D&C Section Twenty-nine

In this section, the Lord reveals and much the world didn't know and clarifies much the world didn't understand. Everything in this section relates to the second coming and the millennium. The Lord lists some of the very unpleasant things that will happen prior to his second coming when he "will reveal [himself] from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years." The "hosts thereof" are the twelve apostles who will be at his right hand, and everyone else who has loved him and kept his commandments. Unbelievers dismiss this as a fable; I see it as a reality. And if you read the scripture closely, you will see how things are moving in the direction of what the Lord tells us will happen. So many signs of his second coming have already been given. What are listed in this section are not all of the things that will occur. There are many more prophecies in the Book of Mormon and Bible. The ones in this section are the cataclysmic ones that will occur prior to his coming. Here are the ones the Lord tells us in this section:

The sun will be darkened.
The moon will become red like blood.
Stars will fall from heaven.
There will be much weeping and wailing.
There will be great hailstorms.
There will be plagues of flies and maggots that will eat the flesh of men and their flesh will fall from their bones and their eyes will fall from their sockets.
Beasts and birds will feed on the bodies of men.

Also at this time, the wicked will be destroyed. And along with that, just as the devil and his angels were cast down to earth from the presence of the Father in the pre-mortal life, they will now be thrust down to hell. No evil will be left on the earth so that everyone will be able to live in peace. We have not lived in a country without peace so we cannot appreciate that as well as others. But according to the prophets, peace has been taken from the earth and the wars and distress will eventually spread throughout all nations.

I think it's important to remember that at the beginning of the section, the Lord instructs us to "lift up our hearts and be glad." A strange instruction maybe, but the Lord reveals the great promises that wait for those who have chosen righteousness. He tells us there must be a gathering so that the righteous are in "one" place. I believe that has two meanings. One meaning is there will be a single place where there will be a physical gathering of saints. This will become the central headquarters of the church and the place from where the Lord will rule his kingdom during the millennium. The other meaning is places of holiness such as temples. Our homes can also be such places. It is in these places that we can have the protection of the Lord. But it is our responsibility to be in the right position. God doesn't create our moral nature, only we can.

More on this section next time.