Is Ebola the desolating sickness spoken of in the scriptures?

Question

Gramps,

My questions is one of speculation, But do you think that perhaps the Ebola virus could be the desolating sickness spoken of in the scriptures that shall cover the land in the last days?  Thanks.

Dev

Answer

Dear Dev,

Although D&C 5:19 talks about a desolating scourge, there are also other scriptures that speak of plagues, pestilences and diseases.  I see no reason why ebola might not be one of the latter-day scourges, but we also need to remember that every time a new epidemic starts (think AIDS), people start wondering if “this is it”. I don’t think we need to wait for “it”. These are the last days. Of this we can be certain because our prophet declared it.  In 2001, Pres. Hinckley stated:

The era in which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations.  Living in the Fulness of Times

Gramps