As we edge ever nearer to the Lord's Second Coming it becomes easier to see how prophecies might play out.

Two prophecies about events that have to take place before the Lord's coming are the building of the New Jerusalem and the devastation that the descendants of Lehi will cause among the Gentiles.  In the short report that Mormon left about the Savior's appearance to the Nephites in third Nephi, the Savior warned us three times that Lehi's children would lay waste the cities of the American nation, and destroy its transportation system.

"Yea, wo be unto the Gentiles except they repent; for it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Father, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots; and I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strongholds; ... (3 Nephi 21:14-15).

"Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.

"Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off."  (3 Nephi 20:16-17).

('See 3 Nephi 16:10-15; 20:15-17; 21:11-21; Mormon 5:22-24; Micah 5:8-14).

In the middle of the night it came to me how this could all come to pass in the very near future.

The United States of America is currently experiencing an influx of  about 242,000 illegal aliens each month.  This has been taking place during the entire three years of the Biden administration.  The vast majority of the immigrants who cross our southern border are from Mexico and Central America.  They are fleeing impossible conditions.  Their sheer numbers are overwhelming the resources of every major city from Texas to Chicago to New York City.  The Biden administration is welcoming them as potential voters who will vote for the Democratic party.  Republicans see this as a huge problem and threat.

It currently appears that next November's election for president will be a choice between current president Joe Biden, and former president Donald Trump.  Both are old men, and in my estimation, despicable.

My middle-of-the-night thought is that Trump will be elected.  Upon taking office next January 20th he will immediately inaugurate a dramatic crackdown on the immigrants.  It will not be gentle.  It will hardly be humane.  It would involve the deportation of millions of people.  It will not be tolerated.  It will be met with nationwide resistance.  The police and National Guard will be overwhelmed and unable to contain the violence of the immigrant mobs.  They will lay our cities waste.

Among these immigrants are many, many good people.  Many of them are members of the Church.  The Church is anxious to help the good people.  The Church will take care of them.  The Church will gather them together and send them to Adam-Ondi-Ahman where they will be set to work building Zion, the New Jerusalem.

This will all likely take place in 2025--next year.  We have one year to prepare.  We live in the very best area for meeting and withstanding these looming troubles, but we'll probably have to be prepared to gather elsewhere, too, for the Lord has said in this context, "I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor."  (3 Nephi 20:18).

The bottom line is that the Lord is in control, and that things are playing out according to plan.  We will be OK if we prepare and faithfully follow the prophet.