Gramps,

What do you make of the “trumpeting from the sky” phenomenon? I find it really interesting and wonder what it could really be. Is it a stretch to believe it comes from the Lord, as perhaps warnings?

Shawn

Answer

Shawn,

There’s something about the idea of “trumpeting from the sky” that just sticks with you, isn’t there? It feels almost ancient—as something pulled straight out of scripture—yet at the same time, it shows up in modern videos and firsthand accounts. When people describe hearing deep, metallic, trumpet-like sounds echoing through the air, it naturally raises a question: Could this actually be something divine? Could it be a warning from the Lord?

That question isn’t as far-fetched as it might seem.

In Latter-day Saint theology, we believe that God does communicate with His children, and sometimes in dramatic ways. Throughout scripture, trumpets are closely tied to divine action. In the New Testament, they signal sacred events connected to the Second Coming. In modern revelation, Doctrine and Covenants 88 describes angels sounding trumpets as part of the unfolding of God’s work in the last days. So when people today hear something that resembles a trumpet coming from the sky, it makes sense that their minds would go there.

And in a broader sense, scripture supports the idea that God uses signs as warnings. Doctrine and Covenants 43:25 teaches that the Lord sends “thunderings and lightnings and voices… that they may be brought to repentance.” That’s a powerful reminder that God is not silent—He does use the natural world, at times, to get our attention.

But here’s where things get a little more nuanced.

While God can use dramatic signs, He also follows consistent patterns. One of the most important of those patterns is that He provides clarity through prophetic guidance. The Old Testament teaches:

“Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

That principle is foundational in Latter-day Saint belief. If something is truly a significant, global warning from God—something meant to prepare the world—we would expect it to be confirmed and explained through living prophets, not left to speculation or internet interpretation.

So far, with the “trumpeting from the sky” phenomenon, we haven’t seen that kind of prophetic confirmation.

Instead, what we see is a mix of curiosity, fascination, and a wide range of explanations. Some of these sounds have been linked to natural causes—things like atmospheric conditions, distant industrial noise, or acoustic effects that carry sound in unusual ways. In a world filled with advanced technology and easily edited media, it’s also wise to approach such reports with a degree of caution.

That doesn’t make the phenomenon meaningless—it just means we should be careful about assigning it divine origin without clear spiritual evidence.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks offered a helpful perspective when he taught:

“The faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it” (General Conference, April 2004).

That statement is key. Yes, we are encouraged to pay attention to the signs of the times—but we are also invited to study them, to understand them in light of scripture and prophetic teaching, not simply react to every unusual or unexplained event.

The Lord has already revealed many of the signs that matter most: wars and rumors of wars, natural disasters, shifts in morality, and the ongoing gathering of Israel. These are consistent, repeated across scripture, and confirmed through modern prophets. They form a clear framework for understanding the times we live in.

In other words, we don’t need to rely on mysterious sounds in the sky to know that the world is moving toward significant prophetic fulfillment.

President Russell M. Nelson has repeatedly emphasized where our focus should be. He taught:

“Now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord” (Preparing for the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, 2020).

And in that same message, he asked a striking question:

“Do you see what is happening right before our eyes?”

That invitation isn’t about decoding strange or sensational phenomena. It’s about recognizing the clear, observable fulfillment of prophecy—the growth of the Church, the gathering of Israel, and the increasing need for spiritual strength in a complex world.

President Nelson consistently points us away from speculation and toward preparation.

And that distinction matters.

Because while it’s not a stretch to believe that God could produce trumpet-like sounds in the sky, it may be a stretch to assume that these particular reports are divine warnings—especially without confirmation through the channels the Lord has already established. Latter-day Saint doctrine encourages a balanced approach: spiritually open yet grounded and thoughtful.

At the same time, there’s something meaningful about the question itself.

Even if these sounds turn out to have entirely natural explanations, they still remind us of something very real: the scriptural promise that one day, there will be unmistakable signs. There will come a time when the “trumpet of God” is not symbolic or questionable, but clear, undeniable, and universally understood.

And when that day comes, there won’t be confusion about what it means.

Until then, the Lord hasn’t left us guessing. He has given us steady, reliable guidance through scripture, living prophets, and the quiet influence of the Holy Ghost. Those are the voices we can trust without hesitation.

So maybe the best way to view the “trumpeting from the sky” phenomenon isn’t as a confirmed warning from heaven—but as a reminder. A reminder that God does speak. A reminder that the Second Coming is real. And perhaps most importantly, a reminder that the preparation we need isn’t about interpreting mysterious sounds—it’s about becoming spiritually ready.

And that kind of preparation doesn’t depend on what we hear in the sky—it depends on what we choose to hear in our hearts.

Gramps

]]> https://askgramps.org/what-do-you-make-of-the-trumpeting-from-the-sky-phenomenon/feed/ 0 https://askgramps.org/how-did-animals-fit-on-ark-kangaroos/ https://askgramps.org/how-did-animals-fit-on-ark-kangaroos/#respond Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:41:51 +0000 https://askgramps.org/?p=59759 Question

Gramps,

I know this has probably been asked and answered before but I am in an online discussion with a skeptic who doesn’t believe in the global flood and he counters my assertions by wanting to know how all the animals fit on the ark and even how did the kangaroos hop down to Australia since that is the only place on earth they are found.

Robert

Answer

Robert,

Let’s start with the kangaroos.

According to the scriptures, particularly the Book of Genesis, Noah was commanded by God to gather pairs of every kind of animal into the ark before the flood (Genesis 6:19-20). After the floodwaters receded, these animals would have needed to repopulate the earth. Latter-day Saints believe that the earth was one landmass before the division mentioned in Genesis 10:25, which occurred during the time of Peleg (approximately 2247 BC). This division may have facilitated the movement of species, including kangaroos, to their respective habitats.

From a scientific standpoint, kangaroos are believed to have evolved in Australia and are part of a group of marsupials that have been present on the continent for millions of years. The Great Flood, as described in religious texts, is not supported by mainstream science, which holds that the earth has undergone extensive geological changes over millions of years. The current understanding of kangaroo migration includes theories that suggest their ancestors migrated from Gondwana, a supercontinent that included present-day Australia, Africa, South America, Antarctica, and India, before its fragmentation around 180 million years ago.

There are several theories regarding how kangaroos might have reached Australia:

1. Land Bridges: It is believed that during lower sea levels, land bridges may have existed between continents, allowing animals to migrate. For example, a submerged landmass known as Sahul connected Australia with New Guinea and Tasmania. This theory is supported by fossil records that show a variety of marsupial species once existed in areas now separated by oceans.

2. Flotation on Debris: Some theories suggest that animals could have floated on debris or vegetation to reach isolated landmasses. This idea, while speculative, illustrates the possible means of survival and migration for species in a post-catastrophic environment.

3. Divine Assistance: From a faith-based perspective, it is posited that God could have directed animals to their necessary habitats post-flood. This belief aligns with the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding God’s guidance in the natural world and His plan for creation.

The Church teaches that God has a plan for all creation and that He is aware of the needs and movements of all His creatures. The account of Noah’s Ark emphasizes God’s command to preserve life and suggests that the repopulation of the earth was part of His divine plan.

1. Creation and Preservation of Life: The Church emphasizes that all creatures are part of God’s creation, including the belief that God has a plan for the earth and its inhabitants, which may extend to migrations as part of that divine design (Genesis 1-2).

2. Faith in Divine Directives: The Church teaches that God can direct the movements of His creations, which can include both miraculous and natural means. This belief supports the idea that the movement of kangaroos to Australia after the flood could be part of God’s plan.

3. Scriptural Accounts of Migration: The Book of Mormon and other scriptures contain accounts of migrations and the preservation of species during catastrophic events, which parallels the discussions on the migration of kangaroos post-flood.

The arrival of kangaroos in Australia can be understood through both scientific hypotheses and faith-based perspectives. While science provides theories on migration patterns and ecological restoration, the teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offer a framework of divine purpose and guidance in the natural order of life following such a significant event. The interplay between these perspectives enriches the discussion, providing a holistic view of the origins of kangaroos in the context of both natural history and spiritual belief.

Fitting the animals on the Ark

One of the most compelling interpretations regarding how Noah gathered the animals is the belief in divine assistance. According to teachings within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is understood that the Lord played a crucial role in directing the animals to the Ark. This divine intervention suggests that Noah was not left to gather every creature on his own; instead, he was supported by God’s will.

Additionally, the biblical narrative mentions that the flood occurred before the earth was divided, meaning there were no oceans for animals to cross. This geographical context implies that animals could have traveled to the Ark without the barriers that would exist in the present day, further facilitating their gathering.

Another significant aspect of this story is the instruction Noah received regarding the animals. In Genesis 6:19-20, God commanded Noah to bring “two of every kind of animal” into the Ark. This phrase, “every kind,” is crucial for understanding the logistics of the Ark. Many interpretations suggest that Noah was not required to bring every individual species of animal but rather representatives of each “kind” or family of animals.

This interpretation markedly reduces the number of animals Noah needed to accommodate. For example, rather than gathering every breed of dog, Noah would only need to bring two representatives of the canine family. This broader classification allows for a more manageable number of animals to fit on the Ark, making the task feasible.

The dimensions of Noah’s Ark, as outlined in Genesis 6:15, provide insight into its capacity. The Ark was described as being 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. This translates to approximately 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. Various estimates suggest that the Ark could hold thousands of animals, depending on how one interprets the size and classification of the animals.

For instance, some experts propose that the Ark could accommodate up to 125,000 animals if we assume a conservative estimate of the space each animal requires. This considerable size would provide ample space for the animals, their food, and even room for movement.

The dynamics of animal behavior during the time they spent on the Ark have also sparked various interpretations. Some modern portrayals, including films and literature, suggest that animals may have entered a state of dormancy or hibernation during the voyage. While this idea is speculative, it offers a potential explanation for how such a diverse range of animals could coexist without conflict within the confines of the Ark.

The narrative emphasizes Noah’s faith and obedience, which extends to how the animals behaved under divine influence. As noted by Ask Gramps, animals, like humans, are part of God’s creation, and their behavior during this miraculous event would also reflect God’s orchestration.

The story of Noah’s Ark is imbued with miraculous elements that further enhance its significance. One such feature is the tzohar, which is described as a window in the Ark (Genesis 6:16). Some interpretations suggest that this was not merely a window but possibly a shining stone that provided light, similar to the shining stones used by the Brother of Jared in the Book of Mormon.

These miraculous elements emphasize the belief that God was actively involved in the Ark’s construction and operation, ensuring that it fulfilled its purpose of preserving life during the flood.

The story of Noah’s Ark serves as a profound testament to faith, obedience, and divine orchestration. Through understanding the principles of divine assistance, the classification of animals by kinds, and the size and miraculous features of the Ark, we can appreciate how Noah could fulfill God’s commands amidst seemingly insurmountable challenges.

By reflecting on these teachings and interpretations, we are reminded of the sacred relationship between humanity and all of God’s creations. The story encourages us to recognize the importance of faith and trust in divine guidance, not only in historical narratives but in our own lives as well.

Gramps

Hello Gramps!

I am having an issue with my parents about the religious upbringing of my 7 year old son. My parents have stated that Mormons serve Satan? I know through research that this is false, and have decided to investigate many religions to compare their ideals. I am asking them all one question, and it has to do with the creation story. God created the universe and everything in it during a 7 day span. My question, as silly as it sounds is this……Where do the dinosaurs fit in?  I know it’s a goofy question but also a loaded one as well. Please respond! Thanks very much.

Chris

Answer

Dear Chris,

I’m glad that you have determined that your parents’ opinion about the Mormon Church is not the truth. However, it may be interesting to note that their belief is a demonstration that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is indeed the true Church, and in fact is the veritable kingdom of God on the earth. Here’s the point–there are over 800 different Christian denominations in the United States. Which of these denominations is maligned more than any other? It is without any doubt the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon Church. Why would that be so, especially when the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is the very foundation of the Church and the center of its teachings? And the Mormon view of the Savior is the most Godly, elevated view of the mortal life of the Savior, of the nature of His divine mission and of the extent of His saving grace of any of the other Christian churches, without exception! And what is the hue and cry raised by the sectarian clergy? They preach to their congregations that the Mormons are not Christians!!! What would be the source of such a devilish teaching? You’re right, the devil, himself!!

Satan is certainly aligned against all that is good, but he inspires all who he can influence to align themselves against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, specifically because it is the only religious organization in existence that has the power to elevate man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ, as Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:13 is the very purpose of the Church.

Now to address your question about dinosaurs– In the first place you state that “God created the universe and everything in it during a 7 day span.” That again is a completely and obviously false old sectarian notion, which comes from a very superficial and inaccurate interpretation of the creation account in Genesis. The word, “day”, that describes the six creative periods in Genesis 1, is translated into English from the Hebrew word, yowm, which is used not only for day, but also for time. The passage in the Bible could more correctly have been translated as “And the evening and the morning were the first time”. So the true translation of the term, yowm, in the biblical creation account is time, not day. Thus the earth was created in six periods of time, the length of which was not revealed.

The record of the creation account as given in the Book of Abraham, in the Pearl of Great Price, which was translated from Egyptian hieroglyphs into English, is as follows:

And the Gods said among themselves: On the seventh time we will end our work, which we have counseled; and we will rest on the seventh time from all our work which we have counseled (Abr 5:2).

Even for some period of time after the creation, indeed until well after the advent of Adam and Eve to the earth, the day as we know it had not been defined, as we learn in Abraham 5:13—

But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the time that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning.

So, since we do not know the lengths of the perios, or times, of the creation, and that time as we know it was not measured until somewhere about the time of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, it is pointless to try to assign a given period to the advent or to the demise of the dinosaurs.

However, we learn from paleontology that dinosaurs flourished from about 230 to about 65 million years ago. Again, there are very serious problems with the dating technique used by paleontologists. Potassium-Argon dating is the only viable technique for dating paleontological artifacts. Geologists have used this method to establish dates for rocks which give results as much as 4 billion years old. It is based on the fact that one of the radioactive isotopes of Potassium–Potassium 40 (K40), decays to the gas Argon as Argon 40 (Ar40). By comparing the proportion of K40 to Ar40 in a sample of volcanic rock, and knowing the decay rate of K40, the date that the rock was formed is determined. However, the method is so unreliable that it is of little practical value as a geological time clock. The testing performed on volcanic rocks in Hawaii should be sufficient to exclude this method from further use. Ar40 tests performed on rocks from lava flows in Hawaii known to have occurred in1800 and 1801 were dated by the radioactive potassium-argon method as having occurred 160 million years ago and 2.96 billion years ago!

So nothing contradictory about the creation process, the advent of Adam and Eve, and the advent and demise of dinosaurs has ever been established!

Gramps

Dear Gramps,

How do you explain that the Mormon scripture, the Pearl of Great Price, agrees with the Old Testament that the earth is only a 6,000 years old, when science has clearly established that the age of the earth is really billions of years old and life on it is millions of years old and mankind is hundreds of thousands or even a million years old?

Stan

Answer

Dear Stan,

It’s amazing how frequently people get it all backwards!! The Pearl of Great Price does NOT declare that the earth is 6,000 years old. The Bible does NOT declare that the earth is 6,000 years old. Science has NOT established that the earth is billions of years old or that life on the earth is millions of years old, or that mankind is hundreds of thousands or even a million years old.

Your first error in considering your questions is that you choose to judge the prophets by the professors, rather than the other way around. One could write a book in an attempt to straighten this screwed up line of thinking! And I have the daunting task of setting the record straight in a few paragraphs.

Let’s start with the Bible, which gives in chapters 1 and 2 an account of the creation and of the advent of Adam and Eve, but no time reference is made at all. The Bible does, however, give relative dates for many events, particularly the ages of the fathers when their sons were born. By correlating the birth of biblical characters with known historical figures, the time line for the births of earlier biblical characters can be traced back to the birth of Seth in 3874 BC.

In Genesis 5:3-5 we read—

And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth:

 

And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:

 

And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.

So that establishes the date when Adam appeared. The sectarian world thinks that Adam was made by God at that time–in some manner similar to a brick building. But the sectarian world has no more of a handle on the truth than does the scientific world (and you would be very surprised to know how far off the track the scientific world has wandered in trying to establish time lines to pre-historic events).

In the words of Brigham Young,

“Adam was made from the dust of an earth, but not from the dust of this earth. He was made as you and I are made, and no person was ever made upon any other principle”

Adam was born on a terrestrial world, helped in the generation and development of this earth, came here with his wife, Eve, and stayed here. Time, as measured by the earth’s rotation around the sun, had not been established when Adam and Eve were given the command to not partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the time that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning. (Abraham 5:13)

Note: The biblical version of this scripture, (Genesis 2:17) uses the word day, where the Pearl of Great Price uses the word time. However, the Hebrew word yowm, from which the word day was translated may also be rendered as time.

So all that is known about the age of Adam, or of the time of his advent on the earth, or of the time that earth was changed from a terrestrial to telestial world is that which is revealed in the scriptures. And nothing in the scriptures suggests that it was 6000 years ago–either in the Bible or in the Pearl of Great Price.

Next you state that science has clearly established the earth is really billions of years old. Where did you ever get that idea??? There are various THEORIES about the age of the universe, the age of the earth and the advent of man. But they are only THEORIES. Not a one of them is a proven fact.

Because of the constraints of the Ask Gramps format, we must here be brief. I will cite only one fact that should put to rest all of this blind faith in the pronouncements of science with regard to any paleontological time line. There is one and only one method by which any paleontological date can be estimated, and that is the radioactive potassium/argon decay rate. Potassium is the most prevalent element in the earth’s crust, (2.4% by mass). One out of every 10,000 potassium atoms is the radioactive isotope potassium 40. When this radioactive isotope breaks down argon 40 is one of the byproducts. When rocks are heated to the melting point, any Argon 40 contained in them is released into the atmosphere. When the rock re-crystallizes it becomes impermeable to gasses again. As the potassium 40 in the solid rock decays into Argon 40, the gas is trapped in the rock. So the measurement of the ratio of potassium 40 to argon 40 can be used to calculate the time lapse since the rock was solidified from the molten state. Again, this is the ONLY established method for paleontological dating. A recent test of this method has established it as completely unreliable as a geological time clock. Two samples of volcanic rock taken from two lava flows in Hawaii were tested for their age by the potassium/argon method. One lava flow occurred in 1800 and the other 1801. One of the two samples measured the age of rock to be 160 million years old and the other 2.96 billion years old!!! Since the academicians believed so thoroughly in the efficacy of this method they concluded that the samples were taken from two intrusions into the lava flow, and disregarded the data!

Lest you think that Gramps is some old kook, spouting off about something he knows nothing about, let me quote you from the Research Communications Network Report on this subject—

“Dr. Robert V. Gentry is the world’s leading authority on radiohalo research. He has published a remarkable series of papers in such distinguished journals as Nature, Science, and Annual Review of Nuclear Science. His findings are of great significance to the question of radiometric dating. Among his carefully drawn conclusions are the following: Earth’s primordial crustal rocks, rather than cooling and solidifying over millions or billions of years, crystallized almost instantaneously. Some geological formations thought to be 100 million years old are in reality only several thousand years old.” ( Research Communications Network Report , 2/10/1977, p 3)

Since NO CHRONOLOGY can be traced back to any pre-historic time, all such time estimates can only be suppositions. However, since scientific theories are touted by the university academicians as established facts, they are generally accepted as such because of the great deference that is given to the scientific community. However, all truth comes from God. HE KNOWS! And if anything that God has revealed does not concur with any supposed scientific fact, who do you think needs to adjust his thinking?

Gramps

Gramps,

I am interested in finding out what power psychics use to give answers to people who go to them for help in solving problems. I don’t think it can be through the power of the Holy Ghost but wonder when the things that are said by the psychic are good and bring about positive results.

Sandra

Answer

Dear Sandra,

Psychics as fortune tellers who purport to have communication from across the grave have been investigated by objective scientific methods since before the time of Houdini, who himself spent a good part of his life investigating the phenomenon. There has never been developed any shred of evidence by any investigation that has led to any positive conclusion. To the contrary, fraudulent representations have been frequently exposed. If any of those pronouncements bring about any positive results it is because the supposed psychics have obtained information beforehand about the unsuspecting dupe.

There are a number of definitions and uses of the term “psychic.” Among them is the following dictionary definition “Marked by extraordinary or mysterious sensitivity, perception, or understanding.” There are indeed people with such expanded mental abilities. I once had something to do with a psychometrist. Psychometry is the ability to ascertain facts concerning an object or its owner through contact with or proximity to the object. Discussing this ability with him he remarked, “My ability is nothing more than that which is inherent in each of us. In some people it is developed or manifested to a higher degree than in others. We all have a voice, but there is only one Caruso.”

So perhaps we should not reject all extraordinary mental abilities out of hand. But regardless of the accuracy of the descriptions or forecasts of those who purport to have contact with the spirit world, they should be avoided like the plague and given absolutely no credibility. If, indeed, they do communicate with the spirit world, as they claim, it will never be from the righteous spirits who follow the will of the Father, but will always and only be through those evil and wicked spirits who follow the dictates of Satan.

Gramps

Gramps,

We are taught that planets (at least earth) have a spirit for they are as living creatures. What happen to the spirits of those planets that are destroyed and used as material for the birth of other planets?

Jared

Answer

Dear Jared,

Permit me a few moments to lay the foundation for your question. I agree with you that this earth that treats us so well is a living, spirit and element entity much like ourselves (although I continue to acknowledge that such references that lead me to this conclusion may just be prophetic poetry), so let’s move forward with that assumption (otherwise I’m afraid you’ll be quite disappointed in the answer). I have also heard that Joseph Smith taught that that this world was created through the destruction of others, but I don’t have such a quote sitting on my bookshelf. Nonetheless, let’s move on with the assumption that it is a true teaching (otherwise I’m afraid you’ll have a foreshortened answer). Finally, that leaves us with whether or not the other worlds sacrificed in creation are also living, spirit and earth entities. The principle laid out in Moses’ vision remains the standard form the revealed fate of outside worlds and kingdoms. “But only an account of this earth,” instructs the Lord, “… give I unto you” (Moses 1:35). So once again, we find ourselves in the dark concerning the veracity of your third assumption. Of course we’ll move forward with the assumption that other worlds, including comets and asteroids, have spirits as well.

Note that your question is meaningless if any of these three assumptions fail. If either the earth or other worlds are spiritless, then asking about their glorified states is akin to worrying about nuts and bolts losing their essences when assembled as part of an automaton. And if the earth was created independent of other worlds, then its resurrection will also be equally independent. Having laid a foundation, let’s build upon it.

I started by comparing the embodied earth with embodied persons. Perhaps this is for the best, as far more has been revealed about the divine destiny of man than the fate of the earth. With additional reflection, I find that the three assumptions apply us as well! I am an embodied spirit. My elements are composed of the elements that rightfully belong to other creatures – beef, poultry, fish, etc. And finally, we have the testimony of Joseph Smith that animals are capable of exaltation and are themselves embodied spirits. How is my body “restored to its proper frame” (Alma 11:43) when myriad resurrected animals have claim to the same elements?

I don’t know. This recycling of cells and nutrients is messy. A woman may exercise and eat healthy (fulfilling some temporal measures of her creation), and yet find herself stricken with cancer – communities of cells that openly fight their purpose. In the resurrection, the cells may perhaps be removed completely, or may be restored in a glorified, obedient state. Perhaps the elements of these wicked cells will find themselves restored to a telestial glory (greater than what they received on earth, but only distantly comparable to that of the celestial) on a telestial body to which they once belonged. The important thing is not how the resurrection works, but the simple fact that the resurrection is a sure event as evidenced by the Savior Himself. Witnesses ancient and modern have assured us of the tangible reality of this seeming impossibility.

Similarly, how the inhabited and uninhabited worlds receive glory in a fair and equitable manner is currently a matter of speculation. Perhaps the rocks themselves are inconsequential and the glory of the inhabitants is what determines the glory of the earth, with the wicked excised like a cancerous tumor. Perhaps the earth will not need the same quantity of elements as it does currently, leaving more to go around. The important thing is that we have been assured by a modern seer that the earth fills the measure of its creation and will be rewarded as a glorified creation.

Gramps

Gramps,

I was just wondering, what do you think of crop circles? Any answer would be welcomed. Thanks!

Curiosity

Answer

Curiosity,

I think they’re one of two things:

1. Beautiful designs laid out on a massive scale by intelligent, though otherwise bored people unconcerned with the cost of lost revenue from the destroyed grain.

2. Beautiful designs laid out on a massive scale by intelligent, though otherwise bored aliens from outer space unconcerned with the cost of lost revenue from the destroyed grain.

I’m firmly planting both my feet on #1 being the reality simply because I just can’t fathom an interstellar race intelligent enough to reach earth only to leave pretty designs in our wheat…at the very least they’d sign it, right?

Gramps

I was curious about a phenomenon called volcanic winter. My understanding of it is that when a big volcano like the one in Yellowstone National Park, erupts, it spews ash up into the atmosphere, spreading around the globe and killing plant life and freezing the planet, like the famed nuclear winter of the cold war. I was curious, does anything mentioned in Last Days Prophecies signal anything of this nature?

Thank you!

Ryan

Dear Ryan

Super volcanoes, (like the one you are talking about in Yellowstone) asteroid strikes, nuclear holocaust, and several other things that fall in to the the category of world-wide disaster have all been linked Last Day Prophecies.

This is a natural human tendency to try to understand the hows and whys of the destruction that are written in the scriptures that will come to past in the end of times. While the scriptures paint vivid pictures of the effects we must remember two things. One we do not know how much is symbolic and how much is going to be literal. And two we aren’t told the how.

So while we can imagine and try to fill in the blanks with phenomenon we do know about ultimately once we leave the scriptures we are guessing. And that is what any comment about super volcanoes would end up being. Sure it could fit some aspects of the events in question.

Gramps

I recently attended the funeral of relatives of mine…a couple who died under the tragic circumstances of murder and suicide. I went with only sympathy and compassion in my heart. Ill will towards the perpetrator of this tragedy had not crossed my mind. When I arrived at the viewing, I felt a distinct “spirit” lingering. I have never experienced that when viewing any other deceased individuals. I felt the personality of the wife present, and felt she was extremely mad…very furious over the circumstances of her death. The husband’s presence I did not feel as strongly. Yet, it was there and I felt an evil that I was very surprized by. My husband later said he had exactly the same manifestation.

Are we imagining this? I always thought the spirit left the body immediately and went to the Spirit World and did not return to this realm until the resurection. What were we experiencing?

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

The spirit world is on this earth and in our surroundings. If we could see into the spirit world we would see that we are not alone. President Brigham Young has said–

“It reads that the spirit goes to God who gave it. Let me render this scripture a little plainer; when the spirits leave their bodies they are in the presence of our Father and God, they are prepared then to see, hear and understand spiritual things. But where is the spirit world? It is incorporated within this celestial system. Can you see it with your natural eyes? No. Can you see spirits in this room? No. Suppose the Lord should touch your eyes that you might see, could you then see the spirits? Yes, as plainly as you now see bodies, as did the servant of Elijah. If the Lord would permit it, and it was his will that it should be done you could see the spirits that have departed from this world, as plainly as you now see bodies with your natural eyes” {Discourses of Brigham Young, p.376 – p.377.)

Gramps

I hear of people that have natural ability to see the future. Some of these people also can remote view the future and are being trained by our military to do this, PSI Tech. being a company composed of these individuals. They claim to have used their abilities during several wars and are now selling there services to private individuals and companies. They have donated their abilities to help find missing people. I have read that this type of ability will be used in a future war mainly due to the fact that the anti-christ will control communication. Okay now my question: What is the churches stand and/or belief on this subject or the ability that these people seem to have.

Mel, from Minnesota

Dear Mel,

You state that you have read that “this type of ability will be used in a future war mainly due to the fact that the anti-christ will control communication” as if, just because you read it, it was a given fact. Forget that part!

As to the reality of extra sensory perception, there is much evidence to verify that it does exist. The parapsychology department at UCLA, for instance, has been experimenting with it for years and has produced some very definitive results. The art of psychometry has also been demonstrated to be real and verifiable. One very prominent psychometrist with whom I have been personally acquanted is Enrique Marquesini, who studied under Sigmund Freud, and lived in Cordoba, Argentina. In talking with Marquesini about his abilities he told me that everyone has these abilities to one degree or another. In some people they are developed to a high degree. He gave the example that everyone can sing, but there is only one Caruso.

The unfortunate part of all this is the many charlatans who fake such abilities and bilk the public. So, because of them the whole field of ESP should be approached very cautiously.

The brain has potentials that are far beyond those demonstrated by the average person. However, such abilities, where they are real, will never foster or promote concepts that are contrary to the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the criteria be which all things are to be judged.

Gramps

Today many of us were talking about what Heavenly Fathers time table is, some said that 70 years of our life is like one hour of time to him. Do we have any idea at all what a typical mortal life is like in his time, has anything been written on it? Do we know what we could compare a season too?
Thanks..
Andie

Dear Andie,

Joseph Smith in D&C 130: 4-5,  indicated that the reckoning of time is according to the planet on which we reside, and that applies to God as well.

The Lord’s reckoning of time in comparison to ours is given in Abraham 3:  4 And the Lord said unto me, by the Urim and Thummim, that Kolob was after the manner of the Lord, according to its times and seasons in the revolutions thereof; that one revolution was a day unto the Lord, after his manner of reckoning, it being one thousand years according to the time appointed unto that whereon thou standest. This is the reckoning of the Lord’s time, according to the reckoning of Kolob.  The relationship of one of the Lord’s days to 1000 of our years is also given in 2 Peter 3:8

If  we assume the Lord’s day has 24 hours, then one hour of the Lord’s time is like 41.67 of our years. 1,000/24=41.667) This is a major assumption because we have not been told how many hours there are in the Lord’s day.

Based on the above relationship, many people have indicated that the Lord created the earth and its inhabitants in six thousand of our years or in six of his days.

A season as spoken of in the scriptures normally means a period of time in which particular events are to occur.  I am not aware that any relationship to our reckoning of time, i.e. hours, days, or years, has been given for a season.

Gramps

Dear Amy,
First, a general statement. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are told to teach one another of many things—

And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom. Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms–That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you (D&C 88:77-80).

including  things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth. But the purpose of this teaching is not to expand our knowledge of the truths of eternity, but to be prepared when we go out to represent the Lord to the people of the world–-That ye may be prepared in all things when I shall send you again to magnify the calling whereunto I have called you, and the mission with which I have commissioned you.
A second general statement. We live in a telestial world.. Our scientists in their laboratories are equipped to deal only with telestial knowledge. They have no way in the laboratory to deal with revealed truth. Revealed truth can only be understood by the influence of the Holy Spirit. When evolutionists make dogmatic statements about conditions that may have existed thousands or millions or billions of years ago, they have absolutely no way of making any type of accurate time assessments. As a matter of fact, the earth will have existed in time for only seven thousand years!

Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence (D&C  77:6).

…And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump; and he shall stand forth upon the land and upon the sea, and swear in the name of him who sitteth upon the throne, that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound, that old serpent, who is called the devil, and shall not be loosed for the space of a thousand years (D&C  88:110).

It may also be appropriate to talk about the seven days of creation. The word, day, in the Genesis account of the creation, is translated from the Hebrew, yowm, which may be translated as either day or time.. In fact, in the Book of Abraham it is translated as time rather than day—

And the Gods called the expanse, Heaven. And it came to pass that it was from evening until morning that they called night; and it came to pass that it was from morning until evening that they called day; and this was the second time that they called night and day (Abr  4:8).

Further, in Abraham 5 when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden, Adam had not yet been appointed his reckoning, or his measurement of time.

But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the time that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die. Now I, Abraham, saw that it was after the Lord’s time, which was after the time of Kolob; for as yet the Gods had not appointed unto Adam his reckoning (Abr  5:13)

In other words, the seven thousand years of the earth’s temporal existence had not yet begun.
Therefore, there is no possible way that any scientist in any laboratory could make any calculation of the time when any prehistoric event could have occurred, because time simply did not exist prior to the seven thousand years of the earth’s temporal existence.
If we go to the turf of the scientists we will find that there are many scientific reasons that clearly demonstrate that the theory of relativity is passe. It stems from the theory of uniformitarianism. Scientific evidence for the opposing theory of catastrophism carries much more weight in today’s scientific world. So indeed, the theory of evolution is on its way out, and would have been swept away by now except for the great tenacity of scientific theories to hang on the in the universities long after their demise.
Gramps