Poured Out Upon All Nations

Today is yet another day in which Paul’s prophecy is again relevant: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come” (1 Timothy 3:1).  The events of today remind us of other prophecies contained in modern scriptures and make us ponder about their fulfillment.  For example, the Lord said, “I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for their wickedness” (D&C 84:96).  We also read that the Prophet Joseph was told that “war will be poured out upon all nations” and that “with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn” (D&C 87:2, 6).  In the last days we are to see the “the love of men shall wax cold,” and certainly today’s events show that to be the case for these terrorists (JSM 1:30).  We are also told that there will be “weeping and wailing among the hosts of men,” presumably in connection with the great tragedies and trials of the last days that we will be a part of.  So as this kind of language sombers us and these terror attacks continues to make the world appear darker and more frightening, how do we prepare for our uncertain future?  

                As I read the scriptures, it seems that one of the most important answers to that question is very simple: repent.  Perhaps the most relevant examples for us is that of the Nephites and the Gadianton robbers.  As the Nephites joined together and prepared for the fight against the terrorists of their day, they were given this counsel from their prophetic leader: “As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers” (3 Nephi 3:15).  The Nephites did much to prepare physically as they banded together, gathered food, and fortified their city, but the most essential part of their defense against the Gadianton robbers was repentance.  We read that “they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle” (3 Nephi 3:25).  Repentance was in reality what saved them because it brought the hand of the Lord in to save them.  In other scriptures I think we see the same message.  For example, the Lord said, “For a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time to time, if they repent not” (D&C 5:19).  In other words, without repentance there is no protection from whatever is meant by this “desolating scourge.”  On another occasion when the Lamanites were surrounded by darkness with Nephi and Lehi in the prison, they were overcome by “an awful solemn  fear” and they cried out, “what shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?”  The answer was simply, “You must repent, and cry unto the voice even until ye shall have faith in Christ” (Helaman 5:41).  Repentance is what protects us because it unlocks the powers of heaven in our behalf; as we repent and make covenants with the Lord, we know that “the power of the Lamb of God” can then descend upon us so that we can be “armed with righteousness” (1 Nephi 14:14).  That is the protection we must seek as we look forward to an uncertain future.