Surviving the End Times - Part 1 - Book of Mormon Gospel Topics

End Times Prophesy

Before Jesus returns, there will be a period of tribulation

Matthew
24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
24:7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.
24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Commentary: Jesus describes a period of tribulation that will come prior to his return.

The End Times
Luke 12:63 And he said also unto the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, ye say straightway, There cometh a shower; and so it is. 12:64 And when the south wind blows, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. 12:65 O hypocrites! Ye can discern the face of the sky, and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Surviving the End Times - Secular Forecasts

Surviving the End Times - Purpose
The purpose of this topic is to get you to... Think about the times that are coming Think about how you will plan for what is coming Think about how you will help those who did not plan for what is coming So you will still have time to spread the Gospel It's hard to spread the Gospel when you, yourself, are having a hard time

Surviving the End Times - Purpose

The purpose of this topic is to get you to...

Think about the times that are coming
Think about how you will plan for what is coming
Think about how you will help those who did not plan for what is coming

So you will still have time to spread the Gospel

It's hard to spread the Gospel when you, yourself, are having a hard time

Surviving the End Times - Survey
29% US adults think it's likely that there will be an apocalyptic disaster in their lifetime 17% of Americans say that they have an apocalypse survival plan for their family If the apocalypse strikes 42% of US adults think they would survive a week or more 15% give themselves "almost a week" 29% estimate they would last just a few days 14% say that they would only survive one day

Surviving the End Times - Preparedness
45% of Americans spent money on Survival materials in 2020 Up from 20% who bought Survival materials in 2019 27% Said they didn't need to buy Survival materials because they already had emergency materials in their homes So, 72% of people did something about Survival last year

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction
MIT Study conducted a study in 1972 and re-evaluated it in 2021 Called the World 3 Model Looked at different scenarios involving factors of: Technology Innovations (get more out of what resources that we have) Birth Rates (the impacts on and from the other factors) Rates of Recycling (reusing resources or not - and creating pollution) Rates of Resource Discovery (new resources to use) Levels of Global Trade (sharing resources) Studied the impacts on Industrial Output Pollution Population Food Production Overall Available Resources

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction

MIT Study conducted a study in 1972 and re-evaluated it in 2021
Called the World 3 Model

Looked at different scenarios involving factors of:

Technology Innovations (get more out of what resources that we have)
Birth Rates (the impacts on and from the other factors)
Rates of Recycling (reusing resources or not - and creating pollution)
Rates of Resource Discovery (new resources to use)
Levels of Global Trade (sharing resources)

Studied the impacts on

Industrial Output
Pollution
Population
Food Production
Overall Available Resources

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction
Changing one factor will have a domino affect on other factors Example: Lower birth rate means more older people and fewer younger people Puts a higher financial burden on the younger workers to support the older people Younger people will put off creating families until they are financially stable, meaning a still lower birth rate Fewer younger people also means less industrial output Less industrial output means fewer goods and services available for the population Fewer goods (including food) means still a lower population Birth Rates (children per mother)

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction

Changing one factor will have a domino affect on other factors

Example: Lower birth rate means more older people and fewer younger people
Puts a higher financial burden on the younger workers to support the older people
Younger people will put off creating families until they are financially stable, meaning a still lower birth rate
Fewer younger people also means less industrial output
Less industrial output means fewer goods and services available for the population
Fewer goods (including food) means still a lower population

Birth Rates (children per mother)

Future Prediction - Example of Innovation
One of the factors was Technology Innovations Innovation is defined as the ability to increase technological capability An Innovation Example - Computer Processing Capability

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction
MIT studied many scenarios - Three scenarios are worth mentioning Comprehensive Technology Scenario Innovation continues at a constant (increasing) rate (scientific advancements always occur) Technology advances keeps up with all the new people that are born So, the standard of living remains much as it does today Stabilized World Scenario (the most optimistic scenario) Innovation continues at today's steady rate Society increases the use of renewable resources Business-as-Usual Scenario Innovation continues at a decreasing rate In other words, we'll eventually hit technological limits and won't be able to innovate further

Surviving the End Times - Future Prediction

MIT studied many scenarios - Three scenarios are worth mentioning
Comprehensive Technology Scenario

Innovation continues at a constant (increasing) rate (scientific advancements always occur)
Technology advances keeps up with all the new people that are born
So, the standard of living remains much as it does today

Stabilized World Scenario (the most optimistic scenario)

Innovation continues at today's steady rate
Society increases the use of renewable resources

Business-as-Usual Scenario

Innovation continues at a decreasing rate
In other words, we'll eventually hit technological limits and won't be able to innovate further

Surviving the End Times - Wars
Looking at the data on wars, reality doesn't seem to match the scriptures

Surviving the End Times - Wars
However, looking at wars since 1400 AD, wars and magnitude of wars (considering the world population at the time) have remained constant When resources have been lacking, wars result The world is in a period where resources are fairly abundant Given the World3 model predictions, we'll soon be lacking resources - then wars will return

China Is Running Out of Water and That's Scary for Asia
Natural resources have always been critical to economic and global power Here is an example for resources starting to become scarce Global trade and good demographics all contributed to Beijing's world-beating economic growth from the late 1970s to the early 2000s China was nearly self-sufficient in land, water and many raw materials China's natural abundance is a thing of the past China possesses 20% of the world's population but only 7% of its fresh water 80% to 90% of China's groundwater and 50% of its river water is too dirty to drink In 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao stated that water scarcity threatened the "very survival of the Chinese nation." Resource scarcity and political instability often go hand in hand Water problems are causing geopolitical strife Dams on the Mekong River have triggered recurring droughts and devastating floods in Thailand and Laos China plans to dam key waters in the Himalayas before they reach India, leaving that country (and Bangladesh) the losers

China Is Running Out of Water and That's Scary for Asia

Natural resources have always been critical to economic and global power
Here is an example for resources starting to become scarce
Global trade and good demographics all contributed to Beijing's world-beating economic growth from the late 1970s to the early 2000s
China was nearly self-sufficient in land, water and many raw materials
China's natural abundance is a thing of the past

China possesses 20% of the world's population but only 7% of its fresh water
80% to 90% of China's groundwater and 50% of its river water is too dirty to drink
In 2005, Premier Wen Jiabao stated that water scarcity threatened the "very survival of the Chinese nation."
Resource scarcity and political instability often go hand in hand
Water problems are causing geopolitical strife
Dams on the Mekong River have triggered recurring droughts and devastating floods in Thailand and Laos
China plans to dam key waters in the Himalayas before they reach India, leaving that country (and Bangladesh) the losers

China Is Finding Fewer Reliable Sources of Coal
Much of the coal China imports to power its massive economy sailed into Chinese ports from Indonesia. But on Jan. 1, 2022, the Southeast Asian nation announced a ban on coal exports amid concerns over local shortages, leaving the world's second largest economy in a lurch. China's imports of coal came to a near standstill in the first two months of 2021, following an unofficial ban on Aussie coal as the result of deteriorating relations between the nations. China already boosted domestic coal production in late 2021 to record levels after coal shortages caused blackouts and factory shutdowns, and experts say that Indonesia's move, which came after its state power utility warned of low inventory levels that could lead to widespread power outages, may hasten the trend.

China Is Finding Fewer Reliable Sources of Coal

Much of the coal China imports to power its massive economy sailed into Chinese ports from Indonesia.

But on Jan. 1, 2022, the Southeast Asian nation announced a ban on coal exports amid concerns over local shortages, leaving the world's second largest economy in a lurch.

China's imports of coal came to a near standstill in the first two months of 2021, following an unofficial ban on Aussie coal as the result of deteriorating relations between the nations.
China already boosted domestic coal production in late 2021 to record levels after coal shortages caused blackouts and factory shutdowns, and experts say that Indonesia's move, which came after its state power utility warned of low inventory levels that could lead to widespread power outages, may hasten the trend.

Europe has 'no alternative' to Russian gas
Energy-rich countries from Qatar to Azerbaijan have pledged emergency gas supplies to Europe, but the region is quickly figuring out it can't replace top supplier Russia "Europe has no alternative to Russian gas," BCS Global Markets senior analyst Ron Smith said. "You would have to divert half of the LNG that Asia consumes in order to replace [Russia's] Gazprom. And what would that mean? That would mean massive energy shortages all across Asia. You would export Europe's energy crisis to Asia." For any prolonged disruption lasting through the next two winters, Europe would have to curb demand The world has reached a point that shifting any flow of resources will leave some part of the world lacking in those resources

Europe has 'no alternative' to Russian gas

Energy-rich countries from Qatar to Azerbaijan have pledged emergency gas supplies to Europe, but the region is quickly figuring out it can't replace top supplier Russia
"Europe has no alternative to Russian gas," BCS Global Markets senior analyst Ron Smith said.

"You would have to divert half of the LNG that Asia consumes in order to replace [Russia's] Gazprom. And what would that mean?
That would mean massive energy shortages all across Asia. You would export Europe's energy crisis to Asia."

For any prolonged disruption lasting through the next two winters, Europe would have to curb demand
The world has reached a point that shifting any flow of resources will leave some part of the world lacking in those resources

After Russian moves against Ukraine exports, where is the global wheat market headed?
July 21, 2023 - Global wheat prices soared this week after Russia withdrew from an agreement -- in place for the last year -- that had allowed Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea. And after attacking one of Ukraine's agricultural export hubs earlier in the week, Russia is now warning that any ships sailing near Ukrainian ports could be considered military targets. The markets for wheat and other grains have been fragile since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Ukraine was the world's fifth-largest exporter of wheat before the war. "Ukraine was 7% of the world market, so it's a significant player," said Jack Scoville, vice president at Price Futures Group. Russia's most recent attacks on Ukrainian trade are reflected in wheat prices. Chicago December wheat futures jumped more than $1 this week to peak at about $7.65 a bushel. "I don't think that the world wheat market has nearly enough supplies in storage to kind of counteract this," Scoville said. Globally, year-end stock levels for wheat are expected to be low. "They're probably the lowest since 2007-8, which was a time when we had very, very high prices," said Joe Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

After Russian moves against Ukraine exports, where is the global wheat market headed?

July 21, 2023 - Global wheat prices soared this week after Russia withdrew from an agreement -- in place for the last year -- that had allowed Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea.
And after attacking one of Ukraine's agricultural export hubs earlier in the week, Russia is now warning that any ships sailing near Ukrainian ports could be considered military targets.
The markets for wheat and other grains have been fragile since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. Ukraine was the world's fifth-largest exporter of wheat before the war.
"Ukraine was 7% of the world market, so it's a significant player," said Jack Scoville, vice president at Price Futures Group.
Russia's most recent attacks on Ukrainian trade are reflected in wheat prices. Chicago December wheat futures jumped more than $1 this week to peak at about $7.65 a bushel.
"I don't think that the world wheat market has nearly enough supplies in storage to kind of counteract this," Scoville said.
Globally, year-end stock levels for wheat are expected to be low.
"They're probably the lowest since 2007-8, which was a time when we had very, very high prices," said Joe Glauber, senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute.

Massive 40-Person Brawl Breaks Out At Golden Corral
Even the U.S. is not immune to lacking resources and showing the behavior of people when resources become scarce Because They Ran Out Of Steak Video circulating online shows a massive brawl breaking out at the Golden Corral in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on Friday night I'm talking punches being thrown, high chairs flying, people picking up tables trying to use them as battering rams, and folks caught in the middle trying to run away to get out of the 40-person melee From what I heard it was over steak, apparently somebody cut in line ... There was a shortage of steak and two parties were involved and one family cut in front of another family As many times as I've been to Golden Corral (and it's more than I'd like to admit), there's absolutely nothing in that place worth catching a felony over But I guess the recent supply shortages have everybody on edge these days - even at the Golden Corral

Massive 40-Person Brawl Breaks Out At Golden Corral

Even the U.S. is not immune to lacking resources and showing the behavior of people when resources become scarce
Because They Ran Out Of Steak

Video circulating online shows a massive brawl breaking out at the Golden Corral in Bensalem, Pennsylvania on Friday night
I'm talking punches being thrown, high chairs flying, people picking up tables trying to use them as battering rams, and folks caught in the middle trying to run away to get out of the 40-person melee
From what I heard it was over steak, apparently somebody cut in line ...
There was a shortage of steak and two parties were involved and one family cut in front of another family
As many times as I've been to Golden Corral (and it's more than I'd like to admit), there's absolutely nothing in that place worth catching a felony over
But I guess the recent supply shortages have everybody on edge these days - even at the Golden Corral

Future Portent
Our current and projected state indicates prosperity will end and society will collapse

What Do You Need to Do?
So . . . What will You Need to Survive? How Long will You Need to Survive? These will, in part, define what you need to do