OCR Text |
Show rres. Komney warns or wicKeaness Lord has warned the inhabitants of the earth ever since the time of Adam that their continued violation of the laws of righteousness, would bring on 'Tragic cycle' said avoidable rise tir the their destruction. He as Civilizations laws of people comply with the Lord, but civilizations decline, or are destroyed to the extent such laws are disobeyed. President Marion G. Romney, second counselor in the First Presidency, said this at the Saturday morning conference session, as he warned his listener prediction. In Noahs day, the Lord destroyed a civilization by a flood because of its peoples wickedness. Later, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah went through a similar cycle. They were warned, but heeded not. Jerusalem was destroyed and its inhabitants were scattered throughout the earth because of their rejection of Gods laws of righteous living. In America, two great civilizations, the Jaredite and the Nephite, were annihilated for the same reason. We today are approaching the close of a similar cycle. We have been warned that we are ripening in iniquity and that we will be destroyed if we do not repent, he said. about historys tragic cycle of rising wickedness and declining civilizations. He urged repentance and righteous living to prevent this cycle from recurring. That the inhabitants of the earth are today floundering in confusion is no secret, he said. That chaos threatens society is common knowledge. If the prevailing course of men and nations is not changed, it will culminate in a cataclysmic disaster. God has so predicted and history bears witness. He continued, Civilizations rise as their people comply with the laws upon which luosperity, success and happiness depend. These laws God revealed in the beginning, and, through His prophets, He has repeated them in every dispensation since. Civilizations have flourished as long as these laws traced some of the events that testify to that of history Pres. Marion G. Romney urges righteous living. are obeyed. Civilizations decline to the extent such laws are disobeyed. Civilizations pass away when these laws are completely disregarded. President Romney said the President Romney spoke of the prophecy given by the Lord to the Prophet Joseph Smith in modem times, in which He charged the prophet to warn the world of impending disasters. For example, He cited a desolating scourage to go forth among the inhabitants of if they repent the earth not. (Doctrine and Covenants, ... 5:19). Now my beloved brothers and sisters, I realize that these predictions are not pleasing, but nevertheless they speak the truth, he said. There is but one way these impending calamities can be avoided: That way is repentence. You know and I know that the inhabitants of the earth are steeped in sin and iniquity and that they are sinking deeper in the mire every day, he continued. But and this is the the Lord glorious message not only gave the warnings, He also revealed anew the means by . which the ominous calamities may be averted. He has revealed anew the same simple truths He taught Adam and Eve in the beginning. Collectively, these teachings constitute the principles, doctrines and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which begins with a knowledge of and faith in God as our Eternal Father in Heaven and Jesus Christ as His Only Begotten Son . . . They include the truth that the inhabitants of the earth, Gods offspring, are in immortality for the purpose of being proved to see if they will keep the commandments of God. He said, These commandments are not arbitrary edicts of a vindictive tyrant. They but set forth the laws, obedience to which produce as a matter of cause and effect peace, success and happinesss. Rejection of and disobedience to them has in the past always brought, and will continue to bring, failure, and disaster as a natural consequence. President Romney said the closing of the tragic cycle, by the coming of the foreboding calamities can be averted if the inhabitants of the earth will repent, believe and have faith in God, in His son Jesus Christ, and will conform to their in- struction. A good beginning would be to obey the commandments God gave to the children of Israel through Moses, President Romney said, and quoted the Ten Commandments. If the inhabitants of the earth will obey these commandments and, in addition, strive with full purpose of heart to comply with the words of Jesus to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind and love thy neighbor as the thyself (Matt. 22:37, 39) predicted calamities can be prevented, he said. Only in this manner can the closing of the tragic cycle in our day be averted. President Y . Photo by David Conley Long shadows of fall are cast by members waiting for conference session to begin. Romney con- cluded, That it will be so, I do not say. I do know and say, however, that as there was a Zion in the days of Enoch in which those who complied with Gods laws were saved, so there will be a Zion in this last dispensation in which all those who live Gods revealed laws will be saved. WEEK ENDING OCTOBER 8, 1977 CHURCH 5 |