The Great and Terrible
Day of the Lord

Following the time in Book of Mormon history that a secret combination united against the people of the Lord, a wide-spread cataclysm took place on the American continent. It destroyed all of the wicked inhabitants from off the land, leaving only the more righteous. After this, they heard a voice from heaven. Then later Jesus Christ himself descended from heaven and appeared to a large group of people assembled around a temple. All of this seems to correspond to what is prophesied to take place at the time of Christ's second coming.

Many times, the descriptions of the destructions are so similar that without context we would hardly be able to tell whether the account describes the latter-day or the ancient occurrence. For example compare the following two prophecies. First: "...The ^a.earth shall shake and tremble; and...there shall be many ^b.mountains laid low, like unto a valley, and there shall be many places which are now called ^c.valleys which shall become mountains, whose height is great."⁽¹⁾ And second: "The heavens shall be shaken, and the ^a.earth shall tremble and reel to and fro as a drunken man, and the ^c.valleys shall be exalted, and the ^b.mountains shall be made low, and the rough places shall become smooth."⁽²⁾ The first is a prophecy made by Samuel the Lamanite about the ancient destruction. The second refers to the catastrophe yet to come in the latter days.

Here's another example. First: "For, behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and ^a.all the proud, yea, and ^b.all that do wickedly, ^c.shall be stubble: and ^d.the day that cometh shall burn them up, ^e.saith the Lord of hosts...."⁽³⁾ And second: "Wherefore, ^a.all those who are proud, and ^b.that do wickedly, ^d.the day that cometh shall burn them up, ^e.saith the Lord of Hosts, for they ^c.shall be as stubble."⁽⁴⁾ One of these statements is a fairly well-known prophecy that describes the latter-day situation. It turns out that the other--the second--is Nephi I's prophecy of the destruction which came anciently on the American continent.

One of the above two prophecies began with the statement: "Great and terrible shall that day be unto the wicked, for they shall perish; and they perish because they cast out the prophets, and the saints, and stone them, and slay them; wherefore the cry of the blood of the saints shall ascend up to God from the ground against them."⁽⁵⁾ Again, without context we have difficulty telling which time is being referring to: the latter-day cataclysm or the ancient one. Let's read what follows the above statement to see if it helps us identify which time is being talked about. "And they that kill the prophets, and the saints," it continues, "the depths of the earth shall swallow them up, saith the Lord of Hosts; and mountains shall cover them, and whirlwinds shall carry them away, and buildings shall fall upon them and crush them to pieces and grind them to powder."⁽⁶⁾ Still we cannot really tell which time is being spoken of, so let's keep reading: "And they shall be visited with thunderings, and lightnings, and earthquakes, and all manner of destructions, for the fire of the anger of the Lord shall be kindled against them, and they shall be as stubble, and the day that cometh shall consume them, saith the Lord of Hosts."⁽⁷⁾ Not until we read the next verse do we identify the time being spoken about. "O the pain, and the anguish of my soul for the loss of my people! For I, Nephi, have seen it...." (2 Ne. 26:7.)

So this was Nephi again, telling about the destructions that would precede the appearance of Jesus Christ to his people on the ancient American continent. At the same time, this description fits perfectly the scene that will unfold in the latter days. Nephi was apparently keenly aware of this too, for in the very next chapter, he briefly described the latter-day destruction. He said, for example, "And when that day shall come they shall be visited of the Lord of Hosts, with thunder and with earthquake, and with a great noise, and with storm, and with tempest, and with the flame of devouring fire." (2 Ne 27:1,2.)

The similarities between the ancient and the future occurrence are not confined to the scene of destruction. Both are described as being followed by the sun and the moon becoming darkened. (3 Ne. 8:22; compare JS-M 1:33 = Matt. 24:29.) Each are also marked by great lamentations (3 Ne. 8:23-25; compare JS-M 1:36 = Matt. 24:30), a period of silence (3 Ne. 10:1,2; compare D&C 88:95), and voices from heaven (3 Ne. 9, 10:3-7; compare D&C 88:95). The resurrection of saints during this period is another parallel. (Hel. 14:25; compare D&C 88:96-98.)

Even some of the words spoken anciently by a Heavenly voice--"a voice heard among all the inhabitants of the earth..." (3 Ne. 9:1; compare D&C 45:49)--will be repeated in the latter days, such as: "How oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings..., and ye would not." (3 Ne. 10:3,5; compare D&C 43:23,24.)

Considering the extensive similarities between the ancient and latter-day events, we might predict that other things spoken anciently may be repeated as well. Will the Savior again extend the invitation: "...Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" (3 Ne. 9:13.) The Lord will not announce, "In me is the law of Moses fulfilled," for it was fulfilled with his first coming. (3 Ne. 9:17; 15:8.) But might he declare, "The covenant which I have made with my people is...fulfilled"? (3 Ne. 28:7.) He has said, "...All things shall be fulfilled...when I shall come in my glory...." (D&C 45:16.)