lds2

The September 13 date in 2015 may be a financial thing, but I don't think that the significance of the 6 lunar and solar eclipses, and the many other chiasmic eclipses pointing to 2015 are about a financial collapse as they point to a time much earlier in the year. What that significance will be I have no idea, but like you say, it is better to have followed the prophet and be prepared...loved his First Presidency message last month on being prepared! Yet it could impact the Philippines and other similar countries. They imported more than 65 billion dollars worth of things from the US in 2013 and that number has been going up, the second largest import from the US is cereal grains. But as interconnected as the banks are a collapse of the US dollar would impact all banks in the world, few people would be unscathed except for those that don't use money. I would imagine that countries and banks in the Phillipines are heavily invested in the US dollar particularly as an underpinning for their dollar. What would the farmers do without being able to borrow money? and many folks tend to live on borrowings at times as much as earnings, and then there are those that depend totally on the government for support, they wouldn't be happy either, etc. Jobs are already tight, etc. More reasons to prepare...just in case...

The reason why some believe it is the end of the 6,000 years is because they believe September 13, 2015 (Elul 29) will also be the beginning of a jubillee year, and the end of "120 days of mankind" Noah talked about, the end of the 70 years of jubilees, etc.

There is a chart it is not exactly easy to see, but it is essential I think to all those who are following the commandment to "watch with all perseverence", it proves there has to be significance in these things... It is found at bloodmoonscoming.com and it is on the first blog posted and it is near the bottom...graph 8A...truly fascinating!!! The title is "Lord's Perfect Sign". The reason I find it particularly fascinating is that it is a Chiasmic sign showing many "signs in the heavens" pointing to this next year particularly.

6,000 is a big number as that is the number of years thought to be before the millennium (6 Seals). Many people are starting to think that it will be in 2015 because of the significance of the Sabbatical weeks (7 years) ending in market crashes at the end of the past two. Many believe that at the end of the Shmita year (which just started) we are in will be another market crash of even bigger proportions as the last two were both 7%. Three witnesses and all that pertains to that regarding judgment. But the next day Elul 29, (the date of the year when these crashes occurred), will also begin, on the eve of that day, the Feast of Trumpets (which happens every year) which will be one of the 6 solar and lunar eclipses falling on Jewish Holidays (Holy days...which hasn't happened before and won't happen again ever.)

I'm not sure which site you are looking at, but right now there is a lot of talk about the Shmita year starting today!!! I think. At the end of this Shmita/Shemitah year on 29 Elul Eve is also The Feast of Trumpets. This third 29 Elul, 2015 is the third Shmita year many believe of a cycle. (See Rabbi Cahn's stuff on Youtube) It is also the 5th of 6 eclipses falling on Jewish Holidays (Holy days) in 2014-2015 with the sixth eclipse being a supermoon as well. (It's like God is saying something to us). On 29 Elul in 2001 and 2008 there were record breaking stock market crashes. Many believe that September 13, 2015 will be the third one and the "big one." While that doesn't sound fun, it is not the "end of the world," Pres. Packer promised the youth that they can look forward to seeing their grandchildren, for some great-grandchildren IF they/we have learned to take the Spirit for our guide. Of course having obeyed Heavenly Father's commandment found on Providentliving.org to prepare may also factor in their somewhere as far as enjoying life might be concerned at that point. It could be "the end of the world as we've known it" but the end of the world where He comes in glory is still many years away. If that's making you feel like "who cares" then read President Holland's BYU-I devotional talk from this week on finding joy in your life.

This was a talk I wrote in 2008 and I have been either updating the original or writing a new talk most years with new quotes from mostly prophets. Since the First Presidency message this month was on being prepared, I thought this might be timely. We will see if I need to rewrite it in two weeks!!!!

One Sunday morning I participated in a lesson on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. In it we discussed the prophecies of Joel wherein he said the sun would be darkened and the moon turned to blood and we wondered what that might look like when it happens. I vaguely recalled another discussion regarding this prophecy and after searching found President Hinckley’s talk entitled “Living in the Fulness of Times” (given shortly after 9/11.) He said that this vision, along with the words of Malachi have been fulfilled, “The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared: ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come…’ (Joel 2:28–32).”[1] Knowing that the prophecy of Joel has been fulfilled causes me to wonder where we are in time? What we do know is that we are most certainly in His time for “hastening.” (D&C 88:73 and Isaiah 60:22 JST) So I also wonder, what are we hastening for? When I picture “pillars of smoke” I think of the burning twin towers. Whether that was a part of the literal fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy I don’t know, but what we do know is that the Lord uses signs, His holy days, and symbols in His works. Seven for instance is used throughout God’s dealings with His covenant people, i.e. there were seven days in the week and seven feast days in the year, etc. Jesus Christ in his first coming fulfilled the first four of His holy or feast days. On 22 September, 1827, on the fifth feast day of the year or Feast of Trumpets, Joseph Smith received the gold plates from the Angel Moroni… this day on the Hebrew calendar traditionally begins the final ingathering or harvest.[2] In this century we are also seeing amazing occurrences. Traditionally, at the end of every seven years or sabbatical week, on the last day of that year or 29 Elul was the Shmita when all debts were to be forgiven. It does not seem coincidental then that shortly after 9/11 on 29 Elul, 2001, there was a great stock market crash, then seven years later on 29 Elul, 2008, there was an even greater stock market crash. The evening of 29 Elul, 2015, is the next Shmita and that evening will be the beginning of the Feast of Trumpets (that night will also be one of the six eclipses that are occurring on significant Jewish days in 2014 and 2015. We are currently in the midst of a blood moon tetrad on His holy days. Similar blood moon tetrads were seen when Israel became a nation and again when Jerusalem became part of Israel. Additionally, there are two solar eclipses on significant days and a supermoon as well on the final lunar eclipse of the tetrad.) Elder Henry B. Eyring once said, “Because the Lord is kind, He calls servants to warn people of danger. That call to warn is made harder and more important by the fact that the warnings of most worth are about dangers that people don’t yet think are real…Here is the charge given to each of the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: ‘Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor.’”[3] Some friends have said that the brethren are no longer warning us so that must mean that nothing significant will happen in our lifetimes, and they mention how Elder Packer said we don’t have to worry about bad things happening until our grandchildren or great-grandchildren’s time. Personally, I think they misunderstood as what he actually said was quite different…although he did give wonderful hope and promises speaking to the youth! He said we shouldn’t think that, “The way things are going, the world’s going to be over with. The end of the world is going to come before I get to where I should be.” He then promised, “You can look forward to doing it right—getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren. If you will follow these principles, you will be watched over and protected and you yourself will know by the promptings of the Holy Ghost which way to go..."” He didn’t promise that our lives would be non-eventful or easy; he promised that we can be watched over and protected as we live righteously and learn to follow the Spirit.[4] Just two years prior in 2009 President Packer said, “Your generation is filled with uncertainties. A life of fun and games and expensive toys has come to an abrupt end. We move from a generation of ease and entertainment to a generation of hard work and responsibility. We do not know how long that will last...the future will hold trials and difficulties for you...However, fear is the opposite of faith. Do not be afraid! I do not fear.”[5] It seems many people are confused and don’t realize that the Second Coming is a progressive event with multiple appearances of Jesus Christ before He comes in glory at the “end of the world”[6]…many of His prophesied events are likely to happen long before His final appearance in glory. I do watch the brethren warning us to become more self-reliant, to prepare for future calamities and to learn to follow the Spirit. Most recently President Monson asked, “Are we prepared for the emergencies in our lives? Are our skills perfected? Do we live providently? Do we have our reserve supply on hand? Are we obedient to the commandments of God? Are we responsive to the teachings of prophets? Are we prepared to give of our substance to the poor, the needy? Are we square with the Lord? We live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. When the time for decision arrives, the time for preparation is past.”[7] President Uchtdorf explained, "Like two sides of a coin, the temporal and spiritual are inseparable. The Giver of all life has proclaimed, ‘All things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal.’”[8] President Eyring said that when the brethren quote other prophets or repeat themselves we should give particular heed to their messages.[9] So I paid special attention when President Monson quoted another prophet, "Said President Benson: ‘In all ages, prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation…For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its Head—even Jesus Christ…While this generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time: [it is that] God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest…children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly.’”[10] President Benson then said this prophetic statement, “And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God."[11] We are instructed to “watch” in these last days “with all perseverance” and we should do it with faith…not fear. Elder Bednar gave us this guidance, "Now brothers and sisters, these teachings from modern and ancient prophets about latter-day tests and trials are sobering and solemn. But they should not be discouraging, and we should not be afraid. For those with eyes to see and ears to hear, spiritual warnings lead to increasingly vigilant watching. You and I live in ‘a day of warning’ (D&C 63:58). And because we have been and will be warned, we need to be, as the Apostle Paul admonished, ‘watching … with all perseverance’ (Ephesians 6:18). As we watch and prepare, truly we have no need to fear (see D&C 38:30).”[12] We truly have no need to fear as our prophet President Thomas S. Monson assured us, “The world seems to have slipped from the moorings of safety and drifted from the harbor of peace…My counsel…is to look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life...”[13] Sometimes it is hard to keep watching though, President Kimball in his book, "Faith Precedes the Miracle" talked about us when he said, “I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ…The wise had to go; else the bridegroom would have gone unwelcomed.”[14] Starting in 1998 President Hinckley talked of Pharaoh’s dream and warned of an approaching storm, “There is a portent of stormy weather ahead to which we had better give heed...That’s all I have to say about it, but I wish to say it with all the emphasis of which I am capable.”[15] Then he referenced Pharaoh’s dream after the 9/11 attacks, “I wish to remind you of the warnings of scripture and the teachings of the prophets which we have had constantly before us. I cannot forget the great lesson of Pharaoh’s dream of the fat and lean kine and of the full and withered stalks of corn. I cannot dismiss from my mind the grim warnings of the Lord as set forth in the 24th chapter of Matthew…the time will come when the earth will be cleansed and there will be indescribable distress, with weeping and mourning and lamentation (see D&C 112:24).”[16] Then in 2005, “What [calamities] we have experienced in the past was all foretold, and the end is not yet…What do we do?...We can heed warnings…the best storehouse is the family storeroom. In words of revelation the Lord has said, ‘Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing’ (D&C 109:8)…Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn and the blasted ears, the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity.”[17] President Benson said, “What are some of the calamities for which we are to prepare?...’a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth’…’an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land’… ‘wars upon the face of the earth’... ‘famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes.’ The Lord declared that these and other calamities shall occur. These particular prophecies seem not to be conditional. The Lord, with his foreknowledge, knows that they will happen.”[18] Also, if you have been watching you will have heard of “record breaking” heat, droughts, floods, freezes, winter storms, failed crops and farms, high food prices, insect, rodent and other plagues, high transportation costs, volcanic ash, new and changing diseases, etc. Many believe that the government will provide if there is a calamity, but the United States government stopped storing emergency food for its citizens years ago. Others believe that the Church will provide, yet President Faust said, "The Church cannot be expected to provide for every one of its millions of members in case of public or personal disaster.”[19] Bishop Victor L. Brown said, “Many of our members appear to feel that when difficulty comes, the Church will come to their aid, even when they could have prepared themselves had their priorities been appropriate…It is the opinion of many that more difficult times lie ahead.”[20] In order to feed the members of the Church “longer-term supply” bare survival rations for one year it would currently require more than 5 BILLION pounds of grains and legumes. Difficult times for many are here. A friend in Northern Utah was called as the ward employment specialist in his ward when there were two men who were chronically unemployed, two weeks later there were 11 families experiencing unemployment. Last we talked, he reported there were 56 members in his ward needing employment. Our prophet President Thomas S. Monson more than once has said that, "Many more people could ride out the storm-tossed waves in their economic lives if they had their year's supply of food and clothing and were debt-free. Today we find that many have followed this counsel in reverse: they have at least a year's supply of debt and are food-free."[21] President Ezra Taft Benson also warned of difficult days ahead, he said, “Too often we bask in our comfortable complacency and rationalize that the ravages of war, economic disaster, famine, and earthquake cannot happen here. Those who believe this are either not acquainted with the revelations of the Lord, or they do not believe them.”[22] The First Presidency proclaimed to the world in, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” “By divine design, fathers are…responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.”[23] So what is our responsibility, what are we to gather? Providentliving.org says to gather a three-month supply of foods that we normally eat and a supply of water. We should gather a longer-term supply of grains and beans (as well as a financial reserve where possible.) What is meant by “longer-term” is left between us and the Lord. Currently a year supply of grains and beans could cost $265 (12 starter kits, 28 lbs. each) It is recommended to store at least 25 lbs. of grains and 5 lbs. of beans per month per person according to their food calculator. They also recommend that you…add other items to your longer-term home storage such as sugar, nonfat dry milk, salt, baking soda, and cooking oil…[and] foods containing Vitamin C and other essential nutrients." [Providentliving.org] A lot of people think if the government and church can’t feed their family they can turn to their neighbors, but a days “ration” would be 1/3 cup beans and 2 cups grains…before dividing it with you. Those prepared few that I have talked to with food storage say they are concerned for their numerous extended family members who have said they “know where to go when things get bad.” If your emergency survival plan is that others will feed you, you need a new plan! Many believe that it is pointless to store food since it would be gone so quickly…to them it seems better to continue on and use their money to “eat, drink and be merry” as much as they can, while they can. The reason I would give to prepare is probably different from most others. I believe we should prepare because Heavenly Father has lovingly commanded us to do so. Being obedient to the commandment to prepare may be one of those irrevocable laws upon which future blessings are predicated. In 2007 Bishop McMullin advised us to, “Be faithful. Unencumber your life. Lay up in store…As we do our very best, we can be confident that ‘the barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail.’ We shall enjoy greater wisdom, security, peace of mind, and personal well-being. We shall be prepared, and because we are prepared, we ‘shall not fear.’”[24] These are wonderful blessings! President Eyring counseled us, “Another fallacy is to believe that the choice to accept or not accept the counsel of prophets is no more than deciding whether to accept good advice and gain its benefits or to stay where we are. But the choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. That ground becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late.”[9] How foolish do people who store food for calamities seem to you? Pres. Benson said, “The revelation to produce and store food may be as essential to our temporal welfare today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah.”[22] The door of the ark was shut to those seeking entrance once the rains began, the door was also closed to the five foolish virgins. So…if doors were “shut” in the future would you be safely locked in? or would you be locked out? For instance if there were a pandemic such as the 1918 flu, you might be shut in with your family for three months or more. At the government pandemic flu site it says, “In an affected community, at least two pandemic disease waves (about 6-8 weeks each) are likely over several months.”[25] Please consider buying insurance for your family…famine insurance. It only takes hours to clean out grocery stores’ shelves when disasters are imminent…unfortunately we don’t always get advanced warning. Also, roads can be impassible, fuel can run out, truckers can strike, foods can be out-of-stock, power outages or bank or card issues can make it impossible to pay. Many say that they will just grow their own food or buy from farmers. Yet in many places the only local crop is hay and we can’t count on all calamities happening during the harvest. It takes knowledge, good soil/land, water, fertilizer, seed, the right season, a lot of ground, and often many months of work, good weather, water and waiting before you can harvest your own food to last the winter, then you have to be able to adequately store it for the long term, etc. Now is the time during this time of abundance to gather in what might be needed…just in case… A major change in what we should store occurred when a pamphlet, “All Is Safely Gathered In,” was distributed. It was first talked about by the Presiding Bishopric, then it was handed out to the Bishop’s to distribute to all the families in their wards, and later was included in the Ensign. It seems that it is important counsel meant for us to read and follow: “Message from the First Presidency Dear Brothers and Sisters: Our Heavenly Father created this beautiful earth, with all its abundance, for our benefit and use. His purpose is to provide for our needs as we walk in faith and obedience. He has lovingly commanded us to "prepare every needful thing" (see D&C 109) so that, should adversity come, we may care for ourselves and our neighbors and support bishops as they care for others. We encourage Church members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. We ask that you be wise as you store food and water and build your savings. Do not go to extremes; it is not prudent, for example, to go into debt to establish your food storage all at once. With careful planning, you can, over time, establish a home storage supply and a financial reserve. We realize that some of you may not have financial resources or space for such storage. Some of you may be prohibited by law from storing large amounts of food. We encourage you to store as much as circumstances allow. May the Lord bless you in your home storage efforts. “[26] May the Lord bless all of us in the days ahead! I would like to add my voice to others…I know that we are living in the fullness of times when Heavenly Father has commanded us to prepare every needful thing because he loves us (D&C 109:8). We must, “Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus, who was on the earth, and is to come, the beginning and the end…Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly…” (D&C 49: 12, 28). Brothers and Sisters, the Lord sent us down in this blessed but difficult dispensation for a purpose and He has a plan for us. Continuing the quote by President Benson, that was begun by President Monson, he told us, “…God has saved for the final inning some of his strongest children, who will help bear off the Kingdom triumphantly. And that is where you come in, for you are the generation that must be prepared to meet your God…Make no mistake about it--you are a marked generation. There has never been more expected of the faithful in such a short period of time as there is of us. Never before on the face of this earth have the forces of evil and the forces of good been as well organized…The final outcome is certain--the forces of righteousness will finally win. What remains to be seen is where each of us personally, now and in the future, will stand in this fight--and how tall we will stand. Will we be true to our last-days, foreordained mission?[11] Fortunately, we have been prepared to meet the challenges of our day. President Monson said, "My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the commandments, we will survive this time…He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what is right."[27] While President Monson was talking of spiritual survival, the example he used was of how the Lord prepared a way for the physical survival of his people. In it we are assured that if we heed His words and live the commandments we will be blessed. Heavenly Father does love us, and He has lovingly commanded us to prepare every needful thing. May the Lord watch over us, direct us, guide us and bless us with His miracles as we do our very best to do so. 1) Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Living in the Fulness of Times,” Ensign, Nov. 2001 2) Lenet Hadley Read, "The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets," Ensign, Jan. 2000 3) Pres. Henry B. Eyring, “Let Us Raise A Voice of Warning,” Ensign, Nov. 1998 and Jan. 2009 4) Pres. Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Youth," Ensign, Nov 2011 5) Pres. Boyd K. Packer, “Counsel to Young Men,” Ensign, May 2009 6) Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare Yourselves for the Great Day of the Lord,” BYU Devotional, April 1981 7) Pres. Thomas S. Monson, “Are We Prepared?,” Ensign, Sep. 2014 8) Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Providing in the Lord’s Way,” Ensign, Nov. 2011 9) Pres. Henry B. Eyring, “Finding Safety in Counsel,” Ensign, April 1997 and June 2008 10) Pres. Thomas S. Monson, “Dare to Stand Alone,” Ensign, Nov. 2011 11) Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “In His Steps,” CES Fireside, Feb. 8, 1987; “In His Steps,” BYU Devotional 1979 12) Elder David A. Bednar, “Who’s on the Lord’s Side? Now is the Time to Show,” BYU-I Education Week Address, July 2010 13) Pres. Thomas S. Monson, “A Word at Closing,” Ensign, April 2010 14) Pres. Spencer W. Kimball, “Faith Precedes the Miracle,” pg. 253 15) Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, “To the Boys and Men,” Ensign, Nov. 1998 16) Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Times in Which We Live,” Ensign, Nov. 2001 17) Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” Ensign, Nov. 2005 18) Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare Ye,” Ensign, Jan. 1974 19) Pres. James E. Faust, “The Responsibility for Welfare Rests with Me and My Family,” Ensign, May 1986 20) Bishop Victor L. Brown, “Prepare Every Needful Thing,” Ensign, Nov. 1980 21) Pres. Thomas S. Monson, “That Noble Gift – Love At Home, May 2001 22) Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “Prepare for the Days of Tribulation,” Ensign, Nov. 1980 23) The First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” read by President Gordon B. Hinckley, Sep. 23, 1995 24) Bishop Keith B. McMullin, “Lay Up In Store,” Ensign, May 2007 25) “School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist,” Flu.gov 26) First Presidency, “All is Safely Gathered In, Family Home Storage,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2007 27) Pres. Thomas S. Monson, “Closing Remarks,” Ensign, Nov. 2009

I thought this was interesting as so many believe the gospel still has to go out to the world before the tribulations, but this seems to be saying that it is after Armageddon when those nations are "broken to pieces" when the 144,000 will go out to preach to the Jews and then the "heathen" nations. Daniel 2: 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Looking at this in comparison to the dust bowl years, this drought is continuing and California has had it's 5th hottest year on record when parts were already in a multi-year drought. They are expecting continued warmer and dry weather for the next three months. Then they hope for an El Nino but they predict a weak to moderate El Nino which doesn't sound that good when they need a strong one to bring rain to the region. But this regional drought in the West is continuing in other states as well see the drought monitor http://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/home/regionaldroughtmonitor.aspx?west

I know some people are watching for the blood moon tetrad and expect for something major to happen next week on Passover, but the other tetrads had the significant events happen within a year and so I am not looking for something to happen exactly on the day. But I do expect something significant to happen within a year of 2014-2016. I hope it is a happy thing, but I have prepared in case it is a war more like the other fulfillments. This time I don't see it being something easy and over in just a few days so I encourage my friends and congregation members to prepare just in case. As I have said before, I don't believe that the second coming in glory will be any time soon, but I DO expect the tribulations to come sooner when Jesus Christ will save the Jews in Israel. We are told that there will be at least 3-4 "comings" included in the "second coming" and some could happen MUCH sooner than others. The "tribulations" that Jesus warned us of will effect everyone, and we need to have courage as was talked about so much this weekend, to follow the Spirit, and to have prepared our families as the prophets have warned for the past 80+ years BEFORE these events transpire. Here are the words from Heavenly Father! to us... https://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage?lang=eng

This largest (in area) at the time this thread was started drought may also become the costliest natural disaster in US history. Wiki [This drought] "is on track to [be]...the costliest natural disaster in US history..." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012%E2%80%9314_North_American_droughts This drought started in 2010 in the south, then encompassed 81% of the country, and is on-going in the West and South-West. Western drought spells killer grocery bills - Commodities Corner - MarketWatch "consumers may see higher prices for everything from beef and milk to wheat, nuts and vegetables, and it’ll take time for supplies to replenish. Drought conditions cover more than 37% of the 48 contiguous states...about 67% of California alone is currently experiencing extreme or exceptional drought conditions..." "California’s current drought “ranks as one of the worst, if not the worst, on record,” he said." California’s Drought Threatens Farm Town With 50% Unemployment: Image - Bloomberg

There has been some rain in the Intermountain west since the fast, I hope it helps a lot.

One of the things that bothered me about this topic for a long time was what if the man preferred someone else more? But then I read in the D&C that sealings must be approved by God before they go into effect...(D&C 132) (and he knows the end from the beginning and He knows me better than I know myself.) That was all I really needed to know to be "good with it", what that tells me is I will be happy regardless because God is in control. FWIW I don't believe there has ever been a 50/50 split in the sexes, the government currently says that there are 107 boys born to every 100 girls in the world, historically it was closer to 105 boys to 100 girls born. (Wiki) Looking at my genealogy I see the overall trend of more boys than girls in my own family. The real good news is that regardless, we will be part of God's family having made it back to our Heavenly Parents! Those who have died and come back say that the feeling they had in heaven is better than anything experienced here. What I KNOW is that He wants us home with Him and He wants us to be happy. I want to help Him with His work here and there! I KNOW I can trust Him with my happiness for my eternal life... Elder Nelson said, God Wants His Children to Return to Him, Elder Nelson Teaches - Church News and Events

This drought has been worse than the dust bowl years in intensity and duration. I know California and Utah will be fasting this Sunday for rain. Many of our reservoirs are very low. What the drought looks like right now... United States Drought Monitor > Home At least 17 communities in California are expected to be without water within the next two to three months. The emergency stores are doing big business selling garage type water tanks to people in California.

http://unofficialnetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/california-snow-drought-extreme-critical-fire-risk-los-angeles-san-francisco-oakland-january-2014.jpg Talk is: That some of the rivers relied upon for water are little more than mud That banks are hesitant to loan seed money this year California grows about half of the fruits and vegetables for the US - but not this year Prices for some fruits and nuts particularly will be going UP The fire risk will remain high .

This is much of what is on the longer Feast days thread, but in summary. It is written this way in case someone here would like to share it with others in an e-mail, newsletter, blog, or ? It will fit on one page with enlarged margins and 11 point type as well. While I can't say what it all means, it seems that things are progressing towards something significant for the Jews or for us and it would be well to know about that and to prepare as guided by the First Presidency...and then as the Spirit directs. In 2007, the First Presidency sent a message to the Church in several ways, first they said this message was coming, then they gave it in pamphlet form to all the bishops to have the home teachers distribute to every member of the church, then they put it in the Ensign/Liahona, and they still provide pamphlets free of charge through Church distribution. In this message from the First Presidency, to the whole Church, they say that we have been blessed with abundance and it is a commandment from Heavenly Father to "prepare every needful thing." They talk of buying three months worth of food ahead of when you will use it, and having a longer-term supply (of things that will last a very long time, just in case. In most areas less than 1 in 20 LDS families have such a supply. Bishop McMullin promised that if we had it, we could expect miracles. https://www.lds.org/topics/food-storage?lang=eng It is my News Year's resolution to help as many people as I can prepare. If you need any advice just ask on this forum, there are more people than just me ready and willing to help. Currently you can just walk into a home storage center and pay with your card and walk out with enough food for your family's "longer-term" storage needs (if you can do so without going into debt.) We are asked to get as much as we can for our own family, to help our neighbor's and to help the Bishop should calamity strike, e.g., a pandemic such as the one in 1918 would require three months or more of food in your home (as trucks wouldn't be running and stores wouldn't be open), or...North Korea and some other countries who feel we are their enemy are working to create missiles in order to create an EMP blast which would take out our electric grid and almost all electronics (including those in most cars and trucks), and then there are the run of the mill calamities we see on TV most nights. Home Storage Center Locations Map If there isn't a home storage center near you, you can now order food storage and the Church will deliver it to your doorstep by ordering from the Church catalog. It is more expensive because the price includes shipping. Self-Reliance - store.lds.org The scriptures warn of a lot of things in Matthew 24, but there are some specific events we are warned of. We expect at least two wars and a future famine caused by hail. It would be well to get enough food tucked away during this time of abundance to make it through such times. The Church has said they don't have the food stored, that it must be stored in our own homes. If a neighbor were willing to share with others a whole month's supply of his food it would not go far. If it were rice it would give each person in an average 500 member ward 1/3 cup cooked rice, which is less than a side dish serving. There is a reason the Church has emphasized SELF-reliance. .

The majority of the Lord’s seven Feast days or “divine appointments” were fulfilled during His first coming, i.e., on the Feast of Passover He was crucified, on the Feast of Unleavened Bread He was buried, on the Feast of First Fruits He was resurrected and on Pentecost the righteous received the Holy Ghost. We know His fall Feasts will be fulfilled with His second coming and these Feast days are the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles. Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles were the Feast days when the Jews were required to make a pilgrimage to the temple in Jerusalem. Latter-day Saints also celebrate these times similarly with April and October general conference. Israel in the scriptures is likened to a fig tree. In the Olivet discourse the Lord told his disciples that after the fig tree put forth leaves that “this generation shall not pass away till all these things be fulfilled.” Scripturally a generation was 40 years, 70-80 years or 100 years. So the next possible fulfillment of a generation is seventy years from 1947-48 (when Israel once again became a nation) or 2017. It is interesting that a jubilee (50 years) from 1967 (when Jerusalem became part of Israel) is also 2017. The number 50 is significant to the Lord. It marked a “pentecost” which was originally one of the Lord’s seven Feast days marking the “harvest of wheat” which was 50 days after the “harvest of barley” or Passover. Also, the Lord had Shmitas or Sabbath years where the land was left fallow and debts were forgiven (every seventh year.) After seven Shmitas or on the 50th year there was a jubilee where all lands and slaves returned to the original family and debts were again remitted. In Genesis we are told that mankind’s days will be 120 years. If these were jubilee years that would mean there would be 6,000 years for man. This earth has a temporal existence of 7,000 years (D&C 77), or ~6,000 years and then the millennium. It is believed by Jewish scholars that lunar eclipses are signs to the Jews and solar eclipses are signs to the gentiles. In 2008, 2009 and 2010 there was a total solar eclipse on the same day of the Jewish calendar, three years in a row! That Jewish calendar date was the first of Av which falls within the Jews' time of mourning for Tisha B'Av (which was a very significant day throughout Jewish history when both temples were destroyed and other calamities came upon the Jews.) In 2014-2015, there will be a tetrad of “blood moons” or total lunar eclipses on Jewish Feast days falling on the most significant Feast days of Passover and Tabernacles. Also in 2015 will be two solar eclipses falling on the religious Jewish New Year and the Feast of Trumpets. The final Feast of Tabernacles will not only be a rare total lunar eclipse, but a Supermoon as well, when the moon will be the closest to the Earth that year and so will look huge in the night sky. Rabbi Jonathan Cahn believes that 9/11/2001 was significant as a judgment to the United States of America because George Washington consecrated our country to the Lord at a chapel at ground zero on April 30, 1789. On 9/11 a sycamore tree protected this chapel from destruction and was ceremonially replaced later by a Cedar tree. Rabbi Cahn believes that Isaiah 9:10 addresses this event where it says, “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars.” His thoughts are particularly interesting regarding Shmita years and the actual Shmita day of Elul 29. This is the day debt was wiped away if the Jews were living righteously. He believes when the people aren’t righteous it becomes a day of judgment. In 2001 this day was the biggest stock market point crash in our history. At the next Shmita year in 2008, again on Elul 29, was an even bigger record breaking point crash. The next Elul 29 on a Shmita year will be the 13th day of September 2015, that is also the last of the 2015 solar eclipses, which day shares the evening hours with the Jewish Feast day of Rosh Hashanah (Feast of Trumpets.) It is said that in the year 1217, Rabbi Judah ben Samuel prophesied that for 8 jubilees the Ottoman Turks would rule over Jerusalem. Six jubilees later they did take control of Jerusalem in 1517. He also foretold that during the 9th jubilee Jerusalem would be a “no man’s land.” During WWI the allied forces took control of Jerusalem (1917) and during the following jubilee no individual country controlled Jerusalem. Jerusalem became a part of Israel at the beginning of the 10th jubilee or in 1967 at the conclusion of the 6 Day War. Rabbi Judah ben Samuel is also said to have predicted that during the 10th jubilee, Jerusalem would be controlled by Israel and this jubilee would include the Jews' messianic “end times.” This 10th jubilee will have ended in 2018. While this translation has not been verified yet by others, it is very interesting. Also in 2017, Jupiter “the king” planet will come from the Virgo constellation, some believe in fulfillment of Rev 12:1-2.

Did you hear the one about the global warming scientists that were locked in ice in the antarctic this week and after the rescue ice breaker got stuck had to be airlifted out? No joke...crazy record breaking COLD temps all over the world lately. In the US we outdid the "dust bowl" drought (regional drought - texas/south region, US drought, regional drought - western region, with record breaking heat) AND the regional drought in the West is still ongoing. Currently beginning of 2014 California not El Nino or La Nina, but La Nada - experienced the driest calendar year on record in 2013. In Los Angeles, the total rainfall for 2013 was only 3.60 inches compared to 15, the driest calendar year in 135 years. Up north Oakland had the lowest rainfall on record ~4 inches with normal rainfall of ~20 inches. Utah - Many reservoirs around 50 percent or less because of two years of ongoing drought, we need a snowpack of 120 percent of average AND a wet spring. Last of December and first weeks of January no new snow with none on the immediate horizon in many areas. Maybe extra prayers are in order? This year's bumper crops have brought down prices and recent rains easing the drought in South America may mean continued lower prices, good news for those who are following Heavenly Father's command to "prepare every needful thing" and gather in during this time of abundance (See food storage page on provident living's quote from first presidency). US grain exports on the other hand have continued to "far exceed expectations." .

...:)....

I am so grateful for the harvest this past year in the plains. It has really helped and given us some time to gather when there is an abundance into our homes (which would be unethical to do in a time of real famine.) A friend was just pondering on how long a 25 bag of rice would feed her family of 6 and figured 5 1/2 days. That same same bag would feed one person for a month, or a typical sized ward would get 1/3 cup cooked rice for one meal (or less than a side dish serving). It was just a few years ago in Oct 2006 that President Hinckley told the sisters in the General Women's Meeting the following: "Relief Society stands for self-reliance. The best food storage is...in sealed cans and bottles in the homes of our people. What a gratifying thing it is to see cans of wheat and rice and beans under the beds or in the pantries of women who have taken welfare responsibility into their own hands. Such food may not be tasty, but it will be nourishing if it has to be used."

Lunar eclipses are relatively rare. These beautiful occurrences happen when the Earth’s shadow blocks the sun’s light, which otherwise reflects off the moon. There are three types of lunar eclipses...partial, prenumbral and total. A total lunar eclipse is the most rare to occur as the sun, moon and Earth must be perfectly lined up. With this particular eclipse the moon may appear blood red, making it the most breathtaking as well. On average there are 1.5 "blood moons" per year. There is a tetrad of lunar eclipses starting this year where the total lunar eclipses will be falling on the Lord's "appointments" with His people or on His "feast days." The first four of these "feast days" found significance with his first coming. The last three must have significance in the future related to his second coming. This tetrad of "blood moons" will happen on the Feast of Passover and Tabernacles for the next two years. Also solar eclipses will happen on the Jewish New Year and the Feast of Trumpets. Finally the last of this series will be a "supermoon" (only happens once a year) as well as a "blood moon" eclipse. So while the practicing Jews are remembering this time in their "tabernacles" or their "tents/temporary shelters" they could look outside and see an extremely large appearing blood red moon. There were three days per year when the Jews were commanded to go to Jerusalem...Passover, Tabernacles and what Christians call Pentecost. This time is significant to Latter-Day Saints as well as we look to our leaders similarly around the time of Passover and Tabernacles each year. I believe there will be significance to this tetrad as there was during the last two as those happened around the time when Israel became a nation and when Jerusalem became part of that nation. What significance it will have I cannot say, but perhaps preparations as the First Presidency have directed in the "All is Safely Gathered In" pamphlet would be prudent? President Packer told us recently that we are in a "precarious" time. Perhaps NOW is a good time for many to obey the commandment of our Loving Heavenly Father to "prepare every needful thing?"

Some other great quotes related to this topic from conference... “The more the storm, the more the strength.” President Thomas S Monson “Let us be at the forefront in protecting time for family.” Elder Quentin L. Cook “Our primary emphasis, however, should always be to make any necessary sacrifices to protect our own family and the rising generation.” Elder Quentin L. Cook “…we can live every hour “blessed by the strength of priesthood power,” whatever our circumstance.” Elder Neil L. Anderson “Whatever your situation, your home will be “blessed by the strength of priesthood power” and those close to you will more fully desire these blessings for themselves.” Elder Neil L Anderson “Through the ordinances of the priesthood, this young couple and all of us receive comfort, strength, protection, peace, and eternal promises.” Elder Neil L Anderson “I testify that as you worthily participate in the ordinances of the priesthood, the Lord will give you greater strength, peace, and eternal perspective.” Elder Neil L Anderson “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.” Elder David M. McConkie “Your own testimony will grow, your conversion will be deepened, and you will be strengthened to meet the challenges of life.” Elder David M. McConkie “As we continually hold fast to the rod by keeping our covenants, we will be strengthened to resist the temptations and perils of the world.” Elder Kevin S. Hamilton “God’s promise to us in return is His Spirit as a guide and protection.” Elder Kevin S. Hamilton “May we choose to be diligent and gain the great blessings and protections that come from gathering together and keeping covenants.” Elder Kevin S. Hamilton “Let us cherish and strengthen our testimonies every day.” Elder Adrian Ochoa “May you constantly nourish your testimonies of the gospel that they will be a protection to you against the buffetings of the adversary.” Elder President Thomas S. Monson

Strengthen, Protection, Safety “We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected.” Elder Robert D. Hales “And if we listen and obey the prophets now, including those who will speak in this very conference, we will be strengthened and protected.” Elder Robert D. Hales “And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.” Elder Robert D. Hales “…The only safety we have as members of this church is to … give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through His prophet.” Elder Robert D. Hales “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32 “I testify that those who put their trust in the Lord and heed this counsel in faith will gain great strength to bless themselves and their families for generations to come.” Elder Robert D. Hales “Anytime, anywhere, we can enlarge our knowledge, strengthen our faith and testimony, protect our families, and lead them safely home.” Elder Robert D. Hales “On LDS.org you will find resources to help you study the gospel, strengthen your home and family, and serve in your calling.” Elder Robert D. Hales …a knight in armor to teach me about putting on the whole armor of God and the spiritual protection it brings. Elder Robert D. Hales “The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection.” President Boyd K Packer “But peace can be settled in the heart of each who turns to the scriptures and unlocks the promises of protection and redemption that are taught therein.” Elder President Boyd K. Packer “I bear certain witness of the scriptures as a key to our spiritual protection.” President Boyd K. Packer “In Paul’s revelation, in addition to the list of challenges and problems, he also tells us what we can do to protect ourselves” President Boyd K. Packer “I promise you in His name that if you pray with a sincere desire to hear your Heavenly Father’s voice in the messages of this conference, you will discover that He has spoken to you to help you, to strengthen you, and to lead you home into His presence.” Elder Robert D. Hales “The stripling warriors…prayed earnestly that God would strengthen and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.” Elder David A. Bednar “Opposition, rather, is the indispensable element of mortality and strengthens our will and refines our choices.” Elder Timothy J Dyches “Do not run faster than you have strength. Whatever else you may or may not be able to provide, you can offer your prayers and you can give “love unfeigned.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland “The Savior taught Peter, “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Sister Bonnie L Oscarson “…it is important to remember that the spiritual strength we develop will help us successfully endure all the challenges we face in life.” Elder Richard J. Maynes “Our ability to endure to the end in righteousness will be in direct proportion to the strength of our testimony and the depth of our conversion.” Elder Richard J. Maynes “Being spiritually prepared means we have developed spiritual stamina or strength—we will be in good shape spiritually.” Richard J. Maynes “So whatever challenges you wake up to each morning, remember—with the spiritual strength you develop, coupled with the Lord’s help…” Elder Richard J. Maynes “May the Spirit of the Lord inspire us all to develop within ourselves the strength to endure.” Elder Richard J. Maynes “Today I expound on one aspect of that power, which is the personal strength we can receive through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” Elder Richard G. Scott “…because of their obedience to the counsel of their priesthood leader, the Savior was able to protect them from their weaknesses and strengthen them. Their humble, lifelong commitment to forsaking their sins did more to protect their families than anything they could have done on the battlefield. Their submission did not deprive them of blessings. It strengthened them and blessed them and blessed future generations.” Elder Richard G. Scott “Their families were blessed, protected, and strengthened.” Elder Richard G. Scott “…each of you can feel the elevating power of the Lord’s forgiveness, mercy, and strength. I have felt it, and I testify that it is available to each one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” Elder Richard G. Scott “…because of their obedience to the counsel of their priesthood leader, the Savior was able to protect them from their weaknesses and strengthen them. Their humble, lifelong commitment to forsaking their sins did more to protect their families than anything they could have done on the battlefield.” Elder Richard G. Scott “The spiritual protections built around the Ammonite fathers blessed and strengthened themselves, their families, their country, and future generations. The same can be true with us.” Elder Richard G. Scott

It seems like over the years there have been a progression of "times" (not necessarily stated in this order although is the order I've seen ) including "latter days", "last days", "last hours", "perilous times", "last minutes", etc. But Elder Packer seemed to say not only do we live in the perilous times that Jesus forewarned us about in Matthew 24, but right now we live in the "very precarious" part of those perilous times. “We can review each of these prophecies and put a checkmark by them as being present and of concern in the world today: Perilous times—present. We live in very precarious times.” President Boyd K Packer https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/the-key-to-spiritual-protection?lang=eng Here are other perhaps similar thoughts from conference... “Paul and others warned about the trials of our time and the days yet to come.” President Boyd K Packer “The Apostle Paul prophesied and warned that “in the last days perilous times shall come.” President Boyd K Packer “The descriptions Paul and Moroni give of our day are so accurate that they cannot be dismissed.” President Boyd K Packer “We live in perilous times; nevertheless, we can find hope and peace for ourselves and for our families.” President Boyd K Packer “He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity…Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us.” President Thomas S. Monson “As we continually hold fast to the rod by keeping our covenants, we will be strengthened to resist the temptations and perils of the world.” Elder Kevin S. Hamilton “But the perilous times are now upon us. Today is the time to look to the Source of truth and ensure that our testimonies are strong.” Elder Adrian Ochoa “We live in the stormy, perilous days that Paul described” Elder Adrian Ochoa “And when we are converted, we strengthen each other to stand strong amid the fiery darts of these last days.” Elder Robert D Hales “I testify that as we follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and raise our hands to the square with action in sustaining our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, we will find peace, comfort, and joy, and we “shall eat the good of the land … in these last days” Elder Edward Dube “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” …Brothers and sisters, that time is now! I feel it, and I’m sure you do also.” Elder S Gifford Nielson “My message this afternoon is that the Lord is hastening His work.” Elder M. Russell Ballard “I will compare some circumstances of our day with those in the days of Jeremiah before the downfall of Jerusalem. In presenting this voice of warning, I am grateful…” Elder Quentin L. Cook “Given the urgent need for spiritual preparation in a time of such peril, I want to extend a word of warning about one very strong sign of the times.” Elder Adrian Ochoa

The LDS Family Home Storage Centers no longer have canners (except Sandy and Welfare Square) or bulk food supplies in bags. They do however have a wider supply of already canned products such as pasta, beans, apples, etc. LDS links change fairly frequently but here is the current list of locations for these centers... Home Storage Center Locations Here is the current list of products and prices (1/2014) Home Storage Center Order Form You can now buy a much bigger variety of canned foods at the LDS catalog store and they will deliver it to your doorstep (in the US) for about $6 more per box, order here... Self-Reliance - store.lds.org .