Without Measure or Mixture

In the first section (the preface) of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord uses the somewhat frightening phrase “without measure” to describe the events of the Last Days.  He told us that His messengers would go forth to bear tidings to the “inhabitants of the world” in order to “seal them up unto the day when the wrath of God shall be poured out upon the wicked without measure” (D&C 1:9).  The phrase “without measure” is certainly one that gives pause for reflection—what does it mean for the Lord’s wrath to be poured out without measure on the earth?  To measure a cup of flour, for example, we carefully fill the measuring cup to the brim and make sure that we don’t get any more; but to pour “without measure” I imagine just dumping the whole flour bucket out.  Certainly that’s a fearsome prospect to think about in terms of the wrath of God on the wicked.  The Lord must have meant it because He repeated it several times, particularly when talking about what happened to the Saints in Missouri: “Mine indignation is soon to be poured out without measure upon all nations; and this will I do when the cup of their iniquity is full” (D&C 101:11).  And then again not long thereafter He said, “Being driven and smitten by the hands of mine enemies, on whom I will pour out my wrath without measure in mine own time” (D&C 103:2).  Joseph then repeated this idea in the dedication of the Kirtland Temple, saying, “We know that thou hast spoken by the mouth of thy prophets terrible things concerning the wicked, in the last days—that thou wilt pour out thy judgments, without measure” (D&C 109:45). 

There is a similar phrase that I believe is used in the same sense that John introduced in Revelation as he spoke about those in the last days who would worship the beast and his image: “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb” (Revelation 14:10).  The Lord then repeated this phrase “without mixture” when He spoke about the protection that Zion would offer: “And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth” (D&C 115:6).  The way I understand that phrase is that if you mix a very bitter drink mixed with water, it becomes more palatable.  But if you must drink it without dilution or “without mixture” then it obviously is much more unpleasant.  That the Lord’s wrath will be upon the wicked “without mixture” and “without measure” tells us that it will indeed be “terrible” for the wicked in coming days.  So we have all the more reason to come to Zion for a “defense” and a “refuge” from the tribulations up ahead of us.  The Lord knew of the “calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth” and that’s why in the same section where He warned of wrath without measure He also told us that we would have revelation and commandments for our protection through “[His] servant Joseph Smith, Jun.” (D&C 1:17).  Therein lays our only safety from the storms ahead that will come without measure or mixture.