This is a review of the slides we used while discussing... The Great Day of the Lord D&C 45

This is a review of the slides we used while This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .discussing . . .

The Great Day of the LordThe Great Day of the Lord D&C 45D&C 45

Two Cautions:Two Cautions:

1) Stick with the Prophets!1) Stick with the Prophets!

There are among us many loose writings There are among us many loose writings predicting the calamities which are about to overtake predicting the calamities which are about to overtake us. Some of these have been publicized as though they us. Some of these have been publicized as though they were necessary to wake up the world to the horrors were necessary to wake up the world to the horrors about to overtake us. about to overtake us. Many of these are from sources Many of these are from sources upon which there cannot be unquestioned reliance. upon which there cannot be unquestioned reliance. Are you priesthood bearers aware of the fact that we Are you priesthood bearers aware of the fact that we need no such publications to be forewarned, need no such publications to be forewarned, if we if we were only conversant with what the scriptureswere only conversant with what the scriptures have have already spoken to us in plainness? already spoken to us in plainness? Let me give you the Let me give you the sure word of prophecy on which you should rely for sure word of prophecy on which you should rely for your guide instead of these strange sources . . .your guide instead of these strange sources . . .

Read the Read the 24th chapter of Matthew24th chapter of Matthew — particularly that — particularly that inspired version as contained in the Pearl of Great inspired version as contained in the Pearl of Great Price. (Joseph Smith 1 [Joseph Smith—Matthew].) Price. (Joseph Smith 1 [Joseph Smith—Matthew].) Then read the Then read the 45th section of the Doctrine and 45th section of the Doctrine and CovenantsCovenants where the Lord, not man, has documented where the Lord, not man, has documented the signs of the times (Harold B. Lee, the signs of the times (Harold B. Lee, EnsignEnsign, Jan. , Jan. 1973, 106).1973, 106).

Two Cautions:Two Cautions:

1) Stick with the Prophets!1) Stick with the Prophets!

2) Realize the emphasis is on: 2) Realize the emphasis is on: ““Preparing for the Great Day!Preparing for the Great Day!””

The trouble with us today, The trouble with us today, there are too many of there are too many of us who put question marks instead of periods after us who put question marks instead of periods after what the Lord says. what the Lord says. I want you to think about that. I want you to think about that. We shouldn’t be concerned about why he said We shouldn’t be concerned about why he said something, or whether or not it can be made so. Just something, or whether or not it can be made so. Just trust the Lord. trust the Lord. We don’t try to find the answers or We don’t try to find the answers or explanations. We shouldn’t try to spend time explanations. We shouldn’t try to spend time explaining what the Lord didn’t see fit to explain. We explaining what the Lord didn’t see fit to explain. We spend useless timespend useless time..

If you would teach our people to put periods and If you would teach our people to put periods and not question marks after what the Lord has declarednot question marks after what the Lord has declared , , we would say, we would say, “It is enough for me to know that is “It is enough for me to know that is what the Lord said” what the Lord said” (Harold B. Lee, in (Harold B. Lee, in EnsignEnsign, Jan. , Jan. 1973, 108).1973, 108).

Prepare yourselves Prepare yourselves for the great day of for the great day of

the Lordthe LordD&C 45:61; 133:10D&C 45:61; 133:10

““Preparing” for 2nd ComingPreparing” for 2nd Coming• ““stand in holy placesstand in holy places” (v. 32) [see 2 ” (v. 32) [see 2

Nephi 14:5-6] Nephi 14:5-6]

Stand in holy places, and be not moved, Stand in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8). until the day of the Lord come" (D&C 87:8). Holy men and women stand in holy places, and Holy men and women stand in holy places, and these holy places consist of our these holy places consist of our templestemples, our , our chapelschapels, our , our homeshomes, and , and stakesstakes of Zion of Zion ( (Teachings Teachings of Ezra Taft Bensonof Ezra Taft Benson, p. 106)., p. 106).

““Preparing” for 2nd ComingPreparing” for 2nd Coming• ““stand in holy placesstand in holy places” (v. 32)” (v. 32)

• ““be not troubled--remember the be not troubled--remember the promisespromises” (v. 35) [see 1 Nephi 22:16-” (v. 35) [see 1 Nephi 22:16-17, 22, 26]17, 22, 26]

It has been said that the It has been said that the death of a righteous death of a righteous man is never untimely man is never untimely because our Father sets the because our Father sets the time. I believe that with all my soul (time. I believe that with all my soul (Teachings of Teachings of Ezra Taft BensonEzra Taft Benson, p. 348)., p. 348).


• ““be not troubled--promisesbe not troubled--promises” (v. 35)” (v. 35)

• ““look/watch” look/watch” (v. 39) [see Bible (v. 39) [see Bible Dictionary p. 788 + JS-M 1:46-50 + Dictionary p. 788 + JS-M 1:46-50 + D&C 68:8-11]D&C 68:8-11]



• ““look/watch” look/watch” (v. 39)(v. 39)

““preach repentance” preach repentance” (v. 64)(v. 64)

““build up churches” build up churches” (v. 65)(v. 65)

““gather & build Zion”gather & build Zion” (v. 65-71) (v. 65-71)




• ““Do not be deceived - by false Christs Do not be deceived - by false Christs and false prophets” and false prophets” (v. 56-57 + JS-M (v. 56-57 + JS-M 1:5-6, 9, 22, 37 + 1 Nephi 22)1:5-6, 9, 22, 37 + 1 Nephi 22)

DeceiveDeceive

““to mislead be a to mislead be a false appearance false appearance or or statementstatement.”.”

(Random House Webster’s College Dictionary)(Random House Webster’s College Dictionary)

ChristChrist

““an an idealideal type of humanity.” type of humanity.”


ProphetProphet

““an an effective or leading spokesman effective or leading spokesman for a for a cause, doctrine, or group.”cause, doctrine, or group.”


ChurchChurch

““A A bodybody or or organizationorganization of of religiousreligious believersbelievers. . .”. . .”


The The titles church of the devil titles church of the devil and great and and great and abominable church are used to abominable church are used to identify all churches identify all churches or organizationsor organizations of whatever name or nature--of whatever name or nature--whether whether political, philosophical, educational, political, philosophical, educational, economic, social, fraternal, civic, or religiouseconomic, social, fraternal, civic, or religious--which --which are designed to take men on a course that leads are designed to take men on a course that leads away from God and his laws and thus from away from God and his laws and thus from salvation in the kingdom of God (Bruce R. salvation in the kingdom of God (Bruce R. McConkie, McConkie, Mormon DoctrineMormon Doctrine, 137-138)., 137-138).

A substantial segment of society has A substantial segment of society has subscribed to the subscribed to the environmental movementenvironmental movement, , which Robert Nisbet, a distinguished American which Robert Nisbet, a distinguished American sociologist, has characterized as a sociologist, has characterized as a ‘national ‘national religion,’religion,’ with a universalized social, economic, with a universalized social, economic, and political agenda (Dallin H. Oaks, and political agenda (Dallin H. Oaks, EnsignEnsign, , October 1992, p. 60-64).October 1992, p. 60-64).

Indeed, some people now claim that the Indeed, some people now claim that the Founding Fathers’ worst fear in connection with Founding Fathers’ worst fear in connection with religion has been realized; that we have, in fact, a religion has been realized; that we have, in fact, a state sponsored religion in America today. state sponsored religion in America today. This This new religion, adopted by many, does not have an new religion, adopted by many, does not have an identifiable name, but it operates just like a church. identifiable name, but it operates just like a church.

It exists in the form of doctrines and beliefs,It exists in the form of doctrines and beliefs, where morality is whatever a person wants it to bewhere morality is whatever a person wants it to be, , and where freedom is derived from the ideas of and where freedom is derived from the ideas of man and not the laws of God (M. Russell Ballard, man and not the laws of God (M. Russell Ballard, EnsignEnsign, October 1992, p. 64-69)., October 1992, p. 64-69).

There seems to be developing a new civil There seems to be developing a new civil religion. religion. The civil religion I refer to is a secular The civil religion I refer to is a secular religion. It has no moral absolutes. It is religion. It has no moral absolutes. It is nondenominational. It is politically focused. It nondenominational. It is politically focused. It is antagonistic to religion. It rejects the historic is antagonistic to religion. It rejects the historic religious traditions of America. It feels strange. religious traditions of America. It feels strange. If this trend continues, nonbelief will be more If this trend continues, nonbelief will be more honored than beliefhonored than belief (James E. Faust, (James E. Faust, EnsignEnsign, , October 1992, p. 69-71).October 1992, p. 69-71).




• ““Do not be deceived : Defend by. . .Do not be deceived : Defend by. . .




• ““Do not be deceived” : Defend by. . .Do not be deceived” : Defend by. . .

1) Treasure Word 1) Treasure Word (JS-M 1:37)(JS-M 1:37)

2) Receive Truth 2) Receive Truth (D&C 45:57)(D&C 45:57)

3) Take Holy Ghost as Guide 3) Take Holy Ghost as Guide (D&C 45:57)(D&C 45:57)

Today the world is full of alluring and Today the world is full of alluring and attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our members into error and deception. members into error and deception. Students at Students at universities are sometimes so filled with the universities are sometimes so filled with the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the gospeldoctrines of the gospel.. How do you as a priesthood How do you as a priesthood leader help fortify your membership against such leader help fortify your membership against such deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives when He promised, when He promised, ‘And whoso treasureth up my ‘And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived’word, shall not be deceived’ [Joseph Smith—[Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37] (Matthew 1:37] (Teachings of Ezra Taft BensonTeachings of Ezra Taft Benson, , p.302).p.302).




• ““Do not be deceived Do not be deceived (v. 56-57)(v. 56-57)

• Gather and build Zion (v. 65-71)Gather and build Zion (v. 65-71)

We ought to have the We ought to have the building up of Zion building up of Zion as our as our greatest objectgreatest object ( (Teachings of the Prophet Teachings of the Prophet Joseph SmithJoseph Smith, p.161)., p.161).

The End. . .The End. . .

Documents

This is a review of the slides we used while discussing... The Great Day of the Lord D&C 45