“And then shall the remnant of our seed know concerning us, how that we came out from Jerusalem, and that they are descendants of the Jews. And the gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them; wherefore, they shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers, and also to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, which was had among their fathers.”
Once the remnant obtain a copy of the Book of Mormon, from a believing gentile hand, they will realize they are originally come out of Jerusalem. They will realize also that they are “descendants of the Jews.”
It comes full circle. Those who were lost have returned again. The “prodigal” will return. (Luke 15: 11-32.) There will be joy at the return.
This will happen as a preliminary to “the gospel of Jesus Christ [being] declared among them.” The Gospel being declared requires a true message, true messengers, authority, and ordinances. That will follow the remnant receiving the Book of Mormon. To what extent the gentiles bring those things and to what extent it will require heaven’s direct involvement, remains to be seen. But when the remnant reconnects, they will reconnect in every respect. The “gospel of Jesus Christ shall be declared among them!”
As a result of these events, the remnant “shall be restored unto the knowledge of their fathers.” What does it mean to be restored? What knowledge? Which fathers? The Nephites, and Lehi, or to the earlier “fathers” as well? Does this include Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?
What does it mean they will be “also [restored] to the knowledge of Jesus Christ?” What does this “knowledge” involve? What kind of relationship with Christ does this imply?
If we wonder at the “knowledge” the remnant will obtain, we have a parallel given to us: The future remnant knowledge of Christ shall be akin to that “which was had among their fathers.” Meaning they will grow to know what the earlier Nephite disciples and peoples knew. What kind of knowledge does that include?
When the right target receives the right Gospel, the results are dramatic. When the wrong group is entrusted with the Gospel, they tend to let it atrophy, grow dim, and become a social order without the power of godliness. The restoration was intended to cure that problem. But as with any gift from God, we must do more than to “take no thought but to ask.” (D&C 9: 6-7.) We must pursue knowledge and act with alacrity when it is given.
If we do not do this, then the result is not a blessing, but a cursing. (D&C 124: 47-48.) No matter what we are offered by the Lord, we must act consistent with His will to receive the blessings offered. When we fail to fulfill the obligation He appoints to us, then we fail to obtain what was offered. (D&C 124: 31-32.)
Once they have been given the gospel, the remnant will not fail. Their reconnection will be as a nail in a sure place, not to be moved. Their knowledge will grow into the perfect day, just as it might with anyone who is willing to receive what Christ offers. (D&C 50: 24.) Noon at the summer solstice is a symbol of the perfect day. This year, in contrast, at midnight of the winter solstice there will be an eclipse. This would be a symbol in the heavens of the opposite of the perfect day. When it arrives it undoubtedly is a sign relevant to the time. (Those things are never accidents or mere happenstance.)
The ideas begin to accumulate. Darkness and light. Free will and acceptance of what is offered by God. So many divergent roads that are offered in place of the one that remains strait and narrow, but nevertheless in a straight course before you. (2 Nephi 9: 41.)
An interesting thing about the total lunar eclipse this winter is that the Earth’s atmosphere should bend the Sun’s light so that the Moon should be a dark red color.
The full eclipse occurs when there is a fullness of light reflecting from the sun (full moon). The light is there, but world gets in the way and blocks it, to create the shadow of darkness. Also, all of North America will witness the eclipse.
D&C 45:40-43
40 And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.
41 And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke.
42 And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven.
43 And the remnant shall be gathered unto this place;
—Doug
When the moon appears red due to a lunar eclipse — it is only a local event. That is to say, only those people within a certain geographical area see the moon as such.
The signs of the last days are not local events — but worldwide ones that leave the inhabitents of this earth without excuse. The sign of the moon turning to blood will be such that anyone looking at the moon will see a red color. Something much larger in scale than a lunar eclipse.
All very interesting comments but are WE getting the message here? Does it really matter who sees it and what color it is, it is a sign of darkness and a sign that our time to prepare ourselves and others is fleeting! Will this sign and warning from a man of God simply be trifled with as we have done so with the Book of Mormon and all the warnings of the prophets? We need to repent as much or more than all and fast.
Anonymous @ 8:43:
I think that’s the point that at least Doug and maybe the Warden are making…
Who has been given the full light (the Book of Mormon)? The Gentiles! (Us!) Who has let worldly aspirations and idols block the light so that they dwell in darkness or unbelief? The Gentiles! (Us!) Who is this wonder in heaven directed towards? The Chinese? Africans? The whole world? No! US! US! US!!!
Who are the ones in most need of repentance? (Everyone say it together…) US!
fyi:
http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OHfigures/OH2010-Fig04.pdf
Am I the only one here who believes the “moon to blood” prophecy was fulfilled July 20, 1969? Me, and Pres. Hinckley, maybe?
In the Egyptian endowment, the coronation of the new king came the day after the winter solstice. At the darkest day/time of the year/world. Joseph Smith was born the day after the winter solstice. We still look for the Holy Ghost to come and take up a body and reprove the world of sin, of judgment and of righteousness. John 16:8
anon,
I’m with you.
Joel 2:28-32 has been fulfilled according to Pres Hinckley. (Nov, 2001 Conf Ensign, pg 4.)
We know that many prophecies are fulfilled in a specific local – look at the life of Jesus, for example. Also, of interest, Pres Faust told us that Revelation 14:6 has also been fulfilled. (May 2006 Conf Ensign pg 62)
Prophecies are being fulfilled all around us and we/I don’t recognize them. I’m always reminded of the people, the world over, who didn’t recognize the sign of the Savior’s birth. I was so fascinated to hear about the lunar eclipse this Dec 21st. I know there are constantly signs in the heavens and because I don’t study the heavenly bodies I miss them.
Anonymous 12:57 PM
Can you elaborate more on the prophecy that was fulfilled July 20, 1969 and what Pres. Hinckley said about it?
Thanks
Bruce
12:57…that would be me. :)
Pres. Hinckley’s talk was given at GenConf, right after 9/11. Here’s the link: http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-225-1,00.html
He says, “The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared…” etc. etc.
I came across this idea while reading in my dad’s old journal. I was a baby in ’69 and he had written something like, “Next week the Apollo 11 will make a go of it. If it works, the prophecy of the moon turning to blood will be fulfilled.” I’ve grown up with that assumption, never thinking it had to do with color. Is it red? I dunno… looks more burnt orange to me…
I guess because the moon had never had a mortal being (with blood) set foot on it before?
A google search for July 20, 1969 turned up the very date Niel Armstrong set foot on the moon…what else happened on that date?
http://www.google.com/search?q=July+20+1969&ie=UTF-8
I do not believe Joel 2:28-32 has been fulfilled — sorry. A prophet may express an opinion, and I think many think that opinion is revelation
I think that many members forget that a prophet can even have an “opinion.”
As an anecdote to the notion that opinion = revelation, see Alma 40:20-21 for one prominent example illustrating that a prophet may have an opinion in the absence of [or prior to] specific/direct revelation.