“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”
When I first heard it, it struck me pretty deeply. In the April 2019 General Conference, this was quoted at least three times.
But don’t we need the Holy Ghost’s guidance, direction, comfort, and influence to survive spiritually, already?
So, some thoughts as to what a few differences might be.
1) The dangers will be widespread. No “running away” from the need. Lot could leave Sodom and Gomorrah, for example.
2) This does not mean just spiritual “prospering” or “making it” or “not doing so great”, but basic spiritual SURVIVAL.
3) Wide-scale danger, deep. You need water to live. Think of that when your house water has been cut off, vs. being stranded in Death Valley.
4) Dangers will be intense and time-shortened. There will be many more decisions with the result of life or death, and they will be more frequent. Just the stress of making those, even if made correctly with the help of the HG, will be burdensome for many.
5) There will be an increase in opposition and ways to sin. This opposition will come from many sides, levels, and ways. Instead of early days where it was anti-Mormons and apostates, it will be those, and all levels on all topics, including many that will be ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. There could be 99 choices resulting in death, and one resulting in life. No more spiritually surviving by “beating the odds with luck” and a quick prayer, so to say.
An LDS family member had half his friends leave the Church over the Church’s stand on Proposition 8–and Proposition 8 was a very small matter compared to what will come in the future. Leaving the Church (no matter what many loud voices might say to the contrary) = spiritual death.
The number of stories and miracles we have heard about spiritual and physical survival because of the HG from the past are going to be drops in buckets compared to future stories. Stories that will be about guidance, direction, comfort, and constant influence saving people from otherwise certain spiritual death.
Recently, I have survived, and even prospered, spiritually. But it is nothing compared to when I was in a foreign country in bad situations. I have survived and even prospered physically, but it is nothing compared to when I worked in a bad section of town, where that ACTUAL constant influence of the Holy Ghost was there, and miracles–gifts of the Spirit–were a matter of survival. Think back on life, and I think we have times that will help us understand the differences.
When is the last time the Holy Ghost guided, directed, comforted, or influenced you to save you, spiritually? For me: not too much, really. Influence has been there to help me spiritually survive, but it didn’t FEEL like a strong, necessary part of it. Because the need currently isn’t strong for it.
When is the last time a person told you something that saved your life, spiritually or physically? For me: not recently, that I remember.
As time passes, the time gap and frequency in those answers to those two questions will grow shorter and shorter, until I expect it to be a common occurrence for LDS, and one day for many it will be, “Earlier today”.
And who knows… Maybe it won’t be that bad, that long, for everyone. But in addition to the five points above, you have long-term situations Satan and his minions can manipulate. All you need is a small slip, a fall, a break, poor treatment, and you’re dead.
Book of Mormon Notes-- How deep can you dig? 