The signs of the times

Keith Vaught Jul 2014

I grew up in the Mormon church during the 60s and 70s. One of the big gospel topics used to be the second coming, which our local leaders and teachers frequently claimed would happen around the year 2000. How many of you remember these "signs of the times" that were taught in classrooms and from the pulpit?

1. The temples would be open continuously to get the work done.

2. The lost tribes would return from the north countries.

3. The saints would return to Jackson County.

4. Jesus would appear there.

5. The elders would save the day as the US constitution hung by a thread.

GC
Re: The signs of the times
Yep -- remember it all!

Heartless
Re: The signs of the times

Doesn't that happen after it is too dangerous to send missionaries into the world and Missouri is devastated without even a dog left alive?

Carol
Oh, yes, I taught those lessons.
iplayedjoe
Re: The signs of the times

Ditto here. They needed all of that tithing money to prepare to take care of all of us in the last days.

I also remember picking Oranges at a church farm as a kid too. I think we were doing it for the Welfare Program feeding all of the hungry everywhere!

Pooped
Re: The signs of the times

With the temples so under used, I'd say the second coming is a long, long way off.

Book of Mordor
Re: The signs of the times

Yes, especially #4, the Council at Adam-ondi-Ahman. That was great! An impossibly enormous meeting involving hundreds of millions of people, and no one else would ever know about it! For some reason no GA brings it up any more. Go figure. I wonder why not...

Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, p. 582

"Every prophet, apostle, president, bishop, elder, or church officer of whatever degree – all who have held keys shall stand before him who holds all of the keys. They will then be called upon to give an account of their stewardships and to report how and in what manner they have used their priesthood and their keys for the salvation of men within the sphere of their appointments."

Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, pp. 584-585

"Who are the 'thousand thousands' who 'ministered unto him'? Are not these the millions who have held keys and powers and authorities in all dispensations? Are they not the ones who are called to report their stewardships and to give an accounting of how and in what manner they have exercised the keys of the kingdom in their days? Will not every steward be called upon to tell what he has done with the talents with which he was endowed? Truly, it shall be so; and those who minister unto the Ancient of Days are indeed the ministers of Christ reporting their labors to their immediate superiors, even back to Adam, who holds the keys of salvation over all the earth for all ages.

And who are the 'ten thousand times ten thousand' who stand before him? Are not these the one hundred million and more who have been faithful and true in the days of their mortal probations? Are they not the same 'ten thousand times ten thousand' who are 'kings and priests,' and who will live and reign with Christ a thousand years?… Truly, it is so; this is a part of that great day for which all the righteous have yearned, and the Lord Jesus, in its course, is using and honoring his ministers. Each one is operating within the sphere of his assignment; each is serving in his appointed way…"

Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, pp. 290-291

"When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the Church at large will not know of it, yet it shall be preparatory to the coming in the clouds of glory of our Savior Jesus Christ as the Prophet Joseph Smith has said. The world cannot know of it. The Saints cannot know of it — except those who officially shall be called into this council — for it shall precede the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world."

donbagley
Re: The signs of the times

And the end had to come by the year 2000. So Y2K was really their last chance for a timely ending. Now it's just a bad joke.

hello
Re: The signs of the times

Sheesh, I kinda doubt there have been all that many "priesthood holders" in the history of the world. There weren't that many in the first millennium, nor in this, the last dispensation, nor among the fabled Nephites, or the OT Jews. Where do they get "hundred million" priesthood?

Even today, in the most populous period, there's what? A few million, since 1830? Less than ten million, certainly.

rodolfo
Re: The signs of the times

Looks like we can relax. Monson says that City Creek Mall will be around for one hundred years.

Jesus will need to recover his ROI so no second coming for awhile. When the cult starts spending its billions on actually preaching a gospel message then I suppose we could worry some.

ferdchet
Re: The signs of the times

I can remember hearing those things in the 80s, and whispered around when I was on my mission.

When I came back I spent a few years away from the church. Then was back for a few (early 00s). All of those topics now seemed to be "crazy talk". Just another nail in the coffin of testimony for me.

I know a guy from HS that moved out Missouri way. Big into Church History. Now moving back to UT. Guess he got tired of waiting.

somnambulist
Re: The signs of the times

did they McConkster just make that sh!t up, or did he put it together from some actual teachings?

weeder
From the quote by Brigham Young ...

There would "not be so much as a yellow dog to wag its tail" ...

And in Brigham Young's day apostates from the church were commonly called "yellow dogs" ... so the message to the Saints was more along the lines of: "Stick with the church if you want to be alive."

SusieQ#1
Re: The signs of the times

Yup, Keith -- I remember those as I was a new (adult) convert in 1961.

Mostly, however, Mormonism took on the Whole Life Style for me and I was constantly on overload living The Gospel: bringing children into the world, trying to make ends meet in a crazy economy (husband laid off with thousands of engineers), working part-time, keeping up on the church obligations; meetings, preparing for classes, music prep. youth theater (Roadshows, etc.) ......and who really thought much about what we were doing and why other than we were "enduring to the end" and often that was just the end of a big block of meetings!!

I know I didn't think things through much, I relied on the teachings.

And wondered...when will all the prophecies happen?

Jonny the Smoke
Re: The signs of the times

I remember those and this one.....

6. Two misionaries will be killed in the streets and after three days they will be resurected and rise up.

That was supposed to be the clinching moment. When that happened, you better be pulling that handcart down the freeway to Jackson County!!

shakinthedust
Re: The signs of the times

I remember all of these including # 6 above. These were totally taught from the pulpit.

Funny thing though, there was nothing about a great and spacious mall..

CTRringturnsmyfingergreen
Re: The signs of the times

All the priesthood holders, past and present shall gather! (but the saints cannot know about it).

How the fu$k is that possible?

CTRringturnsmyfingergreen
Re: The signs of the times

Yeah, I didn't know how we were going to get our two 5 gallon buckets of wheat all the way to Missouri.

Glo
Re: Oh, yes, I taught those lessons.

somnambulist
Re: The signs of the times

That is a helluvalot of porta potties.

Jonny the Smoke
Re: The signs of the times

That's a "new" sign of the times.....

7. When the geat and spacious mall is built, it will signify that the return of jesus has been delayed a little more. You'll just have to wait longer and endure a bit more to the end.

Sure sign he church's watch is broken....even twice a day when it should be right!

madalice
Re: The signs of the times

I recall being told that the Nauvoo temple will be restored after the coming of Christ.

They restored it, where's JC? He doesn't seem to be anywhere in the house.

Lethbridge Reprobate
Re: The signs of the times

Those TBM's who's P Blessing said they'd raise their children in the millennium, must have been pissed as they lay on their death beds and know they'd been ripped off.

Ron Burr

"Recovery from Mormonism - www.exmormon.org"