Joel

2006-3-7 04:40:00

John C. writes:

I don't think Stewart will be invited back again because he stepped on too many toes. I don't think much of the general public gets his humor either, but people don't understand him because he doesn't take sides. The man can say more with a raised eyebrow or a questioning look than anybody else I know. I love his spoof on the news. Like Hollywood, the talking heads have a bloated opinion of themselves and need to be taken down regularly.

I think you're right John. Even though Jon is a Democrat he poked fun at his fellow Democrats a couple times, even causing George Clooney to go out of his way to defend Hollywood. I think he was not what was expected by the powers-that-be and would be surprised if he was invited back. In addition, the ratings were low and that may be partially blamed on him.

Many were expecting low ratings though because no big films received major nominations.

Dennis writes:

I was preparing a High Priest lesson and stumbled onto the following:

Pres. Gordon B Hinckley made an interesting prophecy when he said in a Nov 2001 LDS conference talk that Joel 2:32-32 has been fulfilled. The angle Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith in his bedroom and quoted the exact scripture from Joel and told him that "...it was not yet fulfilled but was soon to be." (See JS history in Pearl of Great Price, page 53 verse 41)

The following is from the talk by Pres Hinckley:

"The era in which we live is the fullness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. The hearts of men have turned to their fathers in fulfillment of the words of Malachi. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared:"

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call."  (Joel 2:28-32) 

Pres. Hinckley: (Living in the Fulness of Times, Ensign, November 2001, 4;  Joel  2:30-31).

What do you think about the Hinckley prophecy anyone?

First, it was not a prophecy of the future by Hinkley, but a statement of what he believes is a condition of the present time.

Let us examine the scripture written by Joel.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:  Joel 2:28

The interesting thing here is that we are told there will not only be male prophets (sons), but female ones (daughters). If the Mormons think this prophecy is fulfilled then they need to tell us where the female prophets are.

The truth is that if any female were to prophesy to the LDS church or the world she would be thrown out.

A further truth is that there are female prophets on the earth, but they are not recognized by the churches as a whole.

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.  Joel 2:29

Again, this is true, but where is it happening in any of the churches?

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.  Joel 2:30

One could say that wars, volcanoes, earthquakes and bombs have fulfilled this.

On a spiritual level it speaks of a time that great anger (blood and fire) will divide the people and obscure the truth (pillars of smoke).

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.  Joel 2:28

The light of the soul (sun) of the masses will be darkened and their emotions (moon) will be filled with anger (blood) before the coming of the Messiah.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered:  Joel 2:31

The true name of God is within and those who seek it will be delivered from the darkness and unbridled emotion.

for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.  Joel 2:32

There will be a gathering of lights and the lights who gather will produce more light which will deliver them from darkness and bring an increase of light.

This gathering has not happened yet so the prophecy has not yet been completely fulfilled.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. William Arthur Ward