Hoyt W. Brewster Jr. (1994) Behold, I Come Quickly, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book. Notes by Ken K. Gourdin
Here’s a link to the Preface:https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/03/preface-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
Here’s a link to Chapter 1: https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/03/preface-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
Here’s a link to Chapter 2: https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/04/ch-1-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
Here’s a link to Chapter 3: https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/08/ch-3-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
Here is a link to Chapter 4: https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/12/ch-4-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
Here’s a link to Chapter 5: https://greatgourdini.wordpress.com/2020/12/15/ch-5-of-behold-i-come-quickly-by-hoyt-w-brewster/
D2. Chapter 6: Conspiracies of the Last Days
1. Conspiring Men – “In this revelation [Doctrine and Covenants Section 89], known as the Word of Wisdom, the Lord warned against the ‘evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days (D&C 89:4; italics removed).” Quickly 61.
a. How They Conspire – Bro. Brewster points out that advertisers employ cunning strategies to sell their products to the unwary, downplaying the dangers of those products and making them seem desirable. See Quickly 61.
B. An estimated 88,000 people annually die from alcohol- related causes annually, and alcohol-related death is the third leading preventable cause of death (behind tobacco use and poor diet and physical inactivity)
C. In 2014, alcohol-related traffic fatalities accounted for nearly a third (31.4 percent) of all traffic fatalities
D. In 2010, alcohol misuse cost the United States $249 billion dollars
ii. Alcohol, Continued – The so-called “angels’ share,” ethanol emitted during the production of bourbon, leads to the formation of Baudoinia compniacensis, a black fungus which collects on buildings located in the vicinity of distilleries. While the health effects of the fungus are unknown, it creates an unsightly mess for property owners, many of whom spend hundreds or thousands of dollars each year attempting to eradicate it. See Anne Marshall (October 30, 2019), “The Dark Side of the ‘Angel’s Share,’” Atlas Obscura, accessed on line at https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-is-whiskey-fungus on September 19, 2020.
iii. Drugs – In 2018, nearly 70,000 people died in the U.S. of drug overdoses. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features /prescription-drug-overdose/index.html#:~:text=In%202018%2C %20almost%2070%2C000%20people,synthetic%20opioids% 20(like%20fentanyl, last accessed September 19, 2020.
iv. Tobacco – https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/ fact_sheets/fast_facts/index.htm#:~:text=Cigarette%20smoking %20is%20responsible%20for,or%201%2C300%20deaths %20every%20day. Last accessed September 19, 2020.
A. “Smoking leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body.”
B. “More than 16 million Americans are living with a disease caused by smoking.”
C. “For every person who dies because of smoking, at least 30 people live with a serious smoking-related illness.”
d. “Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.”
E. “Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.”
F. “Smoking is a known cause of erectile dysfunction in males.”
G. “Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death.” H. “Cigarette smoking is responsible for more than 480,000 deaths per year in the United States, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke exposure. This is about one in five deaths annually, or 1,300 deaths every day.”
I. “On average, smokers die 10 years earlier than nonsmokers.”
J. Note: The foregoing do not include rates of death and disease caused by use of other forms of tobacco.
2. The Terrible Toll of Drugs
a. Ezra Taft Benson: Spiritual Powers Inhibited – “[I]f you partake [of drugs], your spiritual powers will be inhibited and you will be in their evil power. . . . (Ensign, May 1983 54-55).” Quickly 63, material in brackets and ellipses added.
b. Revelation: “Sorceries” = Drugs – “As part of the scenario preceding the Second Coming, the Apostle John described the wicked who did not repent ‘of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.’ (Revelation 9:21.) The word [translated] sorceries has its origin in the Greek pharmakeia, which means ‘pharmacy’ or ‘drugs.’” Quickly 63-64, bracketed material added.
c. The Illicit Drug Trade “Threatens the Very Foundations of Freedom” – “One official of the United States government commented on the drain that drugs are having on worldwide resources. ‘I know from firsthand knowledge what a scourge illicit narcotics are to this country and others. The drain on the human and monetary resources of the world being caused by this dilemma is inestimable and threatens the very foundations of freedom.’ (As quoted by Gordon B. Hinckley in Ensign, November 1989 49.)” Quickly 64.
3. Satan’s Slavery
a. Russell M. Nelson: “Disconnected from One’s Own Will” – “‘Through chemical means, one can literally become disconnected from his or her own will!’ (Ensign, November 1988 7)” Quickly 64.
b. Neal A. Maxwell: Intended Return from Babylon Rebellion Not So Easy – “Why do some of our youth risk engaging in ritual prodigalism, intending to spend a season rebelling and acting out in Babylon? . . . Though planning to return later, many such stragglers find that alcohol, drugs, and pronography will not let go easily. Babylon does not give exit permits gladly. It is an ironic implementation of that ancient boast: ‘One soul shall not be lost.’ (Moses 4:1.)” (Ensign November 1988 33.)” Quickly 64, ellipses in original.
c. Russell M. Nelson on the “Enslaving Shackles of Habit” – Elder Russell M. Nelson warned that the grasp of addiction is so gradual that “[e]nslaving shackles of habit are too small to be sensed until they are too strong to be broken. . . . (Ensign, November 1988 6).” Quickly 65, ellipses added.
4. Other Conspiring Men
a. Pornographers – See Quickly 65.
5. Secret Combinations – “Secret combinations are formed to gain unrighteous power over others and have existed on this earth from the day that cain entered into an evil alliance with Satan against his brother Abel. (See Moses 5:29-31.)” Quickly 66.
a. Moroni Warned Against Secret Combinations – See Ether 8:20, 22-25
b. Ezra Taft Benson Warned Against Secret Combinations – President Ezra Taft Benson added his own insights regarding the secret combinations of the last days. “I testify that wickedness is rapidly expanding in every segment of our society. (See D&C 1:14-16; 84:49-53.) It is more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before. Secret combinations lusting for power, gain, and glory are flourishing. . . . (Ensign, November 1988 87).” Quickly 67, ellipses added.
c. More from Ezra Taft Benson on Secret Combinations – “Yes, there is a conspiracy of evil. The source of it all is Satan and his hosts. He has a great power over men to ‘lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken’ to the voice of the Lord. (Moses 4:4.) His evil influence may be manifest through governments; through false educational, political, economic, religious, and social philosphies; through secret societies and organizations; and through myriads of other forms. His power and influence are so great that, if possible, he would deceive the very elect. As the second coming of the Lord approaches, Satan’s work will intensify through numerous insidious deceptions.’ (Ensign, May 1978 33).” Quickly 67.
c. Bro. Brewster Defines Secret Combinations – “The secret combinations of the last days are not confined to one group nor to worldwide organizations, but include any combination of people whose purpose is to get unrighteous gain and power over others.” Quickly 67.
d. Potential Purposes of Secret Combinations (This is MY List, Not Bro. Brewster’s)
i. Manufacture, distribution, and sale illegal drugs
ii. Distribution and sale of illegal weapons
iii. Distribution and sale of other contraband
iv. Organized crime
v. Terrorism
vi. Street gang activity
6. Enemies in Secret Chambers – See D&C 38:13, Matthew 7:15, Acts: 20:29-30, 1 Timothy 4:1-2; See Quickly 68-70.
a. Examples of Machinations of Enemies of the Church of Jesus Christ
i. See Hoyt W. Brewster Jr., Martyrs of the Kingdom, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft 1990)
ii. Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith
iii. Assassinations of missionaries (Bro. Brewster specifically mentions those in South America)
iv. The supposed “loyal opposition” of the Church of Jesus Christ, the members of which, actually, are wolves in sheep’s clothing
A. President Harold B. Lee on Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing – “There are some as wolves among us. By that, I mean some who profess membership in this church who are not sparing the flock. And among our own membership, men are arising speaking perverse things. Now perverse means diverting from the right or correct, and being obstinate in the wrong, willffully in order to draw the weak and unwary members of the Church away after them.’ (Ensign, January 1973 105; second italics added.)” Quickly 69.
B. Bishop Richard C. Edgley on a Similar Subject – “There are the so-called ‘learned’ that have let their intellect undermine their spiritual moorings and who would also attempt to lead the faithful away from those who are appointed by the Lord to lead. There are those who feel that our leaders are out of touch with the realities of the day. They would attempt to lead the members by substituting their own knowledge for the revelations from God to His prophets. And, unfortunately, there are those who would so follow. Christ warned, ‘Beware of false prophets, whic h come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. (Matt. 7:15.)’ Ensign, May, 1993 12)” Quickly 69.
C. Bishop Edgley’s Comment Reminded Me of This, from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland – “I say with all the fervor of my soul that never in my personal or professional life have I ever associated with any group who are so in touch, who know so profoundly the issues facing us, who look so deeply into the old, stay so open to the new, and weigh so carefully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully everything in between. I testify that the grasp this body of men and women have of moral and societal issues exceeds that of any think tank or brain trust of comparable endeavor of which I know anywhere on the earth.” Jeffrey R. Holland, (October 2006) “Prophets in the Land Again,” accessed on line at the following address on September 19, 2020: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2006/10/prophets-in-the-land-again?lang=eng
7. God’s Work Will Not Fail
a. Joseph Smith’s Testimony of the Ultimate Destiny of God’s Work – “‘No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing: persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, and calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.’ (History of the Church, Vol. 4, p. 540.)” Quickly 71.
b. No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper – “He who is the Head of the Church, even Jesus Christ, declared: ‘Verily thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper.’ (D&C 71:9).” Quickly 71.
c. Neal A. Maxwell: God’s Purposes Will Finally Triumph – “[T]he faithful know something about divine determination. They know that the Lord’s purposes will finally triumph, for ‘there is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in his heart to do but what he will do it.’ (Abr. 3:17.) Of that divine determination and divine love I gladly and publicly testify . . . (Ensign, May 1991 91, italics removed.)” Quickly 71, ellipses added and italics removed.
d. Heber J. Grant: Any Latter-day Saint Who Thinks the Work Will Fail is Not Truly Converted – “‘Any Latter-day Saint who thinks for one minute that this Church is going to fail is not really a converted Latter-day Saint. There will be no failure of this Church. It has been established for the last time, never to be given to another people and never to be torn down.’ (‘Message of Inspiration,’ Church News, October 27, 1962 2.)” Quickly 72.
Commentary on the passing scene 