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Show 34 26, 1830, Joseph prophesied "in the name of the Lord" that "the hour is nigh and the day soon at hand when the earth is ripe;...and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up saith the Lord of Hosts."? In March of the following year he revealed from Kirtland that "it shall come to pass, that this generation of Jews shall not pass away until every desolation which I have told you shall come to pass."^ And while speaking to a "special conference of Elders" on November 1, I83I, Joseph again revealed dire consequences for the world: "Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh; And the anger of the Lord is kindled, and his sword is bathed in heaven, and it shall fall upon the inhabitants of the earth."9 During times of heavy persecution, millennial expectations rose to considerable heights. The calamities to befall the United States began to receive the primary focus of the prophet. It was only natural that as the Saint's afflictions multiplied, they would yearn for the Lord to redeem His people. When opposition(deepened, Joseph's revelations became more pointed and reflected categorically on the catacylisms to befall the nation. The beginning of the great wars would commence in the United States, it was prophesied in I832.10 It is a major theme of the Book of Mormon that no unrighteous people should possess the land of America. As persecutors of the Lord's chosen people, His cup of wrath was brimming. When the Saints were violently ejected from Missouri in I839, Joseph saw a stirring apocalypse of the "last days": I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another. We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of |