulfilling of his covenants which he hath made to his people who are of the house of Israel. And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying, Look. And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe; and the angel said unto me, Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things, yea, and also many things which have been; and he shall also write concerning the end of the world. Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold, they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew.”

The 82 airborne and 1st infantry Division have been mobilized to SE Asia near the strait of Hormuz. . Recently there was a large contingent training f-16 and f-35 pilots at Hill AFB Utah with live ammo drops instead of dummy rounds for “pre-deployment”. When I asked them, “Where to”? They said it was classified. 

Pre-deployment training is when military units train for a mission where they will encounter similar terrain and conditions in preparation for engagement with a specific enemy. In connection with this the Department of State ordered an evacuation of US personnel form Belarus. Belarus is a state where Yevgeny Prigozhin had set up operations and stood up his private military called the Wagner group after his failed coup on Vladimir Putin. Today while crossing near Russian airspace Prigozhin’s private jet with him onboard was shot down by Russian anti-aircraft weapons.

Ukraine has lost 400,000 men and millions of Ukrainians are international refugees. In the last Russian offensive alone, Ukraine lost 40,000 men. Commanders are surrendering units because the toll of the wounded and maimed is too great to keep fighting. In a lead up to what I believe is US military action against Russia; this deployment, the US approved donations of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine through the Netherlands, (The official stance last week was NO) and the US giving $100 Billion in funds to Ukraine without congressional approval, a bigger conflict is well on its way.

The cost of human life is astounding as it is sad. Ukraine is losing this war in a horrible way and the US is gearing up to enter the battle which most realist analysts now estimate the US will lose eventually.  This is not the only war waiting in the wings. China is preparing to take on Taiwan and the US is also obligated there.

We have a warning and a promise in Mark 6:6 RE “And now I show unto you a parable. Behold, wherever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together. So likewise shall my elect be gathered from the four quarters of the earth. And they shall hear of wars and rumors of wars — behold, I speak unto you for my elect’s sake — for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places. And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold. But he who shall not be overcome, the same shall be saved. And again, this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come, or the destruction of the wicked.“

Among other sicknesses ravaging the world and re-emerging from centuries long hiatus’ new covid variants Eris, Fornax and Pirola are ramping up for another go at the world and governments and businesses are preparing for a return to lockdowns and regulations which will bring; if instituted, domestic upheaval and destructions.

Famine is being caused by war and pestilence. In addition to worms destroying crops in Colorado, Locusts in Pakistan, and fungus in China, war is also precipitating a demise in food stuffs.

Ukraine’s grain harvest fell by 40 million tons annually due to war. Russia has destroyed 270,000 tons of grain meant for export in the last month alone. It has stopped all grain exports from its own nation which is causing starvation in Africa, the eastern block and SE Asia. Between 2019 and 2022 the world saw a food insecurity increase from 7.3 to 9.2% which is a 30% increase. Compared to the world the United States is at 11.2%! This is surprising given that it’s the world’s Wealthiest nation. Poorer countries do a better job of distributing their excess to their neighbors. What an indictment of a land of promise where those who dwell therein must serve the lord. How do we serve the lord? By clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. None of this by compulsion but by voluntary effort one man to another. 

This prophecy was given to the brother of Jared. “And the Lord would not suffer that they should stop beyond the sea in the wilderness, but he would that they should come forth even unto the land of promise, which was choice above all other lands, which the Lord God had preserved for a righteous people. … And he had sworn in his wrath unto the brother of Jared that whoso should possess this land of promise, from that time henceforth and forever should serve him, the true and only God, or they should be swept off when the fullness of his wrath should come upon them.” Ether 1:6 RE

Are we looking to the Lord through all of this? Are we throwing off Babylon and embracing truth, having sufficient faith to receive salvation?

Some watchers on their supposed watchtowers are proclaiming peace and that all is well in Zion. But those who look for to the day of the Lord with great anxiousness know this “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you, for you know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes: as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. You are all the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness; therefore, let us not sleep, as do others, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night, and they that are drunk are drunk in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore, comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as also you do.” 1 Thessalonians 1:13 RE

May these things serve for a sign and a warning unto us. Let us meet together oft and encourage each other, love each other and rise above all of these things so that we may be found a peculiar people looking forward in faith and doing the things the Lord asks us to. May we obtain a bright hope through our faith and secure for ourselves a promise of the Lord and not reject Him. We live in amazing times.

I’ll end with this last scripture from the man in the white robe. “And to the servant of the church in Philadelphia write: These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that has the key of David, he that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens: I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door and no man can shut it, for you have a little strength, and have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews — and are not, but do lie — behold, I will make them to come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly; hold that fast which you have, that no man take your crown. He that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out. And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God — this is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of Heaven from my God — and my new name. He that has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says unto the churches.” Rev 1:17-18 RE