Coming Trials

I thought the linked article about the Dead Sea was interesting, 

http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/72711/fulfillment-dead-sea-prophecy-begun/

 I think it's applicable to the last days in general. Just as it seems the Dead Sea has signs that it can return to life, but most people haven't noticed the signs of life all around (and apparently at the bottom of the sea as well), the signs of the last days are all around us. Those who are heeding the words of the prophets are becoming prepared for the changes that are coming.

I think it's always interesting to discuss the signs of the times, and possible timelines, or I should say possible sequences of events since giving an actual time table is more speculative.

The test of faith is what we can all expect. I do not think most have had trials enough to really test their faith, which is a big reason I do not believe an invitation to gather (the call-out) will happen until after several big events occur. I know there are some who seem to think the call-out happens before the Utah earthquakes, but there will be at least one big Utah earthquake (not including aftershocks) before a gathering occurs. And the invitation to gather, and resulting camp, will be a time of trials as well.

For most people, life is fairly "normal" and this normal is what we expect. We need to be aware of normalcy bias, because this blinds us to events that could severely disrupt our lives. Becoming prepared, and continually working on our preparedness helps us fight normalcy bias. In an event that disrupts our "normal" life faith can be severely tested if we have not already learned to trust in the Lord. Because there has not been a huge normalcy affecting event in Utah (such as a big earthquake), I don't think the faith of most has been really tested.

When that first quake happens, faith will be tested. Some will essentially take it in stride, trusting in the Lord. Some will wake-up from their normalcy bias and realize things are not as they seem, and the prophesied events are unfolding and happening all around. Hopefully you will have already stocked up your food and supplies before that event because those who wake up will be rushing to get their food storage. But, there will be many who will just be glad the earthquake wasn't worse, and believe it will be a long time before another really big earthquake strikes. These people will seek to return to their "normal" life as quickly as possible and continue to ignore the warnings all around. Many will accuse those who say a worse quake is coming as fearmongering.

It is my opinion the first real earthquake (probably a 7.0 or higher) will likely be the point the Lord refers to in D&C 112:25 "And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord."

Actually, I think this may refer to both the beginning of the real times of turmoil, and then possibly the monster quake that occurs later may be the beginning of the more destructive calamities, sometimes referred to as judgment-level destructions, or cleansing events.

How long after this first warning earthquake will the really big one happen? From some readings it seems it could be less than a year. I think it could be 3-7 years later, depending on how many people become repentant, return to God, and then how quickly the majority return to wickedness.

As for the diseases and plagues, I do not know what will happen or when. I believe we have already started to see the beginnings of these. Part of it, I think, is also applicable to more antibiotic resistant bacteria strains beginning to be seen. Lesser known diseases becoming more common, such as Zika, Dengue, and Ebola, are another part. And, previously unheard of diseases (at least to western civilization, such as the tick-borne disease,called Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, showing up in western Europe) or how diseases are transmitted are beginning to make an appearance. In February 2016, the CDC announced the discovery of a new Lyme-disease-causing bacteria. Even diseases thought to be eradicated or left in history, like the bubonic plague, are showing up again (thankfully in small numbers).

Other possible diseases might even be from the past. A virus was resurrected from the permafrost after 30,000 years (http://www.livescience.com/43800-giant-virus-found-permafrost.html), but it doesn't pose a threat except to single-cell organisms, and doesn't resemble pathogens known to be harmful to humans. But what if it mutated and could spread to humans? Another example is a discovery of a 500,000 year-old bacteria in the permafrost with intact DNA. The specimen was "sterilized…with a massive dose of Gamma-rays" to "prevent any (and hypothetical) contamination of involved researches" (http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/history-of-geology/mammoth-mummies-mysteries/). Sounds very much along the lines of science fiction, but then again science fiction from the past is becoming the reality of today.

And there are genetically engineered diseases. Most, to my understanding, are modified from existing pathogens.

Consider this: If you were going to invade or attack what is considered the most powerful nation in the world, it would be prudent to disable that nation as much as you can. If you could kill or disable a quarter to a third (or more) of the population, and very likely overwhelm the emergency response system, including stretching thin the resources of the National Guard, and law enforcement, that would be a valuable pre-emptive strike. The best type of bio-engineered pathogen would be highly contagious, airborne transmissible, and able live for a long time outside of a host. So, the best time (I think) to launch such an attack would be late spring or summer when more people are outside, and then to target a few key venues where a lot of people will go through in a short time. A pathogen requiring close or physical contact to be passed on would work better in the winter when people are more confined indoors.

If you could affect that nation's economy at the same time, maybe through an oil embargo, it would be a bonus.

After that (maybe after a time period of several weeks to a few months) you could take out much of the communication and electrical infrastructure with several EMP strikes, followed by a few nukes on major cities and key military installations, and then the actual invasion, which would need to come from at least the two coasts, but ideally from the coasts as well as the north and south borders. If you believe the invasion can be quick, mid-to-late fall might be a good time for the main invasion. That way any survivors would still have to face the winter, and it may make their surrender/submission easier. And your forces could mostly hunker down for the winter if it gets too bad while the populace tries to recover (with fewer people) from the bio-attack and downed electrical infrastructure.

The ideal time to launch the bio-strike would be after multiple natural disasters, such as after some big earthquakes on the west coast and maybe a hurricane on the east, that stretch the nation's resources to the limit.  Until that time, you would just continue to build up your military and try to perfect the bio-weapons, including a possible vaccine for your own people in case the bio-weapon got out of control.

And, before the bio-attack maybe you could, through foreign operatives, engage that nation's military in foreign conflicts (outside of your own country) to stretch their resources and divide their strength on multiple fronts, during which time you would be able to monitor and observe tactics, strategies, and capabilities. Maybe some uprisings in former Soviet countries to return to Russian control? Maybe a rogue nation attacking a neighboring country? Along with whatever terrorist events might come along the way.

Based on what I've read, I think the invitation to gather will very likely come before the outbreaks of some very serious, plague-level, diseases. Whether they are natural, man-made, and/or bio-terrorist acts doesn't really matter, because they are coming. I think these will be included among the "overflowing scourge," "desolating sickness" and "desolating scourge" events mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants, but there are probably others as well.

It is my understanding that those who have gathered will not be completely exempt, but there will be far fewer who fall ill and the effects will generally be lessened, due to prayers, fasting, and priesthood blessings.

Regarding quarantines, I think we may see some level of self-quarantine for areas that have not been hard hit. But in the event of massive outbreak, the government could very well take control and forcibly quarantine people, testing everyone and essentially triaging them into healthy/uninfected, possibly-infected, and infected locations (maybe camps or designated buildings).

An outbreak that kills many of those who get infected would negatively affect the economy.

It would not take much of the population to die for the economy to be adversely affected. Maybe as little as a tenth and definitely a quarter would have severe consequences on the economy. If a third will killed off, the economy would be devastated. Think about everyone you come in contact with on a daily basis who has a job. If a third of those people died, and nobody was able to fill the openings, what kind of ripple effect would it have? Imagine how expensive things would get if a third of the truckers (and others involved with transportation of goods) were removed and there was nobody to take over the demand. It would only get worse if half the population were gone.

And, seeing how the economy is constantly being propped up, instead of allowing for more market corrections, those plagues, combined with the natural disasters that will be happening, will help the economy collapse. I think there may be a short time (maybe as short as a couple months) of hyper-inflation, as goods become more scarce, followed by a dollar collapse, when printed money becomes worthless.

That is when silver and gold would be more useful as a means of barter and exchange. But, if the gathering (the first call) has already taken place, those who have gathered won't have much use for the gold and silver unless they need to return to "civilization," such as for a rescue mission. There will be some who will be asked to stay behind, after the initial call to gather, for a short time. Gold and silver may be useful to those people. I don't think the use of gold and silver will last long (again, maybe only a few months) before the government completely takes over and full martial law is implemented, which would likely result in all gold and silver being confiscated. By then biometric-personal-ID systems (chips) will most likely be in full use and any commonly accepted "currency" will be digital, and the use of physical money may become outlawed.

A side note regarding the economy, I am not a financial consultant, investor, economist, accountant, tax advisor, etc. I believe we shouldn't ignore retirement planning, because things may end up being years away. But, we must be prepared physically. As the saying goes, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Food storage, supplies, camping equipment, and related items must be top priority. In a long-term emergency, having food on hand will be more valuable than millions of dollars locked up in financial accounts.

If anyone thinks they will be able to withdraw all the money from their account(s) or close/sell off investments in a hurry, such as when it looks like things will fall apart, they will be sadly disappointed. There are limits to how much you can withdraw and transfer, limits in amounts and time constraints. If you try to get more than $10,000 you will likely be facing a waiting period. It took over a week before I was able to pay off a big credit card balance, even though I had the funds available. If the market is crashing, it's probably too late anyway. So, be aware that your money, in whatever financial institution or instrument it is in, will likely not be available in the event of an emergency. And, depending on what is happening, you might end up losing it all. But, we are counseled to include a financial reserve among our preparations. And, for now, unless the Spirit directs you otherwise, a financial institution (my preference is a local credit union) is generally the safest place for your money. We need to be wise with our finances, and get out of debt.

We definitely need to increase our physical and spiritual preparations. There are a lot of people who have been feeling the need to get better prepared.

I think the really big events are still a few years away, but not necessarily the first Utah earthquake. However, I think the opportunity to get prepared, and to increase preparations, is short. I think we may have one or two more years before it becomes difficult to get much food storage and extra supplies. Those who are in tune with the Spirit have been receiving the promptings to get prepared and to increase their preparations.

Those who will build up Zion are those who will have been "chastened and tried, even as Abraham" (D&C 101:4). The Lord will test our faith, and we must become sanctified to become his people. Included with the trial of faith, I think, is that things often do not happen as soon as, or when, we expect, which may be part of the reason why the hearts of men "shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth" (D&C 25:26). We too easily get caught up in somebody's prediction based on some justifiable analysis (such when the Jubilee year is, blood moons, etc.), or think someone has made a made a date prediction, when they didn't but someone else interpreted what was said as setting a timeframe or date. We, generally speaking, need to be better at trusting in God and not what man says.

Part of our trials include whether we follow the counsels of the prophets (including getting prepared and storing food and supplies), listen to and heed the promptings of the Spirit, and put our trust in the Lord. Then we can be ready if something happens in the next few months, in 4 years, 7 years, or if we are to be teaching our children to be ready.

Those are some of my thoughts. I appreciate the insights, thoughts, and comments of others.