Wars and Rumors of Wars

[lds2]

I don't follow this kind of information too much. But thought to start a thread on this topic as there seems to be an unusual amount of discussion of such things in the news lately...particularly related to the Middle East with Syria, Israel, Iran, etc. China/North Korea and the Yellow Sea area. Russia and other communist countries in Cuba and drilling oil close to our shores and claiming resources in Antarctica, etc.

There is talk of war starting based on depleting resources and then wars divided by political beliefs and religion. In the Middle East both come into play.

All I'm saying is that it looks to be getting ugly out there and it could spill over and effect us directly at some point.

[Guest]

I don't follow this kind of information too much. But thought to start a thread on this topic as there seems to be an unusual amount of discussion of such things in the news lately...particularly related to the Middle East with Syria, Israel, Iran, etc. China/North Korea and the Yellow Sea area. Russia and other communist countries in Cuba and drilling oil close to our shores and claiming resources in Antarctica, etc.

There is talk of war starting based on depleting resources and then wars divided by political beliefs and religion. In the Middle East both come into play.

All I'm saying is that it looks to be getting ugly out there and it could spill over and effect us directly at some point.

This has been going on for decades, lds2. And yes, the USA is already neck deep in it.

[annewandering]

You dont follow this kind of thing? ^^ ok sorry but that just surprised me. :)

[lds2]

I totally get your drift my friend!

I have too many young adult sons to spend much time contemplating rumors of war, that does bring on uncomfortable levels of anxiety. Notice the short warning post without any detail above.

Also, how does a middle-aged sister prepare for war beyond following the prophets counsel in "All is Safely Gathered In"...?

I don't know much about guns or bombshelters or ... I would call people who prepare for such things "survivalists" and I don't fit in that category. Not putting down such people here but that is just not where my talents lie...now if you want to know how to dehydrate fruits using the windshield in your car...I'm your preparedness nut.

Seriously, I'm more focused on the prophet's counsel and helping my "neighbors" become self-reliant as well.

[Vort]

"Rumor" comes from a root word meaning "noise". I suspect that "rumors of wars" really means "sounds of battle", not "hushed gossiping about possible strife."

Maybe I'll go to blue letter Bible and see if my opinion holds any water.

EDIT: Looks like the Greek word ἀκοὰς contains the meanings both of sound and of hearsay, so my guess is a possibility but not a sure thing. Almost all English translations seem to be going with the less deterministic "rumors/rumours", with a couple opting for "reports" and "threats". I think my idea is still worth considering.

Edited August 16, 2012 by Vort

[annewandering]

"Rumor" comes from a root word meaning "noise". I suspect that "rumors of wars" really means "sounds of battle", not "hushed gossiping about possible strife."

Maybe I'll go to blue letter Bible and see if my opinion holds any water.

EDIT: Looks like the Greek word ἀκοὰς contains the meanings both of sound and of hearsay, so my guess is a possibility but not a sure thing. Almost all English translations seem to be going with the less deterministic "rumors/rumours", with a couple opting for "reports" and "threats". I think my idea is still worth considering.

It makes sense to think of it being within hearing distance. Of course we hear it on the tv and web. I am not sure rumors is even applicable any more. With live streaming we see and hear so its not a rumor of any kind.

[skalenfehl]

This has been going on since the founding of our country, which was redeemed by bloodshed. Even in Joseph Smith's time, there was prophecy of war in our own country. We don't need to worry about terrorist attacks from abroad. We have secret combinations happening in the US today, even now. We are being destroyed from within.

D&C 38:28 And again, I say unto you that the enemy in the secret chambers seeketh your lives.

29 Ye hear of wars in far countries, and you say that there will soon be great wars in far countries, but ye know not the hearts of men in your own land.

Ether 8:20 And now I, Moroni, do not write the manner of their oaths and combinations, for it hath been made known unto me that they are had among all people, and they are had among the Lamanites.

21 And they have caused the destruction of this people of whom I am now speaking, and also the destruction of the people of Nephi.

22 And whatsoever nation shall uphold such secret combinations, to get power and gain, until they shall spread over the nation, behold, they shall be destroyed; for the Lord will not suffer that the blood of his saints, which shall be shed by them, shall always cry unto him from the ground for vengeance upon them and yet he avenge them not.

23 Wherefore, O ye Gentiles, it is wisdom in God that these things should be shown unto you, that thereby ye may repent of your sins, and suffer not that these murderous combinations shall get above you, which are built up to get power and gain—and the work, yea, even the work of destruction come upon you, yea, even the sword of the justice of the Eternal God shall fall upon you, to your overthrow and destruction if ye shall suffer these things to be.

24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.

25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.

[skalenfehl]

D&C 45:63 Ye hear of wars in foreign lands; but, behold, I say unto you, they are nigh, even at your doors, and not many years hence ye shall hear of wars in your own lands.

D&C 87: 1 Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

[lds2]

“Were we surprised when the last terrible war [the Civil War] took place here in the United States? No . . . You will see worse things than that, for God will lay his hand upon this nation and they will feel it more terribly than ever they have done before. There will be more bloodshed, more ruin, more devastation than ever they have seen before. Write it down! You will see it come to pass; it is only just starting in . . . There is yet to come a sound of war, trouble and distress, in which brother will be arrayed against brother, father against son, son against father, a scene of desolation and destruction that will permeate our land until it will be a vexation to hear the report thereof.”

Prophecy of John Taylor (General Conference, 1879); (Source: Journal of Discourses, 20:31>>

The American Civil War (1861–1865),

[mrmarklin]

Many people alive in 1879 certainly saw WWI, the most appalling war in human history up to that time.

[applepansy]

As a child I heard "rumors or war"... I don't think there has been a truly peaceful time in human history unless it was while Noah and his family were on the Ark.

[pam]

As a child I heard "rumors or war"... I don't think there has been a truly peaceful time in human history unless it was while Noah and his family were on the Ark.

I don't know. With an ark full of animals and think of the mess...I'm sure there were plenty of arguments as to who was going to clean it up.

[NeuroTypical]

I found some writings of my father from the 1940's. My dad came out of WWII high as a kite - humans had finally fought the last war! After the way we finished things that decisively, there's never be another reason for nation to go to war against nation again.

That sort of euphoric optimism was common, and lasted until the Korean war. Then we had Vietnam, the cold war, a ton of little ones, Gulf I and II, now the war on terror and the unspoken war on radical islamic militant fundamentalism.

There is absolutely nothing at all happening now that hasn't been happening for centuries. The names of players and nations change.

[Guest]

I found some writings of my father from the 1940's. My dad came out of WWII high as a kite - humans had finally fought the last war! After the way we finished things that decisively, there's never be another reason for nation to go to war against nation again.

That sort of euphoric optimism was common, and lasted until the Korean war. Then we had Vietnam, the cold war, a ton of little ones, Gulf I and II, now the war on terror and the unspoken war on radical islamic militant fundamentalism.

There is absolutely nothing at all happening now that hasn't been happening for centuries. The names of players and nations change.

What did change is that we don't expect 10,000 dead for every battle in today's wars. 10 dead is already an outrage. Could you imagine the Romans going to a battle and coming out of it with only 10 dead? It's quite a change from then to now.