Presidential campaigns are
usually raucous events, and the 2016 election was even more so. Millions of
Americans expected Hillary Clinton to be the next President of the United
States. She seemed to be the “anointed one” because it was her “turn.” Election
night was a stunner for most Americans as we watched state after state called
for Donald Trump. In the end Trump won the most Electoral College votes and
became the next President of the United States.
After such a noisy and hateful
election, I was ready for calm and actually thought it would come. It did
not. A few hate-filled Americans refused
to accept the results of the election and decided to throw temper tantrums in
an effort to overturn the outcome. Protests turned into riots and mob actions
that lasted for months, destroyed much property, and sometimes took lives. The
last such violence took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, just a month or so
ago and ended with three dead Americans.
As I watched these events taking
place in our nation, I was also studying the Book of Mormon – Another Testament
of Jesus Christ. As I read this book of scripture, I felt like I was reading
current events. For example, I read of people being “stirred up to anger” and
committing evil acts - just like the rioters. I read of palace intrigue and several
attempts to overthrow the government by secret combinations. I read of prophets
visiting the people and calling them to repentance. When the people listened to
the prophets and repented of their sins, they had peace and prosperity among
them. When they rejected the prophets and even killed some of them, their lives
worsened.
These were some of my thoughts when Hurricane
Harvey barreled into the Texas coast and hovered over the Houston area for
several days pouring copious amounts of water over the region. People lost
their lives, and property was destroyed. No sooner had Hurricane Harvey exited
than Hurricane Irma headed toward Florida and/or the East Coast. Not far behind
Irma, Hurricane Jose is picking up power.
At the same time we hear of fires burning much
of the Northwest. Over a million acres have burned in Montana with fires raging
in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, and other western states. Smoke hangs heavy
over many cities. Again, lives and property are lost. In addition, there was an
8.2 earthquake in Mexico, a 5.3 earthquake in Japan, and hundreds of unusual
earthquakes in the southern Idaho-northern Utah area. Anchorage saw its own 4.1
earthquake this week followed by a mini-mini hurricane with a heavy downpour of
rain and strong winds.
As I read of the devastations
happening in other parts of the United States and experience Alaska’s own
storms of nature, I cannot help but think of more teachings from the Book of
Mormon. Prophets went forth among the people, warning them that great
destructions were coming if they did not repent. A minority of the people
repented of their sins and turned to God, but the vast majority continued in
their wickedness. The wickedness grew so bad that the people divided into
tribes and destroyed the government.
The words of the prophets came to
pass. Great destruction took place in ancient America at the time that Jesus
Christ died in Jerusalem. No one had seen such a “great storm” that arose.
There was “a great and terrible tempest,” thunder so loud that “it did shake
the whole earth,” and “sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all
the land” (3 Nephi 8:5-7).
Sixteen named cities were destroyed;
some were burned by fire, some were sunk in the sea, and some were buried in
the earth. (See 3 Nephi 9:3-16.) A voice from heaven tells the survivors that these cities were destroyed
because the inhabitants of them were so wicked.
The city of Jacobugath was burned
with fire “because of their sins and their wickedness, which was above all the
wickedness of the whole earth, because of their secret murders and
combinations; for it was they that did destroyed the peace of my people and the
government of the land” (3 Nephi 9:9).
The more righteous people survived
all the disasters and gathered at the temple in the land of Bountiful. There
the Savior appeared to them and taught them His gospel for three days and on several
later occasions. These were the people who believed the prophets, repented of
their sins, and baptized. They received great blessings for their obedience. (See
The people in the Book of Mormon
were warned that destructions were coming if they did not repent, and we are
currently being warned. Prophets and other representatives of the Lord have
been traveling through the United States and throughout the world for nearly
200 years and calling the people to repentance. A small minority of the people
have listened to the prophets and repented, but the vast majority is growing in
wickedness as time passes. Are we like the Nephites? Are these hurricanes,
fires, and other natural disasters – plus the violence in our nation and
threats of war from overseas – signs that we have not repented sufficiently?
We know that the Lord speaks in a
quiet voice to those who are listening. To those who refuse to hear the still
small voice of the Spirit, the Lord speaks in louder ways. Amos, a prophet in
Old Testament times, tells us that the “Lord God will do nothing, but he
revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).
I know that the Savior will return
to the earth. I know that the wicked will be destroyed in the process, and the
righteous will be blessed. The prophets have spoken many times over a period of
hundreds and thousands of years. They call us to repentance and tell us that
our safety lies in our righteousness. Are we listening to the prophets, or will
the Lord have to use more powerful means to get our attention and to prepare us
for His return?
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