Alarmism
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Credit: Kylon Ric
Elder Neal A. Maxwell
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We should watch for the signs and read the meaning of the seasons, we should live as faithfully as we possibly can, and we should share the gospel with everyone so that blessings and protections will be available to all. But we cannot and must not be paralyzed just because that event and the events surrounding it are out there ahead of us somewhere. We cannot stop living life. Indeed, we should live life more fully than we have ever lived it before. After all, this is the dispensation of the fulness of times. I say this because in recent times—post 9-11 times, I suppose—I have heard very fearful and even dismal opinions coming from some in your age group regarding the questions that missionary had in mind. I have heard some of you say that you wonder whether there is any purpose in going on a mission or getting an education or planning for a career if the world we live in is going to be so uncertain. I have even heard sweethearts say, “We don’t know whether we should get married in such uncertain times.” Worst of all, I have heard reports of some newlyweds questioning whether they should bring children into a terror-filled world on the brink of latter-day cataclysms. May I tell you that, in a way, those kinds of attitudes worry me more than Al-Qaeda worries me.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
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of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles Good morning. You've caught me. You’ve caught me this morning as I am actually marking a scripture, and it's one that was prompted by your questions. I'm marking a new set of scriptures, which I do about annually. I've got my markers out here. The questions come up repeatedly, and I think with some genuine emotion: Are these the last days? And yes, they are. All of us know the name of the Church. It's been the last days for, you know, two centuries now. And what do we do? How do we keep our children safe and calm? How do we stay calm? How do we find peace? Where do you go if there's chaos? And there's certainly a lot of social and political and economic chaos around us. I was just marking one of my favorite scriptures. We'll use it this morning for our scriptural glimpse. I'm marking here one of my favorite scriptures to that end, and I invite you to note it this morning, as I read it, this is from section 101, easy to remember, in the Doctrine and Covenants. And the key verse leading off is verse 16: “Let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still” be still, “and know that I am God.” That's a phrase that He uses several times in the scriptures: earlier in the Doctrine and Covenants—actually twice more that I know of in the Doctrine Covenants—and in the Old Testament. I don't know that I’ve found it yet the New, but He uses it on occasion with this voice to the people. “Let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in my hands; be still and know that I am God.” So it's going to be okay. And kind of on this basis and with this recognition, verse 12: “All who are found upon the watch-tower.” Excuse my voice. “All who are … upon the watch-tower,” or in other words, all mine Israel, “shall be saved.” Thirteen: “They that have been scattered shall be gathered.” Now, if that isn't a geographical scattering—it was here—but if it's for us in the 21st century, if it's a social scattering or a familial scattering or an economic scattering, well, it's going to be gathered or our families are going to be gathered. And 14: “All … who have mourned shall be comforted.” And 15: “All they [who have been given,] who have given their lives for my name shall be crowned.” The wholehearted, totally devoted, sometimes deceased that have given their lives shall be crowned. Then verse 16, the verse we've read. But going on, 17: “Zion shall not be moved out of her place, notwithstanding her children are scattered.” Now here again, think of that as not geographic. We don't say that a certain place is Zion in this day and age. We talk about Zion wherever there are righteous people and wherever there is a priesthood, a governance. And if your children are scattered emotionally or in any other way within the family, they'll be gathered. And 18, here's the second key verse: “They that remain, and are pure in heart, shall return, and come to their inheritances, they and their children, with songs of everlasting joy, to build up the waste places of Zion.” Your children are not only going to be gathered, but they will sing songs of everlasting joy in a unified family to claim one's inheritance, your stewardship in the Kingdom. “All these things that the prophets might be fulfilled.” Follow those prophets. “And, behold, there's none other place appointed than that which I have appointed”—that God has appointed, the Christ has appointed— than our covenants, these ordinances, our temples, our stakes and wards and families, and scriptures and prophetic leadership. Don't worry. Be still and know that God is God and all flesh is in His hands. And everybody's going to be gathered that have been scattered, and everybody's going to be able to sing songs of everlasting joy. Stay on the watchtower. Be pure in heart and be peaceful. Be peaceful. In the name of
President Jeffrey R. Holland
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