Moroni 9

It sounds like Moroni is describing our world today as you read through this chapter.

• Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another
• They have lost their love toward one another
• They thirst after blood and revenge continually
• They left them to wander wither so ever they can for food
• They are without order and without Mercy
• The suffering of our women and children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything

The Primary song "Follow The Prophet" ends with this verse: 

Now we have a world where people are confused

If you don't believe it, go and watch the news

I did just that this morning when I got up. The news is abysmal:

• Another US city mayor resigned because of harassment over mask mandates because of rising Covid numbers
• Two black churches in Washington DC had Black Lives Matter flags on their doors. Those flags were pulled off of those buildings and burned there on their lawns. reminiscent of KKK burnings of our unsettling past.
• Senate majority leader Mike McConnell officially welcomed Biden as the new President-elect and has been called a traitor by many in the Republican party.
• 14 million households face evictions if Congress doesn't take action immediately and give our nation more relief.
• President Trump continues to fire people just because they disagree with him on some policy.
• Jobless claims are rising to unbelievable numbers as Covid takes its toll on our economy.

And all of this is what is happening here in the United states. If we look outside there is even more trouble as wars and refugees and genocides take center front on the news all over the globe.  Earthquakes and hurricanes are terrible but it is the fact as Mormon puts it "that they have lost their love toward one another" that causes the greatest suffering.

The Lord himself said so in Moses 7:33 and 37:

And unto your brethren have I said, and also given commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood.

But behold, their sin shall be upon the heads of their fathers; Satan shall be their father, and mystery shall be there doom and the whole heaven shall weep over them even all the workmanship of mine hands; wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?

Until mankind discovers the truth that God is love and we are His offspring, capable of loving as He loves - we will continue to suffer. Our religions have let us down. They have portrayed God as narrow, judgmental, and vindictive. We have become exclusive little groups  who believe we are favored of God while all others are not and will be punished. We have become embattled with one another and have allowed our politics to be so enmeshed with our religious beliefs that we cannot even compromise in our legislatures for the good of the American people. We have allowed policies to become more important than people and we close our hearts to the cries of the poor. We have learned to deal in mathematical algorithms and refuse to see the faces behind the numbers.

We are a sorry lot who suffer because we don't know who we are. We are Family.  We are the sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents, kind and loving beings who work tirelessly and lovingly to help us towards our eternal destinies.

Oh, how the world needs the pure message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Oh, how we need to cleanse that message so that it is clear who God is so that we may know for a fact His character and have a more beautiful and true model before us. 

How else can Zion come?  Those who think the Lord will come and cleanse the world and then all will be well are mistaken.  The Lord will come when we have created an acceptable home for Him.  We have to create Zion first.  We have to change our hearts.  We have to care about others. 

Lord, I Would Follow Thee (Hymn # 220 in the LDS hymnbook) is a beautiful hymn that shows the way:

1. Savior, may I learn to love thee,

Walk the path that thou hast shown,

Pause to help and lift another,

Finding strength beyond my own.

Savior, may I learn to love thee—

Lord, I would follow thee.

2. Who am I to judge another

When I walk imperfectly?

In the quiet heart is hidden

Sorrow that the eye can’t see.

Who am I to judge another?

Lord, I would follow thee.

3. I would be my brother’s keeper;

I would learn the healer’s art.

To the wounded and the weary

I would show a gentle heart.

I would be my brother’s keeper—

Lord, I would follow thee.

4. Savior, may I love my brother

As I know thou lovest me,

Find in thee my strength, my beacon,

For thy servant I would be.

Savior, may I love my brother—

Lord, I would follow thee.