Increased temple attendance is a sign of the times.
Not all the signs of the times are as obvious as events such as the sun turning to blood or a nuclear apocalypse, complete with an accompanying zombie invasion. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying we are going to have a zombie invasion. All I am saying is that some signs of the times are obvious, but others are more subtle. It is these subtle ones that worry me.
Agitated
I know I am not the only one in the world to feel agitated about the state of international politics or even the condition of the citizens of my own country. For the sake of this article I will only address what is going on in the USA. Have you noticed that ever since our political elections in 2016 the vitriol, or spirit of spite has only increased in our country? Everyone feels they have the right to weigh in on any topic anywhere in the country. After all, we all have access to social media, and as such, dirty laundry aired in Miami is as accessible as the dirty laundry in Spokane, Los Angeles, or Bangor, Maine.
We all seem to feel like the world is entitled to our opinion. And in some cases, people act like the world cannot move another inch through space unless our personal opinion has been aired on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or wherever. Everyone seems to be getting up in everyone else’s face about almost everything. People are deliberately setting up situations that cause others to lose their jobs because they are lying about what happened, only to have evidence come out later that shows the accusers were lying all along. There is rarely any demonstrated shame or guilt shown by those who do this.
The whole nation is getting swept up in wave after wave of controversy. If it isn’t about the color of which lives matter or who should be allowed to bake a cake for whatever reason, it is about gun control or sex trafficking. At the time of this writing the hot topic is about separating parents and children at the border when people illegally enter the country. Whatever the current issue is, look at how emotionally wound up everyone is getting about the topic du jour (in other words, the topic of the day).
Frenzy
Start looking at how people are acting when they talk about the latest topic of discussion. Some all but begin to froth at the mouth they get so worked up about the subject. Why? The subject was here yesterday, and will probably be here tomorrow, but why in the present does it cause so much angst?
And talk about cover ups! Those who have operated for decades committing heinous crimes or practices are now being exposed publicly. But which disgusting practice do we espouse to wipe out? The menu of repugnant practices keeps growing faster than we can get a handle on the last half dozen just exposed. Are you seeing a pattern here?
Nothing new
For many of us, these events are disturbing and troubling. It seems like the world has gone crazy. The latest outrage, and everything seems to cause outrage, can be over whether someone ate chicken during gay pride month (how dare he!) or whether someone mistakenly caused a public meltdown because they expressed an opinion in private and someone threw it on Twitter. Even the smallest of things enrage one group or another. Just this morning I read that the President has given one political group exactly what they asked for, but now that same group is screaming accusations against the president of racism and of being a white supremacist. None of it is true, but that doesn’t seem to matter. Rhetoric doesn’t seem to have to be based in reality any more.
This is going on all around us, and not just in the political arena either. So what gives? Where has this insanity come from? As I fretted and stewed over how uncomfortable I am about this state of my country, and the world, a scripture visually entered my mind. I saw a small boat in the middle of the ocean. The winds were howling, tossing the boat like a reed in the wind. The boat was completely uncontrollable. All everyone on board could do was hang on and try not to get swept away. Ephesians 4:14 says this.
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
In the past I have always assumed the doctrine mentioned here was only religious ideas or teachings. But combine this verse with what I found in 3 Nephi 6:13-17 and you get a whole new level of meaning. In 3 Nephi the people had only just outlasted the multiple-year siege from the Gadianton robbers and had gone home to rebuild their homes. For a year or two they were righteous and had peace. But then some began to be lifted up in their pride, and class distinctions appeared, and all of society began to give way to the temptations of the devil.
13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
14 And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord.
15 Now the cause of this iniquity of the people was this—Satan had great power, unto the stirring up of the people to do all manner of iniquity, and to the puffing them up with pride, tempting them to seek for power, and authority, and riches, and the vain things of the world.
16 And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years.
17 And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth year—the people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should—and thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness.
Key points
My point is this – what leads people to do the things they do? We do things that we think will fulfill a need of some sort. It could be a sense of self importance, it could be we believe that by doing something we will gain a small measure of control in a life that feels out of control. We might be seeking popularity or some other vain or foolish thing. The point is that Satan has mastered the art of exploiting our weaknesses, as well as our strengths. Only doing what the Prophet has told us to do will help us stay protected from Satan’s increased power to “lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity.”
Look at verse 17 again. Sound eerily like the Ephesians verse? “The people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should.” This is basically that same statement about being carried about by every wind of doctrine. Isn’t that what is happening in our society today?
None of the social hot topics of today are the root of our problems. By focusing rage and indignation, fervor and fretting on one topic after another that have nothing to do with each other, Satan, and those who follow him, are able to keep everyone off balance, distracted, and unable to see what is really going on. We are being thrown one red herring after another – one distraction after another. Each of these is fraught with emotion and charged with social outrage over some indignity or some horrendous type of behavior. But none of them even remotely hint at our need to repent, to search the scriptures, to love and serve one another, etc.
The more we buy into what the world is being buffeted by, the more we ourselves will be buffeted by these same winds of doctrine. The prophet has shown us how to avoid being knocked about by the concerns of our society that alter with each change of the wind. Here are some of President Nelson’s words from the Saturday afternoon session of General Conference from April, 2018.
Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work. …
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. … Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and to hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.
Final Thoughts
Please don’t get me wrong here. I am not saying that some lives matter more than others. I am not saying that one political party is better or worse than another one. I don’t claim to be indifferent about whether children are separated from their parents who illegally entered our country. What I am saying is that the rage, the indignation, the emotionally charged conversations that take place around these changing topics is all unnecessary. When our main focus is on seeking the peace only the Spirit can bring, we will be able to see beyond the hot topic of today, and see that the greater issues reside in whether or not we are reading our scriptures enough, attending the temple often enough, serving our neighbor with greater love, etc. These are the real issues that should govern our lives, not what is popular to discuss on social media.
More and more I am coming to realize that I can be in the world, and aware of what is important to the world, but still be able to go my own way. All the problems of the world will someday go away. They will all just disappear, but only as soon as the people repent and turn to God for help. Until that happens, Satan will lead the whole world on a merry chase that leads nowhere, but to hell. Every new disaster will engender greater rage and sorrow, more and more distrust and resentment, and harden hearts instead of soften them.
I believe that today’s social behavior is one of the signs of the times. The world is getting caught up in everyone else’s business, but neglecting their own salvation. The saints shouldn’t follow this example. We have had our priorities and responsibilities laid out for us by our leaders. If we want peace in our homes and neighborhoods, we must leave the contention and fluster of the world at the door and revel in the spiritual gifts that come from ministering in love to our family and friends. We will sleep soundly, knowing our behavior is pleasing to God and our Savior. Remember, the problems of the world will only get worse. That doesn’t mean we have to let any of that in our homes, wards, branches, and stakes. Now is the time for us to rise above the degrading society in which we live, and live a better life in Christ and his gospel.
Very thoughtful ….I guess you are saying we should relax….which I can do, since I’m 83 and won’t have to
stay in these “last days” too long! Love this author!!!!
I Just love this sign, because it is clearly pointing to our day today, and it cannot be refuted by anyone. Throughout history we have had a slow and little increase in knowledge. But take a look at the EXPLOSION of knowledge over the past 150 years! Up until recently in history, the fastest form of transport was a horse. Now man can travel at hundreds of miles per hour, and cross the globe in a day! Technology has developed at a rapid pace, which has led to great improvements in computer power, scientific discoveries and the medical profession. Just look at how much we have learned about the human body with things like DNA and Cellular Structures etc. And how about “running to and fro”? This is pointing specifically to our day with planes, trains, automobiles and the busyness of modern day life. We are definately running to and fro and have knowledge like no time before us.
End Time Sign – ABILITY TO ENFORCE THE MARK
Revelation 13:17 …’And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.’
Now this is a sign that most people miss! Have to think about it … What needs to happen in order for the “beast system” to stop people from buying and selling if they refuse the mark? We need to have a worldwide financial system whereby everything bought and sold is through electronic means, not cash.
Has there been any time in history where this could happen? No. Are WE living in a day where this could happen? Most certainly, yes! And the powers of this world are now trying to make cash obsolete, and are actively pushing pure electronic forms of payment, like “PayPal” and “Google Wallet” for instance. Take a look at the news and you will see this being reported in different countries of the world.
Sweden close to being a Cashless Society
Cash is Dead, are Credit Cards Next?
Nigeria Deploying Biometric Technology Throughout the Banking System
Mastercard Tracking Global Economies Heading for Cashless Societies
Israel Leaders Pushing for a Cashless Society
UN World Food Program Pushing Smart Cards and Digital Payment
Cashless Society Drive Gaining Momentum in Rwanda
Above is just a few examples of the major push throughout the world for a cashless society. We have the techonology to do this now, which in times past wasn’t possible. And look at the financial turmoil around the world today. This will help in bringing in a “unified” currency to help make it possible to enforce the mark of the beast. Technology isn’t the mark, but technology is needed for proper enforcement of it. This is a SURE sign of the end times!
Ray, thanks for your observations. If the last days is anything, they aren’t boring! We just need to keep our eyes open and be able to see things for what they are, and not let the events of the last days affect our membership in the Lord’s Church.
Wow, I needed this, it’s not like you don’t see whats happening. Every day its something and it just gets worse our family has recently experienced some of the evil Oct 1st 2017 and you know Satan is doing everything in his power to destroy families, I see how people just turn on each other if you don’t agree with them, no-one can agree on anything. I have to remind myself constantly to hold on to the Iron rod and that along with the evil there is always good, thanks so much for this Post.
Gaynor,
I was just pointing out to my daughter tonight that what everyone was so upset about just two weeks ago has morphed into rage over the government agency many are blaming for the problem they blamed someone else for two weeks ago. It really does never end. I’m glad we can live with our eyes wide open and our focus on goals that matter.
It’s Los Angeles. And Bangalore is in India. I think you meant Bangor, Maine.
Thank you Timothy, I must have been typing in my sleep.