The End of the Best of Times

I was very disturbed after the terrorist attacks on 9-11-2001. Was it a sign of latter day events? I spent two weeks having great anxiety about it. I came to the conclusion that we had more time, that it was a warning, a precursor, a start but not the end.

In the September conference President Hinckley gave a talk called “Living in the Fulness of Times”. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=e567759235d0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
In it he said the vision of Joel has been fulfilled, meaning that the signs and events of the second coming have started. He mentioned that all the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah haunt or society. But was reassuring in what the church stands for and what it will become. We must understand that Zion cannot be established until Babylon falls. Not that I am eager for the fall of Babylon, but know it must happen.

He also gave a talk entitled “The Times in Which We Live”. http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9caa8c6a47e0c010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1
The following are quotes from that talk.
“I have just been handed a note that says that a U.S. missile attack is under way. I need not remind you that we live in perilous times. I desire to speak concerning these times and our circumstances as members of this Church.”
“I cannot forget the great lesson of Pharaoh’s dream of the fat and lean kine and of the full and withered stalks of corn.
I cannot dismiss from my mind the grim warnings of the Lord as set forth in the 24th chapter of Matthew.
I am familiar, as are you, with the declarations of modern revelation that the time will come when the earth will be cleansed and there will be indescribable distress, with weeping and mourning and lamentation (see D&C 112:24).
Now, I do not wish to be an alarmist. I do not wish to be a prophet of doom. I am optimistic. I do not believe the time is here when an all-consuming calamity will overtake us. I earnestly pray that it may not. There is so much of the Lord’s work yet to be done. We, and our children after us, must do it.”

Some interesting things to note;
The number 7 seams to be significant with the Lord meaning complete, 3.5 is also significant meaning incomplete.
The missile attack started during October Conference, and at the end of Sukkot a Jewish holyday, celebrated for ending the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.
President Hinckley spoke of Pharaoh’s dream. Joseph was separated from his brethren. Stored grain for 7 yrs, which faithfulness allowed him to save his brothers both physically and spiritually. Most of us are descendents of Joseph and have a similar responsibility in the last days. (Doctrine and Covenants Section 124:58)
We have been told for years to store food and are now we are starting to see a food shortage.
September 2008 will start the Seventieth Jubilee year.
April 5, 2009 is conference and an important day in the Mayan, Venus, Mercury and Hebrew calendars. http://www.johnpratt.com/items/docs/lds/meridian/2006/joshua.html#1.1

I’m not in the least saying that I think the second coming will happen then. In fact, I’m sure that is several years off. I do think however, that the time to prepare is drawing short.