The Sun shall be Darkened and the Moon be turned into Blood .....

                          The moon at night over the Wasatch Mountains.         Photo by LeAnn Arave.

ONE of the most striking and dramatic of scriptural prophecies regarding the last days, before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, is this:

"And before the day of the Lord shall come, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon be turned into blood, and the stars fall from heaven," Doctrine and Covenants 45:42.

(The same basic scripture also appears in other places, like the New Testament, Matthew 24:29: "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:")

This prophecy very likely has multiple meanings.

A total eclipse of the sun on Aug. 21, 2017, seems to fulfill a portion of it -- especially given how much media and public attention that this rare event received ...


Plus, the string of events -- a darkened sun, a bloody moon and stars falling could reference a future rogue and sudden series of events that catch the world unaware, like a thief in the night ... In other worlds, not a predictable eclipse of the sun, but more dangerous things.

In addition, through symbolism, the prophecy is surely already being fulfilled in a different sense:

Consider Genesis of the Old Testament, Chapter 37, verses 9-10, where it mentions one of the dreams that Joseph (who was eventually sold into Egypt) had -- and the three symbols used are the sun, the moon and the stars.
The sun is Joseph's earthly father; the moon is his mortal mother and the stars are his brothers.
-Here are the two verses:

 "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

"And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?"

Surely many fathers today have become blackened with sin and have gone "dark," as far as rearing their children -- given all the divorces today and the births out of wedlock, the single parent situations, etc.

Also, mothers today more frequently favor and indulge in abortions, which terminate life.

Finally, many brothers (and sisters) fall from the glory that Heavenly Father has promised and intended for them, given their rebellion and lack of both faith and morality.

All of the above and perhaps more are things to consider in this important prophecy of the last days.

NOTE: This article and all of the NighUntoKolob blog are NOT an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the author's conclusions and opinions only.

What the 'Only True Church' declaration does and doesn't mean ....

               The administration building for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

MEMBERS of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and in particular, its full-time Missionaries, likely need a deeper understanding of what the "Only True Church" declaration does mean and does not mean.

A masterful discourse given in 2007 by Robert L Millet, then a professor of ancient scripture and emeritus Dean of Religious Education at Brigham Young University, offers many insightful dimensions on other Christian Faiths and how LDS members should view and deal with them.
Some of the teachings of this long discourse, now contained on the Religious Studies Center Website at BYU, are indeed deep. However, those who take the time to read and study it will never think about Christians of other faiths in quite the same way again.
At least the first half of this discourse should be required study for outgoing missionaries from the MTC. 

-Cut and paste the Web address below to access Robert L. Millet's discourse on "Joseph Smith and the 'Only True and Living Church'":

https://rsc.byu.edu/archived/selected-articles/joseph-smith-and-only-true-and-living-church

By far, the most often used incorrect scripture in Sacrament Meetings?

JOSEPH Smith stressed that erring in doctrine DOES NOT prove that someone is not a good person.... and we ALL error at times in doctrine. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5:340.)

Notwithstanding, there is one single scripture that is misused far, far more often than any other, possibly church-wide.
One Utah ward averages about two Sacrament meetings a month where this certain scripture is totally used incorrectly.
Here is perhaps the No. 1, that just doesn't seem to go away:
  "Father, forgive them: for they know not what they do .. (Luke 23:34).
This New Testament scripture is used frequently, yet erroneously in Sacrament talks and lessons on forgiveness, to support always forgiving everyone unconditionally. (Although that is what the rest of the Christian world believes.)
Doctrinal fact: Jesus Christ wasn't forgiving everyone at the crucifixion by saying this.
Joseph Smith added to the verse through the Inspired Version of the Bible: "(Meaning the soldiers who crucified him)".
Christ has yet to forgive all. He only forgave the soldiers who were acting under military orders ... The Jews he has yet for forgive.
And, yes we are required to forgive everyone.
D&C 64:8-11 is the best scripture to support universal forgiveness.

The key problem?
Far too many church members only read the Book of Mormon over and over again. They have never read the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, or the Old Testament and have no clue about the Prophet Joseph Smith's teachings.
As such, they find this popular New Testament scripture on forgiveness and have no clue what it is really stating.

-UPDATE June 2019: Finally, in my ward, a young woman in her talk in Sacrament meeting actually said Christ forgave only the soldiers who crucified him -- and she didn't use the scripture as one espousing universal forgiveness. So, there is hope for correct doctrine!

NOTE: This article and all of the NighUntoKolob blog are NOT an official website of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the author's conclusions and opinions only.