Question
Dear Gramps,
As I’ve studied the scriptures I’ve learned that conspiracy is nothing new. Satan and Cain, the Gadiaton robbers, the conspiracy of destroying the people of God if the sign of Christ’ birth didn’t happen, Daniel and the Lions den, etc. As I seen current world events and research key terms and documents to find the truth I’ve come to believe many things that are real and it worries me. What has the Brethern said concerning these things? Are there plans?
Bernie
Answer
Bernie,
Of course there is a plan. It is God’s plan. We see this plan outlined for us in the scriptures. I find the Book of Mormon to be especially clear on the matter. I find the very first step of what we need to do is most clearly explained in Alma 31:
5 And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
Now as part of the plan we have to accept that some, once they hear the word of God, will choose evil rather then good. This ultimate choice between good and evil is the whole point of this mortal existence. It is why we are here. This means that there will be those that preaching the word of God will no longer impact. So what do we do then?
We gather together. The scriptures are full of the people of God grouping together (no matter how small) to support and protect each other. We have the whole Jewish nation in the Old Testament. The early Christians in the New Testament. The Book of Mormon is full of examples of this, a few being Alma’s people under King Noah, and the whole Nephite Nation against the Gadiaton robbers in 4th Nephi. We are counciled to be reading and studying the scriptures so that we understand things like this.
The brethren today and for a long time now have been counseling us to make our homes, our wards, our Branches, our Stakes to be gathering places. They are not at this time telling us to make a large scale gathering, most likely because this is part of God’s plan. We can still reach people by “virtue of the word of God.” Therefore we have been counseled to do exactly that, and we have been counseled by the brethren to find and elect good and wise people to public offices and positions of authority. People who understand and will work to counter the conspiracy and the “spiritual wickedness in high places”
The brethren are also counseling us to be prepared, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, economically, and in all other ways. This is so that when the time comes that we need to make drastic changes, we are able to do so.
So Bernie, we can clearly see the plan of God if we study His word, and listen to the counsel God gives us through his prophets. The choice that lies before us is the one on which we were sent here to be tested. It is “Will we follow all that the Lord commands?” If we do, then we can know that all will be well. If not, well then we have no such promise.
Gramps
