If things are only going to get worse why should we even bother trying to make things better?

Question

Dear Gramps,

In the past I have always tried to do things to make life better for myself and those around me. But it really disheartens me hearing the Mormon Church leaders say that things are only going to get worse on earth. If this is true, then why should we even bother trying to make things better? It seems to me like it’s only a lost cause.

Chuck

Answer

Dear Chuck,

It’s true that things are only going to get worse before they get better. But it’s far from a lost cause, unless people like yourself give up and quite trying to maintain righteousness in the face of so much wickedness. Remember the scripture that says,

The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

 

For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. (Ps 24:1-2)

It has been prophesied that wickedness will reign in the last days, and will increase until the Lord Himself comes to put an end to it all. Another scripture says this—

For all flesh is corrupted before me; and the powers of darkness prevail upon the earth, among the children of men, in the presence of all the hosts of heaven–

 

Which causeth silence to reign, and all eternity is pained, and the angels are waiting the great command to reap down the earth, to gather the tares that they may be burned; and, behold, the enemy is combined. (Doctrine & Covenants 38:11-12)

There was another time when gross wickedness covered the land and actually overcame the forces of righteousness. It was the time near 400 AD when the Lamanites overcame the Nephites in a long war, and destroyed them all. The leader of the Nephite army was the prophet warrior, Mormon. He made the following lament—

Behold, I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts. (Morm. 3:12)

We should be like Mormon and do all that we can to further the cause of righteousness even though wickedness is mounting all around us. Those who falter and join the cause of the enemy will be destroyed, because the Lord and his army of righteousness will without any doubt at all be triumphant in this last great struggle. The forces of evil will be put down in the Lord’s own time; the forces of righteousness will prevail and will usher in an era of peace that will last a thousand years. During that time conditions described in the following scripture will obtain—

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Rev. 21:3-4)

Gramps