Prophetic Preemption

“Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore, by these things they polluted their inheritances. They were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God, therefore the Lord their God is slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel, but in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me” (RE T&C 101:2, emphasis added).

This passage is quoted frequently as an example of behavior’s polluting the inheritances of the Lord’s people. Avoiding those behaviors is relevant to preserving the inheritance the Lord offers. The focus of this paper is on the latter half of the verse. There appears reoccurring patterns of reciprocity in how the Lord deals with us. For example, in the previous paper it was emphasized how the Lord judges us according to the manner we judge our fellow man.

          The Lord explains, how we hearken to His voice [“whether by my voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” RE T&C 54:7], determines how He responds to us. In this example, the saints were slow to hearken to the Lord and His servants. In turn, He is slow to hearken to their prayers.

          In the day of peace we lose a sense of expediency and our relationship with the Lord is more casual. In contrast, “in the day of trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” We are guilty of becoming casual in our relationship with the Lord when our blessings are abundant. Let adversity disrupt our prosperity and our condition takes on greater seriousness and expediency. In those times we find God, even if it is a delayed response.

“ . . . For thus says the Lord: that after seventy years are accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you in causing you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord — thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will listen unto you. And you shall seek me and find me when you shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, says the Lord. And I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you again into the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive” (RE Jeremiah 11:1, emphasis added).

The Jews under king Zedekiah are carried captive into ancient Babylon, (a future type). In the latter-days the Lord warned early saints of their captivity in modern Babylon. The opportunity for the Gentiles to flee modern Babylon is extended by the Lord first. Then the Jews [Israel] are liberated from Babylonian captivity thereafter.

          Ancient Babylon had territorial borders but latter-day Babylon has no such borders. Today, Babylon’s boundaries are culturally steeped in corruption and spiritual wickedness. Exodus from modern Babylon is a departure from spiritual wickedness in the minds and hearts of those remaining faithful to God. The wicked forget God and live ungodly lives.

“Hearken, O you people of my church [congregation], says the Lord your God, and hear the word of the Lord concerning you, the Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple, the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment, yea, upon all the nations that forget God and upon all the ungodly among you, for he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. Wherefore, prepare yourselves, prepare yourselves, O you my people, sanctify yourselves, gather yourselves together, O you people of my church upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go out from Babylon, be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies and speak often one to another, and let every man call upon the name of the Lord.

Yea, verily I say unto you again, the time has come when the voice of the Lord is unto you: Go out of Babylon, gather yourselves out from among the nations, from the four winds, from one end of Heaven to the other. Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off, unto the islands of the sea. Send forth unto foreign lands, call upon all nations, firstly upon the gentiles and then upon the Jews. And behold and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go forth unto the land of Zion, that the borders of my people may be enlarged, and that her stakes may be strengthened, and that Zion may go forth unto the regions round about. Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom. Behold and lo, the Bridegroom comes, go out to meet him; prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord. Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Let them therefore which are among the gentiles flee unto Zion, and let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountains of the Lord’s house. Go out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon. But verily thus says the Lord: Let not your flight be in haste, but let all things be prepared before you; and he that goes, let him not look back, lest sudden destruction shall come upon him” (RE T&C 58:1-2, emphasis added).

This admonition from the Lord is more timely today than in the day it was given. The faithful gather themselves from among the nations. Initially, this isn’t a call by the Lord to leave homelands. It is a call to prepare to leave. The Lord’s plea to His people is to become sanctified and cleansed vessels for bearing the Lord’s words. Their cry is for the world to gather to Zion. For that gathering, Zion must prepare. Land must be purchased, but we risk forfeiting our inheritance if we pollute the inheritance through our conduct. The Lord doubly emphasized commission is to prepare and sanctify ourselves.

“Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourself, make yourself clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do well. Seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now and let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it” (RE Isaiah 1:3, emphasis added).

We cannot bear the Lord’s vessels without being clean first. Our hearts and minds must “awake and arise” to repent and face the Lord. In the Lord’s original admonition, He pled with His people to prepare themselves and Zion as a place where the world gathers. As discussed in the preceding paper, we must find our way to a “broken heart and contrite spirit.” The change of heart makes us sanctified and gives us hearts and minds that are “willing” and “obedient,” worthy to eat “the good of the land.” Conditions in Zion must be a departure from Babylon’s path. One that is different so those with righteous desires are drawn intuitively.

“ . . . for the Lord will have a place whence His word will go forth, in these last days, in purity; for if Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; for His work will go on until Israel is gathered, and they who will not hear His voice, must expect to feel His wrath. Let me say unto you, seek to purify yourselves, and also the inhabitants of Zion, lest the Lord's anger be kindled to fierceness” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (p. 17, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition.

We, [the Gentiles] are experiencing great difficulty establishing a people sanctified to occupy Zion. There have been many sacred truth’s revealed. They expand our understanding of the scriptures and teachings of Joseph Smith. We look back upon the traditions of our father’s and rejoice over our increased knowledge. As enlightened as we believe ourselves to be, few have found their way to sanctification and worthiness to bear the Lord’s vessels. Babylon remains our place of spiritual residence and our choices clouded by false traditions and cultural norms. As Joseph Smith alludes and prophetic voices declare, we have not purified ourselves to be approved of all things in the Lord’s sight. While many are called, few remain chosen.

“After learning that the Lord intends to accomplish His work through our group, or at least a remnant that includes some from our group,[1] I was then told that the Lord has given us a name. When the Lord names His people He then commits to work with them, for there is no reason for Him to name what He intends to abandon. Even if the people reject Him, for at least three and four generations the Lord will reach out to recover them. Only when they have altogether gone too far astray will He then end His work with the people He has named, to choose and work with another people. Therefore, the fact He has now named us holds great significance. This is what the Lord has declared: This is what you shall say to the people: “I give to you a name to distinguish you from others, and you shall call one another by this name: ‘Covenant Christians’ because you have and hold a covenant with me that make you my followers deserving of my protection. But my protection does not only defend, but also corrects, reproves, disciplines and guides you along that you may be mine indeed” (God’s Covenant People, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.28, emphasis added).

The Lord now looks upon us as “Covenant Christians” and offers protection and defense, but that is not all. Along with His divine protection is a promise He will correct and reprove us until, as Joseph Smith warned, we are purified and approved by the Lord in all things. That purification may come in the “refiners fire and fuller’s soap” of affliction.[2]

“And now Melchizedek was a priest of this Order, therefore he obtained peace in Salem and was called the Prince of Peace. And his people wrought righteousness, and obtained Heaven, and sought for the city of Enoch which God had before taken, separating it from the earth, having reserved it unto the latter days, or the end of the world, and has said and sworn with an oath that the heavens and the earth should come together, and the sons of God should be tried so as by fire [Elijah or adversity]. And this Melchizedek, having thus established righteousness, was called the King of Heaven by his people — or in other words, the King of Peace” (RE Genesis 7:20, emphasis added).

The coming together of Heaven and earth and the sons of God being tried by fire represents the coming of Elijah in the last days and return of the peoples of Enoch and Melchizedek. They will greet one another with kisses on the neck and a loving embrace.

“And Enoch wept and cried unto the Lord again, saying, When shall the earth rest? And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend up unto the Father, and he called unto the Lord, saying, Will you not come again upon the earth? For inasmuch as you are God, and I know you, and you have sworn unto me and commanded me that I should ask in the name of your Only Begotten, you have made me, and given unto me a right to your throne, and not of myself, but through your own grace. Wherefore, I ask you if you will not come again on the earth. And the Lord said unto Enoch, As I live, even so will I come in the last days, in the days of wickedness and vengeance, to fulfill the oath which I have made unto you concerning the children of Noah. And the day shall come that the earth shall rest. But before that day, the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth. And great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve. And righteousness will I send down out of Heaven. Truth will I send forth out of the earth to bear testimony of my Only Begotten, his resurrection from the dead, yea, and also the resurrection of all men. And righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out my own elect from the four quarters of the earth unto a place which I shall prepare, a holy city, that my people may gird up their loins and be looking forth for the time of my coming. For there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem. And the Lord said unto Enoch, Then shall you and all your city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom. And they shall see us, and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other; and there shall be my abode. And it shall be Zion which shall come forth out of all the creations which I have made, and for the space of a thousand years shall the earth rest” (RE Genesis 4:22, emphasis added).

The last days are days of wickedness and vengeance. The heavens will be darkened and a veil of darkness [absence of light and truth] covers the earth. It will be a time of great tribulation among the children of men but the Lord’s promise is He will preserve His people.

          In the midst of these darkened conditions the Lord promises the earth will be swept with righteousness and truth like a flood. As wickedness swept the earth and caused the Lord to purge it with the flood in Noah’s day, the Lord floods the earth with righteousness and truth. This latter-day flood gathers the Lord’s people to Zion, a holy city prepared for the Savior’s return.

“What shall I talk about to-day? I know what Brother Cahoon wants me to speak about. He wants me to speak about the coming of Elijah in the last days. I can see it in his eye. I will speak upon that subject then. The Bible says, "I will send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Now, the word turn here should be translated bind, or seal. But what is the object of this important mission? Or how is it to be fulfilled? The keys are to be delivered, the spirit of Elijah is to come, the Gospel to be established, the Saints of God gathered, Zion built up, and the Saints to come up as saviors on Mount Zion. But how are they to become saviors on Mount Zion? By building their temples, erecting their baptismal fonts, and going forth and receiving all the ordinances, baptisms, confirmations, washings, anointings, ordinations and sealing powers upon their heads, in behalf of all their progenitors who are dead, and redeem them that they may come forth in the first resurrection and be exalted to thrones of glory with them; and herein is the chain that binds the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, which fulfills the mission of Elijah. And I would to God that this temple was now done, that we might go into it, and go to work and improve our time, and make use of the seals while they are on earth. The Saints have not too much time to save and redeem their dead, and gather together their living relatives, that they may be saved also, before the earth will be smitten, and the consumption decreed falls upon the world. I would advise all the Saints to go with their might and gather together all their living relatives to this place, that they may be sealed and saved, that they may be prepared against the day that the destroying angel goes forth; and if the whole Church should go to with all their might to save their dead, seal their posterity, and gather their living friends, and spend none of their time in behalf of the world, they would hardly get through before night would come, when no man can work; and my only trouble at the present time is concerning ourselves, that the Saints will be divided, broken up, and scattered, before we get our salvation secure; for there are so many fools in the world for the devil to operate upon, it gives him the advantage oftentimes” (Smith Jr., Joseph. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith (pp. 378-379, emphasis added). Deseret Book Company. Kindle Edition).

I’ve written many things about the Spirit of Elijah in prior papers and won’t address the subject here. My intent is to suggest the fire to which the sons of God may be tried by is the coming of Elijah when he returns as he left, in a pillar of fire. The manifestation of his power in the last days has a similar effect on false latter-day priests as it did with the priests of Baal.

A Type for Our Day

          Following the introduction of the Covenant of Christ I was drawn to accounts in Helaman and the beginning of 3 Nephi. My interest in these books is because of their proximity to the coming of Jesus Christ to this land. There are prophetic parallels between events in the days of those accounts and modern and ancient prophecies of the latter and last days.

          What follows are similarities between events occurring in their day exemplifying prophecies of our day. Understanding these similarities requires more than a casual reading. The details of events are where prophetic markers are found. Building upon the prior discussion of a Gentile remnant joining descendants of Lehi, assisting in the New Jerusalem and Zion is a good beginning. I suggest you read footnote 1 of this paper if you have not read it.

Covenant Differences Between Lehi’s Sons

          Prior to Lehi’s passing, he pronounced blessings upon his children and grandchildren. Blessings on his grandchildren are more broadly focused on their fulfillment. To the children of Laman and Lemuel, Lehi said:    

“ . . . he called Laman’s children, his sons and daughters, and said to them: My sons and daughters, who are the children of my first born, I want you to listen to me carefully. The Lord God has said: To the degree you keep My commandments, you’ll prosper in the land. But to the degree you don’t keep My commandments, you’ll be cut off from My presence. However, my sons and daughters, I can’t go down to my grave without leaving a blessing upon you. I know that if you’re brought up in the way you should live, you won’t stray from it. Therefore if you’re cursed, I leave my blessing upon you so that the cursing will be taken from you and your parents will be responsible for it. And because of my blessing, the Lord God won’t allow you to perish: He’ll be merciful to you and your descendants forever.

After my father had finished speaking to Laman’s children, he had Lemuel’s children brought to him, telling them: My sons and daughters, who are the children of my second son, I’m giving you the same blessing I gave Laman’s children; therefore your posterity won’t be completely destroyed, and in the end, your descendants will be blessed” (CofC 2 Nephi 3:2-3, emphasis added).

Lehi knew his grandchildren from Laman and Lemuel would be cursed. He petitioned the Lord to place responsibility for the cursing upon the heads of their parents. Their posterity would suffer cursing, but the Lord promised Lehi they would not be destroyed. In the end Laman and Lemuel’s posterity would be blessed.

          Nephi’s posterity would not receive the same treatment. Traditions established by Nephi were covenant based and offered more abundant blessings rather than cursing for those who obeyed God’s commandments. Rather than dwell upon the many righteous posterity coming from his children, Nephi was overcome with their eventual outcome.

“After I had been carried away in the Spirit and seen all these things, I returned to my father’s tent. I saw my brothers, and they were arguing with each other about what my father told them. He had told them many great things that were hard to understand unless a person asked the Lord. Because they were hard-hearted, they didn’t look to the Lord as they should have. I was troubled because of their stubbornness and because of the things I had seen, and I knew that it was inevitable that the things would happen because of the great wickedness of mankind. Since I had seen their fall, I was overwhelmed by my troubles, thinking my sorrow was more than anyone else because of the destruction of my people” (CofC 1 Nephi 4:1, emphasis added).

Many souls turned to God because of Lehi and Nephi’s righteous traditions. Nevertheless, unlike the posterity of his elder brothers, Nephi witnessed the eventual fall and destruction of his people.

          If descendants of Laman and Lemuel were to be preserved in the end, becoming blessed people, the opposite is true for Nephi’s people. We know the prophecies of Lehi and Nephi were fulfilled because of the account of Moroni who witnessed the Nephite destruction.

“Now I Moroni will finish my father Mormon’s record. I only have a few things to write, things I was commanded to write by my father. After the great and awful battle at Cumorah, any Nephites who escaped to the south were hunted by the Lamanites and all killed. They killed my father also. As a result, I’m the only one who remains to write the sad tale of my people’s destruction. They’re gone, and I will follow my father’s commandment. I don’t know whether they’ll kill me. Therefore I’ll write and conceal the records in the ground. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. My father has made this record, and he has described its purpose. I would also write about it if I had room on the plates, but I don’t. I don’t have any ore, as I’m alone. My father was killed in battle, along with all my relatives. I don’t have any friends or anywhere to go. I don’t know how long the Lord will let me live. Four hundred years have come and gone since the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Lamanites have hunted down my people the Nephites from city to city and place to place until they’re all dead. Their fall was immense; indeed, the destruction of my people the Nephites is remarkable and astonishing. It’s the Lord’s hand that’s done it. The Lamanites are now at war with each other — the whole land is one continual round of murder and killing, and no one knows when the war will end.

Now I won’t describe them further, since there isn’t anyone living now except Lamanites and robbers . . .” (CofC Mormon 4:1-2, emphasis added). 

Moroni closes the record of the Nephite destruction, as a solitary witness. The Nephites came to an end because they hardened their hearts and turned from the Lord. The Lamanites continued to co-exist with the robbers of Gaddianton, but were not blessed except to survive. Their blessings come when their hearts are softened and they receive the witness of the Covenant of Christ and other scriptural witnesses growing together to restore the knowledge they’ve lost.[3]

          In preparation for the coming of Christ to the Nephites, a reckoning for the Nephite and Lamanite converts was necessary. Both were oppressed by robbers of Gaddianton and the Nephites “faced the threat of complete destruction” if they failed to repent.[4] Of necessity it became expedient for the Nephites and Lamanites to unite. When the union occurred between the Nephites and Lamanites we find the curse of God lifted from the Lamanites.

“The [Nephite] people remained wicked despite the preaching and prophesying constantly provided to them. The 10th year ended; and the 11th year also ended with continuing iniquity. In the 13th year, wars and conflicts started everywhere, because the Gaddianton robbers were so numerous, killed so many people, ruined so many cities, and spread so much death and carnage throughout the land that it was necessary for all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, to fight against them. So all the Lamanite converts to the Lord united with the Nephites, and for the mutual protection of themselves and their women and children, they took up arms against the Gaddianton gang of robbers. They fought to maintain their rights, the privilege of their congregation to worship, and their freedom and liberty.

Before this 13th year ended, the Nephites faced the threat of complete destruction because of the terrible, widespread war. Now the Lamanites who had joined with the Nephites were included as part of the Nephites. Their curse was removed, and their countenance became pure and radiant like the Nephites. Their young men and women became very beautiful and were included as and called Nephites. And so ended the 13th year” (CofC 3 Nephi 1:10-11, emphasis added).

When the Nephites and Lamanites dismissed their differences and united against their common enemy, God lifted the Lamanite curse. The Savior’s prophecy of Israel’s gathering in the last days offers a similar contingency to the Gentiles if a remnant remains faithful to the Lord. 

“But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance [descendants of Lehi]. They [Gentiles] will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1, emphasis added).

The promise of the Lord to the Gentiles is if they repent and hearken to His words, not hardening their hearts, He establishes His congregation amongst them. If the Gentiles fail to comply, their fate will be similar to the Nephites.

“At that time, to advance My cause, the Father will begin a work, which will be a great and awe-inspiring work among them [Gentiles]. There will be many who won’t believe it, although a man will tell it to them. But the ministry of My servant will be led by My hand; therefore they won’t be able to harm his work, although he’ll be opposed and discredited by them. Yet I’ll support him; I’ll show them My wisdom is greater than the accuser’s deceitful scheming. Therefore those who won’t believe in My words, and I Am Jesus Christ, which the Father will give and empower that servant to set before the Gentiles, it will result exactly as Moses said: They will be cut off from My people who are part of the covenant. And then you, a remnant of the house of Jacob, will rise up from them. And you’ll be mixed in with them who will outnumber you. You’ll be among them like a lion among his prey in the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who moves unopposed to take down and tear to pieces. Your hand will be against your opponents and all your enemies will be cut down. Yes, woe to the Gentiles unless they repent: For when that day comes, says the Father, I’ll take away your strength from you, and I’ll destroy your security. Your cities will fall and I’ll break open your guarded borders. Your sciences and learning will turn into foolishness, and your false beliefs will cause your failure. I’ll expose the fraud of those in authority, and your trusted institutions will lose everyone’s loyalty. False prophets and false ministers will be brought to shame and humiliation. All lying, deceiving, envying, strife, priestcraft, and whoredoms will come to an end. At that time, says the Father, I’ll cut down anyone who won’t repent and draw near to My Beloved Son to preserve My people, the house of Israel. I’ll take vengeance and unleash My fierce anger on all the unbelieving, beyond anything they expect” (CofC 3 Nephi 9:12, emphasis added).

The Lord sends His servant among the Gentiles to deliver the Savior’s words. “Many” won’t believe him and oppose the mission of the Lord’s servant. Opposition of the many will not thwart the Lord’s servant. Those who believe the servant are joined to the Lord’s congregation among the Gentiles and unite with Lehi’s descendants.

          The wicked rejecting the Lord’s servant suffer and are cut-off from the Lord’s people, Israel. This outcome was foretold in our day as well in the days of Joseph Smith.

“And when that day shall come shall a remnant be scattered among all nations; but they shall be gathered again, but they shall remain until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion. And men’s hearts shall fail them and shall say that Christ delays his coming until the end of the world, and the love of men shall wax cold and iniquity shall abound. And when the times of the gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel, but they receive it not, for they perceive not the light and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

And in that generation shall the times of the gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be men standing in that generation that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge, for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. But my disciples shall stand in holy places and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices, and curse God, and die. And there shall be earthquakes also in diverse places and many desolations. Yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword one against another and they will kill one another” (RE T&C 31:6-7, emphasis added).

The gathering of Israel is delayed until the Lord completes His work among the Gentiles. In the day of His final effort gathering Gentiles to Him, it will be as a light breaking among those sitting in darkness. It will be the “fullness of my gospel,” but the Gentiles generally refuse it. They reject the servant and the words of Christ he delivers. The Lord’s disciples stand in holy places while the wicked “lift up their voices, curse God and die.”

          The servant the Lord sends to deliver His words is currently among the Gentiles, having been present for some time. He has given similar counsel to those who receive the words of the Lord and His covenant.

“Those who've entered faithfully into the covenant this day are going to notice some things. The spirit of God is withdrawing from the world. Men are increasingly more angry without good cause. The hearts of men are waxing cold. There is increasing anger and resentment of gentiles. In political terms, it’s rejection of white privilege. Language of scriptures description of the events now underway calls it the end of the times of the gentiles. This process with the spirit withdrawing, will end on this continent, as two prior civilizations ended in fratricidal and genocidal warfare. For the rest of the world, it will be as in the days of Noah in which, as that light becomes eclipsed, the coldness of men’s hearts is going to result in a constant scene of violence and bloodshed. The wicked will destroy the wicked. The covenant, if it is kept, will prevent you from losing light and warmth of heart as the spirit now steadily recedes from the world. The time will come when you will be astonished at the gulf between the light and truth you will comprehend and the darkness of mind of the world. Be charitable and patient and labor to reach others. They will judge you harshly, but nevertheless be kind to them. They’re going to grow to fear you, but that’s only part of how darkness responds to light. Give them no reason to fear you. The time will come for us to gather, but between now and then, be leaven. Preserve the world. Be salt. Preserve the world, even if it hates you” (Closing Remarks, Covenant of Christ Conference, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.1, emphasis added).

These references draw similarities between ancient times and today. We are adept at identifying cycles in the Covenant of Christ like cycles of pride. Having identified similarities between now and then, a novel approach would be to examine ancient outcomes and  reverse engineer our manners of behavior. This would circumvent the cycle process and avoid past mistakes made repeatedly.

          In the account where the Nephites and Lamanites join together to unitedly confront the robbers of Gaddianton there are solutions by inspired men used to thwart evil. There is evidence we face the same evil confronted by them. For example, the righteous governor of the Nephites, Lachoneus immediately began preparations when the threat from the robbers was imminent. His inspired solution was to gather his people to the center of the land with their livestock and supplies and fortify the land against robbers. His preparations saved his people.

“Now the governor Lachoneus was a righteous man and couldn’t be frightened by a robber’s demands and threats. Therefore he gave no attention to the letter from Giddianhi, the robbers’ governor, but he had his people call upon the Lord for strength in preparation for when the robbers attacked them. Indeed, he sent a proclamation among all the people to gather their women, children, flocks, herds, and all their belongings, leaving their lands behind, and gather into one place. He had fortifications built all around them, and he reinforced that place. He also had Nephite and Lamanite armed forces (meaning all of them also included as Nephites), look out in every direction to watch and guard against the robbers, day and night. He declared to them: As the Lord lives, unless you repent of all your iniquities and cry out to the Lord, there’s no way you’ll be saved from these Gaddianton robbers. Lachoneus’ words and prophecies were so alarming that they made everyone afraid. Therefore they made every effort to do what Lachoneus said.

Lachoneus appointed chief captains to command all the Nephite armed forces in preparation for when the robbers came down out of the wilderness to attack. Now the overall commander was appointed to be the supreme commander of all the Nephite armed forces, and his name was Gidgiddoni. It was a Nephite custom, except during times of wickedness, to appoint as their chief captains those who had the spirit of revelation and the spirit of prophecy. Accordingly, Gidgiddoni, a great prophet, was appointed, and so too was the chief judge” (CofC 3 Nephi 2:3-4, emphasis added).

The Nephites were given prophetic warnings from Lachoneus, governor of the people of Nephi and the Lamanites. He first called “upon the Lord for strength in preparation.” His counsel bears a striking resemblance to the Lord’s words to the latter-day saints of Joseph Smith’s day.

“the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment, yea, upon all the nations that forget God and upon all the ungodly among you, for he shall make bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of their God. Wherefore, prepare yourselves, prepare yourselves, O you my people, sanctify yourselves, gather yourselves together, O you people of my church [congregation] upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go out from Babylon, be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” (RE T&C 58:1-2, emphasis added).

If similar circumstances were prophesied for our day, the presumption would be the Lord’s counsel to these generations would be relevant for our time.

“I Moroni am not writing the details of their oaths and conspiracies, since it has been revealed to me that they exist among all people; and they exist among the Lamanites. And they’ve brought about the people’s destruction, whom I’m now writing about, as well as the Nephites’ destruction. Any nation that upholds such secret conspiracies, to get power and wealth, until they spread throughout the nation, will be destroyed. Because the Lord won’t permit the blood of His holy ones, which will be shed by them, to always cry out to Him from the ground for vengeance without avenging them. Therefore, you Gentiles, it’s God’s wisdom for you to be shown these things, so you’ll repent of your sins and not allow these murderous conspiracies, that are always set up for power and money, to control you, so that you won’t provoke your own destruction. Indeed, the sword of the justice of the Eternal God will fall upon you, to your ruin and destruction, if you allow these things to continue. Therefore the Lord commands you, when you see these things come among you, to wake up to a sense of your awful situation because of this secret society that’s come into existence among you. Woe to this conspiracy on account of the blood of those who have been killed; they cry out from the dust for vengeance upon it, and upon those who make and support it.

Indeed, whoever builds it up hopes to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries. These conspiracies bring about everyone’s destruction since they’re built up by the accuser, who’s the father of all lies. He’s the same liar who deceived our first parents, who caused people from the start to commit murder. He’s hardened people’s hearts so that they’ve murdered the prophets, stoned them, and banished them. As a result, I’ve been commanded to write these things so evil can be ended. And so the time will come when Satan won’t have any power over people’s hearts, so they can be persuaded to always do good and come to the Source of all righteousness and be saved” (CofC Ether 3:18-19, emphasis added).

The Lord warned latter-day Gentiles secret combinations exist among all people. In the last days they are present and when Gentiles discover their presence; they should awaken to the imminent threat their destruction is swiftly approaching.

          There are many names for secret societies with covert agenda’s to rob men of their freedom and give power and gain to those supporting and preserving them. Today the appropriate name for these conditions is “Babylon.” A particularly sobering development would be a contemporary voice representing the Savior alluding to similar conditions foretold by Moroni.

“The Electoral College was adopted by the Constitutional fathers to prevent a dictatorship by population centers. But concentration of power in population centers is trending more and more.

Washington DC, Boston, New York, Pittsburg, Detroit, Chicago and Philadelphia are utterly dependent upon rural American to exist. They cannot eat without constant re-supply coming from rural America.

If rural America, called “fly-over-country” by the urban centers of political power, were ever to awaken to their ability to decimate, even destroy the urban centers, it would recalibrate political power in the United States.

At some point, it is foreseeable, that rural America will tire of the arrogance of the crowded and vulnerable big cities. When that happens, the Republic itself will undergo a needed realignment and the arrogant will be humbled.

We live in an interesting time. Our day resembles the time when the United States of America was founded: When a great number awakened to tyranny and decided to brook it no longer” (Republic and Arrogance blogpost, Denver Snuffer Jr., November 25, 2020).

It is interesting how history rectifies wrongs in the same manner. The righteous call upon God for forgiveness and divine protection and prepare by gathering to a center to protect and preserve one another. Those who grow prosperous on the labors of others soon find their extravagant lifestyles were granted by the good grace of those living more modestly.

Prophetic Preemption

          The Covenant of Christ is a testament of the predictability of mankind’s behavior. They repeatedly follow the cycle of pride from prosperity to suffering and eventual humility. The cycle is not an irrevocable divine mandate. It is a pattern man insists repeating when they become  prosperous and forget God is the source of their prosperity. When they abandon Him, peace and prosperity flee with destruction soon following.

          If we were wise and humble, we would seek to take counsel from the experiences of those who have gone before. When the Lord proclaims:

 “hear the word of the Lord concerning you . . . Wherefore, prepare yourselves, prepare yourselves, O you my people, sanctify yourselves, gather yourselves together, O you people of my church [congregation] upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry. Go out from Babylon, be clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Call your solemn assemblies and speak often one to another, and let every man call upon the name of the Lord” (RE T&C 58:1-2, emphasis added).

Responding humbly, “Yea, Lord, we hear thee and will obey,” pleading for the Holy Ghost [mind of the Father]; thereafter to be sanctified before Him. Becoming resolute about studying the scriptures and preparing both spiritually and temporarily. Mirroring the attitude and attributes of those who survived the robbers and proclaimed the following:

“ . . . May the Lord preserve His people in righteousness and holiness of heart, so they can cut down all who attempt to kill them to gain power and join secret conspiracies, just as this man has been cut down to the ground. They rejoiced and shouted again together, saying: May the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob protect this people in righteousness, so long as they call on God’s name for protection. And they burst out as one, singing and praising God for the great thing He had done for them in preserving them from falling into their enemies’ hands. Indeed, they cried out: Hallelujah to the Most High God! They cried out: May the Lord God Almighty’s name be blessed, the Most High God! Their hearts were joyful to the point they were brought to tears because of God’s great goodness in freeing them from their enemies. They knew it was because of their repentance and humility that they were saved from everlasting destruction. Now there wasn’t a living soul among the Nephites who had any doubt about the words spoken by the holy prophets. They knew they must necessarily be fulfilled. They knew Christ must necessarily have come, because of the many signs given, fulfilling the prophets’ words. Because of the things that had already happened, they knew all the rest of the things would happen just as it had been foretold. So they abandoned all their sins, abominations, and whoredoms and served God diligently day and night” (CofC 3 Nephi 2:14, emphasis added).

It would be a “great and awe-inspiring work” if we pled with God preemptively to give us the hearts of these Nephites and Lamanites prior to confronting secret societies set on robbing us of our freedom to exercise our faith in God. Perhaps He would not be slow to hearken to our prayers. Were we to find our way to charity for all mankind, the Lord would fight those battles for us. That would truly be prophetic preemption.

[1] The idea the Lord would choose another group with a remnant of our group should not be surprising. Prophecy points to that outcome. In each transition from one dispensation to another, there is a remnant of the prior dispensation transitioning to the new dispensation. In Denver Snuffer’s dream of a small car crossing train tracks of an oncoming train, emphasis of the size of the car is significant. “I recently had a vision that began as a dream. In it I was traveling in a small car up a mountain road” (RE T&C 172:1, emphasis added). A more explicit example is the Savior’s account of the establishment of Zion in the last days. In the course of explaining  the fulfillment of the prophecy of Moses, the Lord described the role of the latter-day Gentiles in the establishment of Zion. “But if the Gentiles repent and hearken to My words and don’t harden their hearts, I’ll establish My congregation among them. And they will enter the covenant and be included with the remnant of Jacob, to whom I’ve given this land as their inheritance. They will join with My people, the remnant of Jacob, and all those of the house of Israel who come, so they can build a city that will be called the New Jerusalem. Then they will join with My people who are scattered throughout the land so they can be brought in together to the New Jerusalem. Then the Powers of heaven will come down among them, and I will be with them as well” (CofC 3 Nephi 10:1, emphasis added).

[2] “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant whom you delight in. Behold, he shall come, says the Lord of Hosts. But who may endure the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old and as in former years. And I will come near to you to judgment, and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers; and against those that oppress the hired hand in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless; and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, says the Lord of Hosts. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore, you sons of Jacob are not consumed” (RE Malachi 1:6, emphasis added).

[3] “Therefore your [Joseph’s] offspring will write, and Judah’s offspring will write. The Lord says: The things your offspring write, and the things Judah’s offspring write, will grow together in order to expose false doctrines, settle disputes, and establish peace among your offspring and bring them, in the last days, to understanding their ancestors and comprehending My covenants. The Lord said: His weakness will be made strong. My work will then begin among all My people. I’ll restore you, O house of Israel” (CofC 2 Nephi 2:4, emphasis added).

[4] See CofC 3 Nephi 2:11

Scott Roderick

5/13/2025

Prophetic Preemption.pdf

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