I watched a program by Cwic Media on YouTube where Greg Matsen was talking about a woman who had become an end of the world fanatic. The basis of the discussion was this:
“Active Latter-day Saint Mother and daughter take unsuspecting son, Blaze Thibaudeau, to an unknown wintery gathering in the north. They leave without the father’s knowledge. The Mother, her brother, and the adult daughter appear to have gotten involved with an end-times cult. The Davidic Servant is supposed to be someone who is to prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”
If we are conscious and aware, we know that we are approaching the end of times. We know the second coming will happen soon. At what point does our consciousness, awareness, curiosity and even obsession with learning switch to being a fanatical?
The Gathering – I have read enough books to know there are many who believe there will be a gathering in the wilderness or select locations before that day. If the Book of Mormon is a mirror of our day, there will be a gathering. Personally, I feel that if the church has not gathered, the time has not come yet. On the flip side, if the church does gather, it will be a very visible gathering including the leadership of the church, not a few fanatics.
Dreams and Visions – How many of these people have had dreams and visions? Many claim such things. The thing that makes me curious is that I have prayed for those things yet have not received them. If I did receive them, how would I know they were true? In of themselves I think dreams and visions can be pure revelation from God.
I guess this is the big question. How would you know they were of God and not an evil spirit?
#1 – Is it backed up by scripture?
In the case of these people. They thought the boy Blaze was “the Davidic Servant… someone who is to prepare the way for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.” There is supposed to be such a person. But is his name Blaze or David? Is Blaze a direct descendent of King David? Most likely not. Personally, I don’t know enough about the “Davidic Servant” to comment too much on it. But there are some aspects that seem to be common sense.
#2 – Does it tell me to follow the body of the church?
If we were to gather, who would direct that gathering? A handful of saints on their own? Or the prophet and general authorities? If you require to body of the priesthood to use? I really believe if there is a gathering, it will be a church wide event. Consider the gathering in the Book of Mormon, all the Nephites gathered. They didn’t call a new prophet before doing so. The church was not declared fallen and those gathering were the new chosen church.
Now, if there were compete societal collapse, that would be another story. We would completely be reliant on revelation and there may not be a “body of the church” to follow.
#3 – Does it tell me to contradict a commandment of God?
Kidnapping or murder – Recently Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow were in the news for similar reasons. They had appeared to become intertwined in a doomsday cult which led to the murder of Chad’s wife and Lori’s children. In the case of this story, the mother is believed to have taken her son Blaze against his will. I don’t know the family’s current condition, but it was implied that taking blaze was at a minimum “unsuspecting” but might have been kidnapping. Clearly in either case the actions would contradict the commandments of God.
All of these can be summarized by following the teachings of the prophet, President Nelson.
“In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” — President Russell M. Nelson
“Of all the people who have lived on planet earth, we are the ones who get to participate in the final, great gathering event. How exciting is that! Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits-perhaps, I might say, His finest team-for this finest phase. Those noble spirits-those finest players, those heroes-are you! I testify the gathering is now, and it is real.” — Russell M. Nelson
“My dear brothers and sisters, so many wonderful things are ahead,” he said. “In coming days, we will see the greatest manifestations of the Savior’s power that the world has ever seen. Between now and the time he returns ‘with power and great glory,’ he will bestow countless privileges, blessings and miracles upon the faithful.” — Russell M. Nelson
“As disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths.” — Russell M. Nelson
“Today, to assist you to qualify for the rich blessings Heavenly Father has for you, I invite you to adopt the practice of “thinking celestial”! Thinking celestial means being spiritually minded.” — Russell M. Nelson
In summary, I think if we don’t turn our hearts and minds to God. If we don’t have a relationship with the Holy Ghost, it will be difficult in the final days to stay on the right path.
I guess the goal is to be curious, fascinated, inspired, engaged, but not fanatical.