On this 16^th day of September 2023 I began my 23^rd reading of the Doctrine and Covenants.  In that first day of reading I discovered several things.

One, is that in the coming week, Thursday, five days from now, is a date that should be celebrated.  September 21, 2023 will be the 200^th anniversary of Moroni's visit to Joseph Smith.  On that evening 200 years ago Moroni appeared in Joseph's bedroom in answer to Joseph's fervent prayer asking for forgiveness of his sins.  The next day was the first time in 1400 years that mortal eyes beheld the golden plates that would be published as the Book of Mormon.  That was the fall equinox.  Joseph was asked by Moroni to return to the place where the plates were buried each year for the next four years on that same 22^nd day of September.

Why was the equinox selected as the date for this event?  There was likely a reason.  These things do not happen haphazardly.  The fall equinox is often the date for certain Jewish festivals, which may have a bearing upon this question.

In my reading I also focused upon the word “calamity” used by the Lord in D&C 1:17.  This is one of only seven places in scripture where the word is used.  It's used twice in the Book of Mormon in reference to the destruction of the Nephites.  (Mormon 2:27, and 5:11).  It is used once in reference to the destruction of the Jaredites.  (Ether 11:6).  The Doctrine and Covenants uses it three times.  (D&C 1:17, 45:50, 136:34-36).  It is also used in Proverbs 19:13).

In the past week there have been two calamities in the world.  They don't compare to the destructions of the Jaredites and Nephites, nor to the prophesied calamity that's in our forecast; but for me, they strike rather close to home.  The first was a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, where Marjorie and I spent our 15-month honeymoon while I served in the U.S. Navy.  The second catastrophe was in Libya where massive rainfall caused two dams to burst.  A major part of a big city was washed away.  Both of these African events happened at night while people were sleeping.  They happened suddenly, and many thousands were killed in both places.

D&C 1:17 says, “I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth ...”

These things give me pause for thought.  We must prepare.  A calamity is coming.