I was walking along a secluded beach the other day and could not help
but notice the piles of garbage and trash that littered the area. I thought
to myself "Why would the Lord allow this to happen to something so beautiful
which he had created?"
The Spirit of the Lord spoke to me then, as He has on other occasions.
He asked me a question. "Joseph, if this was your world and you had
created all of this beauty, and those whom you gave it to treated it in
such fashion, what would you do?"
I could not answer at first, but finally, I said, "Lord, I would send
my more righteous people, those who honored me - I would send them to teach
the wicked ones a proper way to live."
The Lord replied immediately, "I have done this thing. Now, if
after sending your righteous people to teach, and the abominations continued,
what would you do?"
Again, I thought and answered. "Lord, then I would send those
closest to me, my most trusted and noble ones to teach a better way of
life."
The Lord answered. "And I have done this thing and still wickedness
abounds. And after sending those who knew your will most assuredly
and when they went forth, were beaten and killed, then what would you do?"
There were tears in my eyes now because I knew the answer. "Lord, I
would send forth the one closest to me who knew my creation and loved me
above all so that He could teach the people to have that same love and
respect."
The Lord replied, "I have also done this thing yet evil besets
and abounds so that few honor Me. And now, Joseph, after doing
all of these things and all manner of wickedness, murders, whoredoms, and
abomination still exists, what then, would you do?"
I could only answer what I knew to be true. "Father, I would
never stop loving those who I created, and I would continue to do all possible
to turn the hearts of men to me without taking away their agency.
But, I would also set a time, an immovable time in which my work would
be complete and those who obeyed and accepted me, I will accept them.
Those who denied me, so be it."
The Spirit spoke in His voice of authority, "And so I have done, there
is a time, a set time, that even I, the God of all creation, cannot
change. None can know this time, yet it is soon to come to pass.
Go forth and preach my gospel to those who will listen. Love those who
hate you, purify the heart, mind and spirit of all who will humble
themselves that they may hear my words for my anger boileth over and who
can stay my hand."
That was the end of the words of the Spirit of the Lord.
Joseph Laflin