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Have Mormon prophets prophesied the date of the Second Coming?

Dear Gramps, Some of the brethren who came from the London Temple after their sessions brought stories and even placards or posters which mentioned the amount of days left before the turn of the century, saying we should have a 3-day survival kit ready. Our Quorum president had placed such a poster on the bulletin board in the hall of our chapel and somebody did take it away....... Our question is now concerning "warning in the temple": * Are these messages from the First Presidents coming from President Hinckley? * If so, why haven't they told this explicitly? (for we know they have been telling us this for a 150 years now .......) * If not, why are they hanging there? * Isn't this causing disturbance more than doing good? By the way, we are grateful for all the information you have given us in the past or will give us in the future, so the following one concerning "status of earth's condition": * Is this true that this earth is approx 300,000 light years away from the Lord's planet Kolob? * After the Fall of Adam, was this earth brought in a Telestial sphere or location in the universe? * Then before the Millennium starts, will this earth be brought in a Terrestrial sphere? * After Satan is forever bound, will this earth be brought into a Celestial location, near Kolob? That's all, for the moment, because my brother-in-law has asked me. These questions I know are somewhere and I'm afraid to be misquoted or accused having my own "the gospel of amj"" or "the church of amj"...... I am not trying to be the Guru of the ward or Rabbi, but for my own curiosity too. Shalom. amj

Dear amj,

Many local units of the Church promote different programs from time to time. This is appropriate because not all units are in the same state of development nor do they all have the same needs. The turn of the millennium has provided an incentive for some units to promote the home storage portion of the Welfare Program. However, the Church Welfare Program does not stem from specific events. As you have indicated above, the Church has always advocated prudence in preparing for the days ahead. President Brigham Young taught, "Learn to sustain yourselves; lay up grain and flour, and save it against a day of scarcity" (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997] p.231).

In a letter from the First Presidency, dated 24 June, 1988, members were again encouraged "to store sufficient food, clothing, and where possible fuel for at least one year." We are told that if we are compliant with the instructions concerning family preparedness that we have been receiving for years we will have no cause to fear.

The planet Kolob, which is one of three grand governing stars and is nearest the Celestial throne of God, has never had its location identified in space. Thus, the 300,000 light year figure is pure fiction. Our milky way galaxy, one of innumerable galaxies in the universe, is 100,000 light years in diameter. One could not imagine the large governing stars of the universe being in such intimate proximity with our own galaxy, and not having a major impact on its near neighbors. The nearest galaxy to our own that is of a similar shape is the most distant object that can be seen by the naked eye. It is the constellation Andromeda, and is about 2.7 million light years away. The diameter of the known universe is presently estimated at over 15 thousand million light years. 300,000 light years is infinitesimally small by comparison.

Concerning the transitions of the earth, before the fall it was a terrestrial sphere and was found near the Celestial throne of God. Resulting from the fall of Adam, the earth was transformed to a telestial sphere and was brought into our present solar system (Journal of Discourses 17:143). When the Savior comes to usher in the great Millennium, the earth will be as it is now, but after His appearance it will be transformed back into a Terrestrial Kingdom. (See Article of Faith 10). After the end of the Millennium and after the final judgement, the earth will be redeemed as a Celestial kingdom, and will be the eternal home of those who have been able to live a celestial law in the earth's present telestial state.

Gramps