Last Days

                    I know that we are living in the latter days and know many prophecies concerning the "last days" of the earth.  I believe that we have entered the "last days" before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  Since I - nor anyone else - do not know the exact day and time that Christ will return, I also do not know how long the "last days" will continue; however, I believe we are close.  Here are some reasons why I believe we are nearing the end of time as we know it.

                    Prophets and Apostles tell us that the Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ was written and brought forth to help us prepare for the second coming of Jesus Christ.  In my daily reading of the Book of Mormon, I have been reading about the conditions on the American continents at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ and particularly those signs of His death.  At the time of Christ's death, the American continents experienced great commotion and upheaval among the elements of nature. 

                    "And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.

                    "And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.

                    "And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land" (3 Nephi 8:5-7).

                    During this great storm numerous cities burned, others were sunk in the depths of the sea, and still others were buried by earth.  The "whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth" (3 Nephi 8:12). 

                    I watched a documentary about Hurricane Sandy and learned some details about how this storm was much worse than others.  There were illustrations about how several forces of nature met in the New Jersey/New York area.  There was a powerful hurricane moving up the East Coast of the United States.  At the same time a winter storm was moving from Montana across the northern states.  There was a low pressure area over Greenland that caused the wind currents to push the hurricane force winds onto shore rather than pushing them off shore as they usually do.  I could not help but think that it was a "perfect storm" - all things coming together to reek great suffering in New Jersey and New York.  Could this "perfect storm" be a fore taste of storms to come?  Could this horrible storm be a reminder that God is all powerful and is in control of all things?  Sandy is not the only "great storm" that has done great damage.  New Orleans has not completely rebuilt after Katrina; cities in the Mid-West are still rebuilding after tornados.  We know from recent storms that great cities can be destroyed in a matter of minutes and hours.

                    Other problems caused by great commotion and upheaval among the elements of nature are "famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes" (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:29).  Could these upheavals in nature be the reason why King Salmon did not return to the rivers of Alaska in 2012?  Could this commotion be causing the great 2012 drought that plagues 60 percent of the land in the Lower 48 states.  I understand that this drought is worse than the one that took place during the Dust Bowl days.  That drought lasted for most of a decade - ten years!  The dust caused the deaths of many people from a disease that was known as "dust pneumonia," which plagued mostly the oldest and youngest people.

                    Another "sign" that we should be watching is the Middle East.  Iran is close to having nuclear weapons; many Muslim nations have vowed that they would drive Israel into the sea and destroy all Jews.  Israel continues to be attacked by various groups in the Middle East.  How long will it be before the groups combine to fight Israel?

                    These are just a few of the signs that we are in the last days.  Stay tuned for more comparisons!