HEBER CHASE KIMBALL - PROPHECIES - A TEST! A TEST!

PRESIDENT HEBER C. KIMBALL

 The response in the media  to some of the talks by General Authorities this last weekend reminded me so much of of these two prophecies that were made by Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young's First Councilor in the first presidency, concerning the days ahead. If nothing more, the prophecies should make members of the Church take stock of their PERSONAL WITNESS concerning the verity of the Church and Living Prophets.

Both of these quotes come from the Life of Heber C. Kimball, a work by Orson F. Whitney of the Quorum of the Twelve which was published in 1888.

ELDER EDWARD STEVENSON:

“I cheerfully contribute the following, concerning one of the greatest prophets of the nineteenth century—Heber C. Kimball: In 1858 a little group of friends, convened in the House of the Lord, were engaged in pleasant conversation on the isolated condition of the Latter-day Saints.

“Yes,’ said Brother Heber (by which name he was so familiarly known), ‘we think we are secure here in the chambers of the everlasting hills, where we can close those few doors of the canyons against mobs and persecutors, the wicked and the vile, who have always beset us with violence and robbery, but I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a TEST, a TEST coming, and who will be able to stand?

Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball [Salt Lake City: Kimball Family, 1888], 445.)

ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON gives a valued contribution in the following:

“In accordance with your request I furnish you with a brief outline of a discourse delivered by your grandfather, the late Heber C. Kimball, in 1867. The occasion was the usual afternoon service. Whether it was held in the Bowery or the old Tabernacle, I do not distinctly recollect, but think it was the latter. My memory is, however, quite distinct in relation to the subject of the discourse; especially the prophetic part of it, with which I was specially impressed.

“President Kimball opened by stating that there were many within hearing who had often wished that they had been associated with the Prophet Joseph. ‘You imagine,’ said he, ‘that you would have stood by him when persecution raged and he was assailed by foes within and without. You would have defended him and been true to him in the midst of every trial. You think you would have been delighted to have shown your integrity in the days of mobs and traitors.

“Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.

“Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand? Do you believe it?

Ibid: pp.449-451

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I have had a personal concern about the "lukewarm" status of some of the Church members whom I have gotten to know over the last three decades. There seems to be way too much worldliness and ignorance of Gospel Doctrines, and way too little concern about whether the lives they are leading are in accordance with the Lord's will for them. As President H. C. Kimball notes, this is a personal matter for every individual to assess. 

For me, that assessment process includes the statement in D.&C. 1:14 "... and the day cometh that they who will not listen to the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people."