Quite some time ago, I heard a person declare that Jesus was coming quite soon and that the group I was with would be there. Another person recently told me that basically all the signs of the last days have been fulfilled, and there is not much left to do. Yet another person prophesied to me that a huge earthquake would take place in Utah and only members of the church who had a full year supply of food storage would be saved. Then Lord would allow all the other church members to starve as punishment, and that I should be stockpiling weapons to protect my food storage from slothful Christians. (I should point out that the earthquake DID NOT occur as prophesied.) In addition, I have heard of all sorts of rumors, visions, and angelic manifestations in recent months.

As a consequence of this, I have been doing significant study of the Book of Revelation to understand the truth of the matter. It is my habit when I hear a rumor or saying, to turn to the scriptures and find out what they say on the subject. I then try to gain a measure of inspiration to determine how my family should be acting.

As President Hinckley has mentioned (Oct 2001), there are members of the church receiving revelation and inspiration regarding to the last days, for PERSONAL instruction. I can further point out that there seems to have been an equivalent increase in false revelations, false visions, false spirits, lying wolves pretending to be church members, and deceived individuals whose trusting natures have been used against them.

In reference to the above listed “teachings”, I would like to point out that any teaching which seems to put us in a “special” group which is somehow better or more knowledgeable than other saints or church leaders may be safely ignored. It is a common trick of Satan to use pride to tempt us into believing something that is otherwise foolish. For numerous reasons, I believe I can safely ignore the teachings with which I began. I am shocked and somewhat concerned at the number of people I see who are so eager to be prepared and do the right thing that they jump at anything which appears even slightly credible.

It seems to me that the MOST important way to prepare is spiritually. The reason is that physical goods (food, shelter, clothing) can be stored, shipped and shared with those who need them. Spiritual preparation and the inspiration of the Holy Ghost cannot be. Not everyone can afford to fully prepare temporally, but ANYONE can be just as spiritually prepared as God’s prophet. One prophesy teaches that a number of church members will have good incomes, become interested in boats, toys, houses, cars, sports and being physically attractive. This interest becomes an obsession and they begin forgoing spiritual matters in order to pursue these goals. The time then comes when the Lord will test his saints, and they feel abandoned because “church leaders did not prepare them” or “God didn’t protect them” like they thought he should.

Someone quite sincerely recently asked me, “Why aren’t church leaders warning us about earthquakes, tsunami’s, the illuminati, or any of the other rumors flying around on google and youtube?”

I believe the answers is this: “Perhaps they are”.

I believe the best way to prepare for whatever may happen is to read the scriptures, perform your church duties, and have the Holy Ghost in your life.

What we need isn’t:

New/more scriptures

Podcasts from the New Jerusalem

A pile of Uzi’s so we don’t have to share the food storage we have with others

People who “know more” than their leaders

Going to special meetings of select people who attempt to set themselves up as authorities

People who look down on others because they struggle with a particular thing (food storage, word of wisdom, home teaching)

Special conference addresses where the prophet spells everything out for even the most dull-witted to understand.

What we need is:

Obedience

In the parable of the 10 virgins, it should be remembered that the foolish virgins were not without oil. The problem was that they did not have enough oil. They ended up waiting longer for the Lord to come than they anticipated. How do we get oil? I think Alma 7:23-24 gives some ideas.

One last thing. The parable of the 10 virgins is NOT about food storage.