25 September 2022

These are troubling times.  It would be easy to become anxious and disturbed if one did not have faith that God is in control, and that His plan, purposes, and prophecies are being carried out.

It is plain to those who are watching that the Lord's Second Coming is drawing near.  The signs are ever more abundant.  My personal expectation is that the target date is 6 April 2034.  That date will be the 2000^th anniversary of the Savior's resurrection.  That date will be Easter, as well as the Passover.  April 6^th is very obviously an important, and significant, date to the Lord.  That is why He decreed that the Church should be organized on that date.

Whether He comes on that date or not, the times and the signs are certainly moving toward that event.

Russia's Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February.  The war is unjust and terrible.  Putin expected to be able to conquer the whole country in one week; but instead, most of the world's nations have united against the Russian aggression, and Ukraine has proven to be a formidable foe.  The Western nations have supplied Ukraine with sophisticated weaponry which enabled Ukraine two weeks ago to retake a large area of their country from Russian control.

Russia is embarrassed and desperate.  Putin announced a call for 137,000 mercenaries to join the Russian forces.  They've also decreed that any prisoners who would agree to join their fighting forces would be given their freedom.  That not being enough Putin announced a call-up of 300,000 reservists.  Russian men of fighting age are rushing to the borders in an effort to flee the country and conscription.  Most of the Russian people are not in support of the war, but any dissent is met with arrest.

Most countries of the world have placed severe sanctions on Russia, refusing to do business with them, and freezing any Russian assets in their countries.  The result of all this is that the world's economy is rapidly going into recession, and that supply chains are being interrupted.  Many countries are going to experience food shortages.  Europe is going to be cold this winter because of no natural gas being imported from Russia.

Russia and China are allies.  China is watching what happens to Russia and Ukraine, and is thinking of doing the same thing in Taiwan.  China has maintained for 70 years that Taiwan is a breakaway province of China, and has vowed to take it back.

As Russia's progress and expectations have faltered, Putin has become desperate.  He blames NATO and the western nations for the war and his failures.  Most of all he blames the United States.  A week ago he threatened to use Russia's nuclear warheads.  Western leaders do not think he is bluffing.

Where might this lead?  Knowing that these things are preliminary and a lead-up to the Lord's Second Coming, and knowing that He uses the wicked to achieve His righteous purposes, and knowing that He is in control and that these things have all been prophesied, I might venture to make my own prophecy.

The New Jerusalem, the city of Zion, needs to be built before the Lord comes.  It is to be built by Lehi's descendants as directed by the Church.  It is to be built in Jackson County, Missouri.  Before that time Jackson County is to be wiped so clean that there will not be left a yellow dog to wag its tail.  That prophecy was probably fulfilled during the Civil War, but will probably to fulfilled again.

Is so, how and why?

Most of our nation's nuclear weapons are stockpiled at Whitehead Air Force Base next door to Jackson County, Missouri.  Whitehead Air Force Base would be the main target for any Russian nuclear attack.  An attack on that base would effectively wipe the whole area clean.

The Saints were driven from that area in the 1830s.  They owned their farms.  The property was taken by their enemies, and subsequent owners cannot have clear title to the land.  In reality, the Church still owns that land.  If it is wiped clean of inhabitants, and if it is contaminated by nuclear residue, no one is going to even want the land.

Except the Church.

The Church wold have power to nullify the effects of radiation by the power of the Priesthood.  Food shortages, electrical shortages, and wars and conflicts will cause Lehi's children to flee to the United States from Mexico and Central America.  Many of them will be members of the Church.  The Church will care for them.  The Church will send them to build the City of Zion.

Conditions will worsen in the world.

“And it shall come to pass … that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.

“And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another.

“And it shall be said among the wicked:  Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand.

“And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy.”  (D&C 45:68-71).

Things are happening.  Things are happening fast.  The Lord is hastening the work in its time.  We are witnesses.  We are participants.  We must not let our hearts fail us.  We must know that God is in control.  We know that we will be saved, and will be safe, as we hang onto our covenants and remain faithful.

Things will get worse, but they will then get better.  The Millennium and its thousand years of peace might begin in just 12 more years.  Those 12 years will be difficult years for everyone, but I just may be able to hang on that long.

Whether I live or die before the Lord comes I will be eyewitness.  I pray for strength and safety to be upon my family and the members of the Church.