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DOCTRINE and COVENANTS

Sections 29:130, 43, 45, 116, 133

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

Dating the revelations


D&C 29 D&C 43 D&C 45 D&C 133 D&C 116 September 1830 February 1831 7 March 1831 3 November 1831 19 May 1838 Fayette, New York Kirtland, Ohio Kirtland, Ohio Hiram, Ohio Spring Hill, Missouri

Basic chronology
Great tribulation prior to the second coming (signs, wars, plagues). Christs glorious return and 1,000-year reign. Destruction of the wicked, first resurrection, earth returned to is paradisiacal state. Satan permanently defeated; second resurrection and final judgment. Earth celestialized; righteous dwell with God forever.
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John A. Widtsoe
Human curiosity is intrigued by whatever seems mysterious. Therefore, much effort has been expended to reduce such general prophecies to exact dates, times, and persons, This has been a waste of time and energy, as prophecy uttered under divine inspiration usually contains all that the divine will desires to reveal. It behooves those to whom the prophecy is made to prepare for coming events, to watch for them, and to recognize them when they do appear. If more is needed, the power that gave the prophecy will no doubt furnish the interpretation. . The present disturbed condition of the world has impelled many to look for prophecies relating to the last days. Several such compilations have been published. Quotations are made from leaders of the present, as of past dispensations. Carefully read, these statements add nothing to the prophecies recorded in our sacred books. The attempts to make them specific, such as to predict any country's downfall, or to identify certain present-day leaders with prophetic personages, are unjustified and misleading.

John A. Widtsoe
Prophecy may be interpreted only to the extent that it implies within its own statements that it shall be interpreted. If a prophecy is indefinite with respect to certain things, it is probably so intended. It is always wise to read and practice that which is clear and understandable, and to leave the dim and mysterious until further prophetic revelation is received. We concern ourselves only with that which is clear and understandable. We know that with the progress of time, increasing light will come, as we may have need. Moreover, we know that we should not waste our valuable time and energies on remote and doubtful matters, but rather direct our efforts towards the study and practice of the clearly stated principles of conduct embodied in the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the direct method of obtaining light and truth, the goal of every Latter-day Saint. Evidences and Reconciliations, 93, 9596
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Literal or figurative?
D&C 133:2627:
And they who are in the north countries shall come in remembrance before the Lord; and their prophets shall hear his voice, and shall no longer stay themselves; and they shall smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence. And an highway shall be cast up in the midst of the great deep.

Literal or figurative?
D&C 133:2324:
He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one landand the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.

Genesis 10:25:
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg [separate, divide]; for in his days was the earth divided.
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I am an optimist
I stand here today as an optimist concerning the work of the Lord. I cannot believe that God has established his work in the earth to have it fail. I cannot believe that it is getting weaker. I know that it is getting stronger. I realize, of course, that we are beset with many tragic problems. I am a newspaper reader, and I have seen a good deal of this earth. I have seen its rot and smelled its filth. I have been in areas where war rages and hate smolders in the hearts of people. I have seen the appalling poverty that hovers over many lands. I have seen the oppression of those in bondage and the brutality of their overlords. I have watched with alarm the crumbling morals of our society. And yet I am an optimist. I have a simple and solemn faith that right will triumph and that truth will prevail. Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, October 1969
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A positive, hopeful perspective


Living in these difficult timesrequires each one of us to maintain a positive, hopeful perspective about the future. Today, more so than in the past, I am asked about the signs of the times and if I think the end of the world is near. . My message to you today...is simply this: the Lord is in control. He knows the end from the beginning. He has given us adequate instruction that, if followed, will see us safely through any crisis. His purposes will be fulfilled, and someday we will understand the eternal reasons for all of these events. Therefore, today we must be careful not to overreact, nor should we be caught up in extreme preparations, but what we must do is keep the commandments of God and never lose hope! But where do we find hope in the midst of such turmoil and catastrophe? Quite simply, our one hope for spiritual safety during these turbulent times is to turn our minds and our hearts to Jesus Christ. Elder M. Russell Ballard, October 1992
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Be happy and positive


We are not to be afraid, even in a world where the hostilities will never end. We are to be happy and positive. We are not to be afraid. Fear is the opposite of faith. President Boyd K. Packer, October 2006

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The last days


D&C 45:9. The everlasting covenant a light to the world. 45:2425. The gospel to go first to the Gentiles, then to the Jews
Cf. 1 Nephi 13:42; D&C 90:9; 133:8.

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The last days


D&C 45:2633. Deteriorating conditions:
45:26, 33. Wars. 45:26. Mens hearts fail them. 45:26. Christ delayeth his coming. (Luke 12:45.) 45:27. Love for others waxes [grows] cold. 45:2829. People reject the gospel, embrace darkness.

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Adam-ondi-Ahman
Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael, he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man. He (Adam) is the father of the human family, and presides over the spirits of all men, and all that have had the keys must stand before him in this grand council. The Son of Man stands before him, and there is given him glory and dominion. Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family. Joseph Smith, July 1839 This, then, is the nature of the Priesthood; every man holding the Presidency of his dispensation, and one man holding the Presidency of them all, even Adam: and Adam receiving his Presidency and authority from the Lord, but cannot receive a fullness until Christ shall present the Kingdom to the Father, which shall be at the end of the last dispensation. Joseph Smith, October 1840

Plagues and desolation


D&C 45:3031. Overflowing scourge and desolating sickness. 45:33. Earthquakes and desolations (cf. Revelation 11:13; 16:18). 29:14. Sun darkened, moon turned into blood (cf. Revelation 6:12). 29:15. Weeping and wailing (cf. Revelation 18:15, 19). 29:16. Hail (c.f. Revelation 8:7; 11:19; 16:21). 29:18, 20. Flies, beasts, and fowls (cf. Revelation 19:17, 21). 43:25. Men still refuse the gospel message 45:32. My disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved.
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Stand in holy places


You will live in the midst of economic, political, and spiritual instability. When you see these signs unmistakable evidences that his coming is nighbe not troubled, but, standin holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come (D&C 87:8). Holy men and holy women stand in holy places, and these holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are, as the Lord declares, for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth (D&C 115:6). Ezra Taft Benson, April 1981

The end cometh


D&C 133:715. The righteous to gather to Zion for protection.
133:15. Look not back. Cf. Genesis 19:2426; Luke 9:5762.

29:21. The great and abominable church cast down.

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Jesus triumphant return


D&C 45:4853. At the Mount of Olives.
Zechariah 14:24. 3 Nephi 29:8. 2 Nephi 9:12.

133:18. The 144,000. 29:9. The wicked burn; the righteous purified.
Malachi 4:1 vs. Malachi 3:23; 4:23.

29:11. The millennial reign. 29:13. Resurrection of the just. 45:54. Resurrection of they that knew no law.
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What of those who never heard?


There are millions of people, both among the Christian and heathen nations, that are still in darkness, and exclaiming, Oh, how glad we would be to have some knowledge of the Gospel of salvation! By-and-by, when the Lord sends forth his servants and his angels to gather them, they will be brought home to Zion and be taught the peaceable things of the kingdom; and those that abide a celestial law will receive a celestial glory, and those that can abide the next law in order can abide the glory pertaining to it, and so on. Brigham Young, July 1861

Children grow up without sin unto salvation


There are those of us who have laid away our little ones in the grave, and we had that responsibility. A little daughter was born to us over in Holland while I was president of the mission there, and we kept her until she was three and a half years old. My wife has said time and time again that she knew the angels brought that spirit to her because she felt their presence, and yet we laid her away in the grave. If we had to feel that that was the end, we would have given anything in this world to have her back again. And then we come to this great knowledge that we have in the restoration of the gospel, that she will be ours in the eternal world and we will have the joy of seeing her grow up without sin, unto salvation. Sometimes I have thought that probably some of these choice spirits did not need the experience here in mortality like other children, and that is why the Lord has seen fit to call them home. Elder LeGrand Richards, October 1971

End of the millennium


D&C 29:2229. When the thousand years are ended.
Final battle. (Revelation 20:710.) Resurrection of the wicked (Revelation 20:5, 13). The earth a celestial kingdom (Revelation 21:1 22:6; D&C 77:1; 130:9). Separation of the wicked from the righteous.

29:12. The Twelve and other prophets judge alongside Christ. 45:35. Christ, our Advocate with the Father.

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DOCTRINE and COVENANTS

Next class: Sections 46, 4950, 5256

Hurricane Utah Adult Religion Class

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