Brother Chris Herring, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mexico ward
We live in a world with much turmoil. Devastating hurricanes, floods, famine, fires, earthquakes, conflicts and wars on a global level.
Locally we see increased crime, poverty, sickness, death, rising fuel costs and looming economic uncertainty and recession.
Although the only thing we can do to help globally to hope and pray, there is much we can do as individuals, families, and congregations to mitigate current and oncoming difficulties.
If I may, I would like to suggest ways to help and survive: 1. Get out of, or refrain from unnecessary debt or purchases. 2. Have an extra supply of non perishable food. 3. An Emergency Family Plan.
Further suggestions and ideas are found at: providentliving.churchofjesuschrist.org
No one but Almighty God knows for sure what/when and how bad things will be. But this we do know that we are told that in the Last Days there will be calamities foretold by ancient Prophets:
“3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:3-8).
What I find particularly concerning later in Matthew is:
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (Matthew 24:9-11).
Persecution of Christians through the ages is nothing new. As the world gets closer to the Second Coming, persecution will get worse.
Persecution will not be the only danger. Pornography, immortality etc, will entice even the most faithful disciple of Christ to fall away.
The Book of Mormon tells of an afflicted people:
“And now it came to pass that Amulon began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and cause that his children should persecute their children.
For the complete column, see this week’s edition of the Centralia Fireside Guard
