The Last Days

In chapter 21 of Teaching of the Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson we have I think some sobering counsel about our need for preparation in the last days.  President Benson told us that “the Lord has warned and forewarned us against a day of great tribulation.”  He warned us saying that “too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them.” 

In practical terms he told us, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.”  Speaking of the Church in the last days he said, “The Lord wants us to be independent and self-reliant because these will be days of tribulation. He has warned and forewarned us of the eventuality.”  So what revelations and warnings was he referring to?

                Here are some of the scriptures that I think confirm President Benson’s warnings.  In general terms the Lord told us who are in the Last Days, “Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves” (D&C 133:4).  We know that it will be “the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure” and so preparing ourselves for that day will be crucial (D&C 1:9).  We are counseled by the Lord: “Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth” (D&C 1:12-13).  We know specifically that at some point there will be challenges obtaining food: “There shall be a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth” (D&C 29:16).  Furthermore the Lord told us “there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (JSM 1:29).  This was reaffirmed again in another scripture: “And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations” (D&C 45:33).  President Benson mentioned the fact that we would have war, and the Lord has certainly warned us about that.  We are told that “war shall be poured out upon all nations” (D&C 87:3).  The Lord also said, “Ye hear of wars in foreign lands; but, behold, I say unto you, they are nigh, even at your doors, and not many years hence ye shall hear of wars in your own lands” (D&C 45:63). 

                Clearly there will be great tribulations ahead of us.  Of course we don’t know how far out these events are, but whether soon or late it won’t matter as long as we are prepared.  And that’s the reason I think that the Lord and the prophets tell us about these kind of things: so we can prepare ourselves.  We must “be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent forth upon the wicked” (D&C 29:8).  Of course we are promised that if we do prepare as President Benson and many others have taught, then we “shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).