Zion Shall Escape If...

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This morning I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants section 97. I've read the D&C many times before. This time verses 22 through 26 caught my attention and I reread those verses several times.

22 For behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind; and who shall escape it?
 23 The Lord’s scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come;
 24 For the indignation of the Lord is kindled against their abominations and all their wicked works.
 25 Nevertheless, Zion shall escape if she observe to do all things whatsoever I have commanded her.
 26 But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire.

(https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/97?lang=eng)

I've read theses verses many times before, but as I thought about them this time my focus was on "Zion shall escape."

The scripture does not say the scourge will pass by Zion. Nor does it say those in Zion will be immune or spared. All of these might imply that those in Zion could stay put and not leave.

Instead the Lord uses "escape."

A modern definition defines escape as 

1. to slip or get away, as from confinement or restraint; gain or regainliberty
2. to slip away from pursuit or peril; avoid capture, punishment, or anythreatened evil.
7. to slip away from or elude (pursuers, captors, etc.)
8. to succeed in avoiding (any threatened or possible danger or evil)


The online version of the 1828 Webster's Dictionary defines escape as (and note the examples used in the Bible)

1. To flee from and avoid; to get out of the way; to shun; to obtain security from; to pass without harm; as, to escape danger.
A small number, that escape the sword, shall return. Jeremiah 44:14.
2. To pass unobserved; to evade; as, the fact escaped my notice or observation.
3. To avoid the danger of; as, to escape the sea. Acts 28:1.

ESCA'PE, verb intransitive To flee, shun and be secure from danger; to avoid an evil.
Escape for thy life to the mountains. Genesis 19:17.


There are many people who have had dreams or visions of faithful saints being "called out",  or as I prefer to say, "invited to gather," I haven't had any of these dreams or visions, but the scriptures of full of examples of the righteous fleeing from wicked cities before the cities are destroyed.

So, it is very likely that in order for the saints, the faithful in Zion, to avoid the scourge they will have to leave. But the key is those who will escape are those who have done all that the Lord has instructed them to do.

Those who have not been faithful in keeping their covenants, or obedient in keeping the commandments, or have not followed the counsels of the prophets (such as to get food storage and to get prepared) are those who will not be likely to follow the invitation to leave and gather. 

Something to keep in mind is the invitation will likely occur when things--such as the economy--are going well and there is nothing on the horizon to indicate problems. The only real apparent problems are the rampant wickedness all around. This is frequently how it is in the scriptures. 

Then the righteous leave (the wicked are never forced to leave) and within a short time destruction and calamities descend. 

That's not to say destruction and calamities don't happen before. They do. The difference is usually on several magnitudes of scale larger after the righteous leave.

It is my understanding that were will be earthquakes, pestilences, tempests, plagues, and many natural disasters occur before the real scourge. The scourge is a devastating plague or plagues. And it will apparently continue at least to some degree until the Second Coming.

While many of the righteous will be tested through the various calamities, if we are faithful and guided by the Spirit we can be led to escaped the worst of judgments, including the scourge.

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