Fulness of Times

For well over a year, since before this post in November 2017 https://fulnessoftimes.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-coming-crash.html I have told people that I believe a recession is coming late 2019 or early 2020. I expect the recession to begin in late 2019, and things will get worse through 2020 (and probably into 2021 and possibly into 2022 before improvements are touted by the party in control...even though their policies really won't be helpful in the long run). Over the last year I've read more and more analysts starting to project a similar start to the next recession--late 2019 or 2020. Today I read three articles that go right along these lines...and they are not from some fringe financial group looking to stir up fear among investors. What Wall Street strategists forecast for the S&P 500 in 2019 https://finance.yahoo.com/news/wall-street-strategists-forecast-sp-500-2019-131219152.html   Next US recession will be 'much worse' than the last: Euro

In a previous post I showed where Moroni identifies the Jaredites as having lived, and were destroyed, in "this north country." And, as he was very likely writing in the records cave at Hill Cumorah, or in the vicinity, "this north country" would refer to North America, and more particularly the United States. Moroni and his father Mormon gave several warning directed to us. Some are for everyone. Some are specifically for those of us living in the "land of promise, which is choice above all other lands" (Ether 2:7). Verses 8 -1 12 of Ether chapter 2 contain the promise of the land of promise. If we serve God, our country will be "free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven" (verse 12). But, if we do not serve God, we "will be swept off when the fulness of his wrath" comes upon us (verse 9), which will not come "until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are sw

(continued from Was the Nephite Civilization in North America?) Now, let's go into a bit of "what ifs." We assume that what we've been taught by various sciences is correct. In particular, we assume it takes hundreds of thousands of years (or millions of years) for geographic changes to occur. But we also know how devastating a large hurricane can be. Or the destruction that can occur with a big flood. Or the changes that can occur with a volcanic eruption. Or the damage earthquakes can cause. Any one of those events can change the landscape of the area, and they don't take millennia, years, or even months to cause the change. . Now go and read 3 Nephi chapter 8, and remember the Nephites had been in the land for over 600 years. Here's some bits from that chapter. There was "a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land" (verse 5). Remember, this is storm that nobody had experienced in the 600+ years the Nephi

As I grew up in the Church, it was commonly accepted (and generally still is) that Lehi's family probably arrived somewhere in Central America, or in the northern part of South America (and the Nephites migrated north to Central America). But, there were times when I wondered if that was correct. And, over the last several years I've come to believe that it isn't correct. That's not to say there aren't those of Lamanite descent in Central and South America, because there certainly are. Most people tend to think that the Nephites stayed in a region, but the truth is they traveled and had commerce all over. And, we have no idea how long it took them to travel. We assume that a day's travel for them was the same as it it for us. I believe Lehi's family most likely arrived somewhere in the southeastern United States. It may have been along the Gulf coast, but I think it's more likely to have been along the south eastern shores. It had to be an area

We won't ever know all the details about the sexual abuse that occurred through the years. The Boy Scouts of America is facing a lot of litigation concerning sexual abuse, and it may be that the BSA files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. https://www.wsj.com/articles/boy-scouts-of-america-considers-bankruptcy-filing-amid-sex-abuse-lawsuits-11544649657 It's saddening that a once great organization is facing so much difficulty. It seems that its problems have increasingly gotten worse over the last 30 or so years, with even more occurring in the last 10-15.. I don't know the reasons, but I suspect the following. The organization, particularly the leadership, lost it's focus on the program and its values for boys. I'm not saying the values and program wouldn't be good for girls. But boys really need it. People tend to say girls are more social. And, while girls may generally talk more, and share their feelings more, boys are just as social. If they weren't s

I know it's been almost a month and half since the elections. First, I am glad the Democrats didn't win control of the Senate and the House. But, I was right in predicting earlier this year that they would get at least control of the House. Not that that was a hard prediction. This could be good for the markets, at least in the short term. Very little will get done with the new Congress. The House Democrats will push their agenda, including aggressive attacks on gun rights, and will pass all kinds of legislation through their committees. But, very little will be passed into law by the Republican controlled Senate. The Democrats know this, but it's all political gamesmanship. They are shooting for the Presidency and full control of Congress in the 2020 election. As for the markets, since nothing is likely to happen, it will mostly be status quo and predicable, at least for the first half of the year. Investors like predictability and stability. And, they won'

The year has been busy and I haven't kept as up-to-date with various events like I have in the past few years. However, there are still drought conditions. Most of California, despite a heavy snowfall a couple of years ago, is still in drought. Drought is spreading. Here's the December 11, 2018, drought monitor. While this changes weekly, monthly, and by season, what is most striking to me is how solid the southwest US is in drought conditions. Usually there are heavy areas of drought, with more non-drought areas. And I don't see as much in the midwest and east. When it comes to famine, drought is usually what comes to mind as a causal factor. But, drought is the obvious. Excess rain can cause crop failures as well. So can pests. There are even plant diseases that can devastate crops. Then there are many natural disasters. Of course wars and other geopolitical factors can also play a role. Regarding the drought, "The head of the federal agency con

It's hard to believe how busy the last couple months have been. November went by in a seeming blur. After Thanksgiving my focus, for whatever extra time I could get, was getting all my assignments done for my two graduate classes. Now that the semester is done, it's time for the holidays and all the busyness that entails. I'm hoping to make a few additions to this blog over the next few weeks...before the next and final semester for the masters degree. I suspect my posts will probably taper off before April, and then pick back up again after graduation in May.

I'm sure I'll repeat some thoughts and ideas from earlier posts. I've been reading--several times--3 Nephi chapters 20-22, where the Savior is talking to the Nephites and telling them of events that will transpire when the gathering of Israel will commence. Outside of the Church, and even most of those in the Church, seem to want to lump all the calamities spoken of in the scriptures into the time of tribulation, right before the Second Coming. However, it seems apparent that there are two general locations, each with distinct events, with their own sequences of events. For most, the sequence of events hinges around the old world, and, primarily, Jerusalem and the Middle East. However, there are events that will happen in the New World before and even during the big events spoken of in the Book of Revelation, particularly the period of time referred to as the days/time of tribulation. From my readings and study, I have come to the conclusion there will be signif

I'm not sure if I've mentioned this in any past post, but the recent earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, with its devastating liquefaction, brought this back to mind. When the Provo City Center Temple was being built, the ground water was found about 18 feet. The two below ground levels would be bringing the depth of the temple foundation down to 40 feet. What the construction company did (which was part of the plans) was to create what essentially became a big bath tub. First the walls, then the floor. When I read about this, my immediate reaction was the foundation was like a big boat. I'm not sure if it could actually hold the weight of the temple and adjoining structures in a water environment, but my thought is it would float the temple when a big earthquake shakes and liquefies the ground. Other structures nearby will likely receive damage or sink into the ground as a result of the soil liquefaction. But, the temple will float and receive minimal damage. Some a

I'm excited about President Nelson's announcement at the beginning of General Conference concerning the change in meeting schedule. And, it's not just because we have four kids ages 8 and under, where it can become a constant struggle to keep the youngest ones somewhat reverent for 70 minutes. And, it's not because I've been helping with the nursery during the second and third blocks of the three-hour meeting schedule. I'm mostly there because our youngest is having a hard time getting used to nursery and there isn't enough help. A shortened meeting block means one additional hour spent with the family, reading with the kids, writing in journals, or doing other things to build family relationships and have gospel-related discussions. Six months ago the ministering program was introduced with all of the Melchizedek priesthood being the elder's quorum. Now the church is moving towards a more home centered, church-supported focus. In the April 2

A prophet in the Book of Mormon warns us to beware of conspiracies in the last days, although in the Book of Mormon conspiracies are referred to as secret combinations. Basically, a "secret combination" is an organized effort that combines against what is right, against God, and its goal is to get power and money (gain) using any means (lies, cheating, bribes, murders, etc.) it can through secrecy. Oaths of secrecy and loyalty are administered to those who are involved. These oaths are to not reveal plans or actions of the group, and severe repercussions result on those (and their families) who break their oaths. In the book of  Ether chapter 8 , the prophet Moroni tells of one instance (that led to the destruction of the Jaredite nation) and then warns us about secret combinations (I've bolded certain parts for emphasis): 8 And it came to pass that they formed a secret combination, even as they of old; which combination is most abominable and wicked above all, in

Conspiracy theories are all over. Most people tend to fall into one of the following: they either believe the conspiracy theory, or they completely dismiss it. Those who believe conspiracy theories often believe in more than one. Those who dismiss a conspiracy theory usually dismiss all of them. To me it seems that many conspiracy theories are becoming more outrageous and harder to believe. This does not mean the entire conspiracy theory is false. However most people will discredit and dismiss them simply because of a falsehood in the conspiracy theory. Here's where I stand. I believe most, if not all, conspiracy theories have some truth to them. Some will be more true than false, and others will be more false than true. The question is what part of the conspiracy is true? My thoughts are many conspiracy theories are fabricated by those operating behind the scenes. Misinformation is a key component of waging any war. However, the misinformation cannot be completely

It is unfortunately becoming more prevalent, those who may say they believe in God, but they don't believe God. That is, they don't believe God's commandments make civilization better. They also don't believe traditional families are the foundation of strength and goodness in a community, society, and country as a whole. They believe that they know better. That the traditional morals and values, most of which center around believing God's ways are better than man's. They point to extremist and overbearing views, opinions, and traditions. They show how those religious followers have caused so many of the ills and problems in society. But they fail (either intentionally or ignorantly) to acknowledge that the majority of religions are peaceable in the doctrine, and it is through the extreme interpretations of man that causes the ills and problems. That is the first effect. The failure to follow God's commandments--either by simply disobeying them or a

This post was last updated, 6 October 2018. --------------------------------------------------- In the Book of Mormon, in chapter 5 of the book of Jacob ( Jacob 5 ), there is a fascinating allegory about an olive tree in a vineyard. As the olive tree gets older, branches start withering away and it looks like the tree is dying. The Lord (also called the master) of the vineyard prunes and nourishes the tree, but only a few "young and tender branches" (v. 6) grow, while the main part starts dying.  The Lord of the vineyard tells his servant to graft in some branches from a wild olive tree, in the hopes that it can strengthen the roots. The the servant is directed to "watch the tree, and nourish it" (v 12) while he takes the "young and tender branches (v. 8) and grafts them into other places throughout the vineyard. I won't go through the entire allegory, at least not at this point. First let's establish some things. First, the Earth is the