The following quote tells us the day will come when we will need to rely upon the Lord and be prepared spiritually and physically. It seems that counsel from leaders will not be available as it is now. Thus we need to trust completely in the Lord or we will not stand.
"Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show that you are true to God and his work. This Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand.
Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand? Do you believe it?
How is it now? You have the First Presidency, from whom you can get counsel to guide you, and you rely on them. The time will come when they will not be with you. Why? Because they will have to flee and hide up to keep out of the hands of their enemies. You have the Twelve now. You will not always have them, for they too will be hunted and will have to keep out of the way of their enemies. You have other men to whom you look for counsel and advice. Many of them will not be amongst you, for the same reason. You will be left to the light within yourselves. If you don't have it you will not stand; therefore seek for the testimony of Jesus and cleave to it, that when the trying time comes you may not stumble and fall." [Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, pp.450-451]
When the saints are called upon to gather to the tops of the mountains or wherever they are individually inspired to gather, the enemies of the church, in most cases former members then apostates, will seek to close in around the saints. Third Nephi chapters 1-10 will be repeated according to President Ezra Taft Benson before Christ comes again. It will be a day of darkness and just when all seems lost, Christ comes. The Nephites who survived the cleansing of the western hemisphere two thousand years ago did so because they were the more righteous ones of the overall group. Nephi could not communicate with them and they could not see him for the three days of darkness but each had to rely on the Lord alone. The challenges we must face ahead will try the faith of all of us. The guidance of the Holy Ghost will be all that we will have to help us choose the right. We will come to know, as they did, that ONLY Christ can save us. The sooner we realize this daily in our lives the better prepared we will be when the darkness gathers all around. Where were you when the lights went out? The Holy Ghost speaks the words of Christ. May each of us learn through the trials of life to depend upon the Son of God and no one else.
