The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Page 2

Where Ezra’s Eagle Goes Off the Rails

So it’s November 6th, 2024, the day after election day. President Trump has won an astonishing election victory, marking the greatest political comeback in US history. For those of us who feel like we’ve been gaslit and abused for the last four years, it really does feel like things are starting to look up for the country.

At least, for most of us, that is the case. For others of us, the black pill has been so bitter that we’re almost scared to hope again. Last night, I was up until 2am, just because I didn’t want a repeat of 2020, where we all went to bed convinced that Trump had a lock on the election, only to wake up to burst pipes, boxes of uncounted ballots, voting machines behaving strangely, windows and doors boarded up against Republican observers, and other sorts of “election fortification.” So frankly, I don’t blame anyone for being on pins and needles until Trump actually puts his hand on the Bible and is officially sworn in as the 47th (or possibly 48th) President.

I’m seeing that reflected right now in my blog stats, where in the last 24 hours, I’ve seen hundreds of hits on my old post This Scenario Would Fulfill Ezra’s Eagle, which I wrote several years ago. For some strange reason, that post is now the #2 Google search result for the query “Ezra’s Eagle,” which makes me feel like it’s my duty to offer periodic updates to the situation.

But first, a quick explanation of the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy:

This video is a very good explanation of the prophecy, as interpreted by Michael B. Rush. The part I find most compelling about it is the sequence of rulers, which really does line up uncannily well with our last 16 presidents. Whenever Biblical prophecies start going into numerology, I always raise my eyebrows a bit, because there are lots of ways to twist numbers to make them appear to fit your own personal interpretation. But if you read the original source material in 2 Esdras 11 and 12, it actually lines up very well with what has (so far) transpired.

However, it’s where we get to Rush’s interpretation of the last two short feathers and the lion that I tend to think it goes off the rails. This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I am not convinced that there will be a singular Anti-Christ figure in the end times. I know that a lot of Evangelical eschatology revolves around this figure, but the way they get there is through a rather selective reading of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Revelation that leaves me scratching my head. When I read the Bible, I see a lot of passages talking about a spirit of Anti-Christ, but not a singular figure—and certainly not one with Godlike powers.

But the big thing is the lion, which Rush connects (correctly, I believe—assuming of course that the prophecy is true, which it may very well not be) with the remnant of Jacob in 3 Nephi 20 and 21. Latter-day Saint eschatology draws not only from Daniel (where we get the stone cut out of the mountain without hands), Ezekiel (where we get the stick of Joseph), and Revelation, but also from Isaiah, which goes into great depth about the scattering and gathering of Israel, and the return of the lost 10 tribes. There are also several other prophecies in the Book of Mormon that describe the latter-day gathering of Israel, which is central to the Latter-day Saint understanding of the end times.

Regarding the lost 10 tribes, within the Latter-day Saint tradition there are basically three possible views about what happened to them and where they are now.

The first is that they were taken to the north pole and currently live under the polar ice. This view was very popular in the 19th century, but almost no one believes it seriously now.

The second is that they were taken into space, and currently reside on another planet or in another dimension. While this may sound crazy, it does resonate with the scriptures we have that talk about how Enoch was taken into heaven, with the original city of Zion. This is the view that Michael B. Rush espouses, and he believes that the prophecies in 3 Nephi (as well as Ezra’s Eagle) will be fulfilled when the ten tribes come back down from space and liberate us from the Anti-Christ.

If that sounds a little too science fictional to you, you’re not the only one. Personally, I would love to read a novel where that’s how things turned out, but I don’t think those prophecies are actually going to be fulfilled that way—and here’s why.

The third view is that after the ten tribes passed out of our historical records, they migrated to the northern reaches of the Eurasian landmass, probably in what is now Siberia. There, they established a civilization, which was apparently still extant when the resurrected Christ visited the Americas, because He referred to them explicitly in 3 Nephi 17:

4 But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.

This civilization probably continued for a while, perhaps for several centuries after the resurrection of Christ, but it eventually fell, probably due to a combination of the changing global climate (which was much warmer during Roman times, but went into a little ice age during the medieval era) and political upheaval on the Eurasian steppes. When China fell apart after the Three Kingdoms period, there was a massive depopulation as the survivors of those wars migrated westward onto the steppes, creating a cascade of violent displacement that ultimately culminated in the rise of the Hunnic confederacy and the migration period in Europe, which brought about the fall of the western Roman Empire. The ten tribes could easily have been conquered during this period, and their survivors assimilated into the Hunnic or Turkish tribes. Or perhaps they survived this era, only to be conquered by the Mongols in the 1200s. Either way, their culture was wiped out, and their descendants were assimilated into the cultures that conquered them and settled on their lands.

There’s quite a bit of evidence for this theory, including DNA evidence. There’s also some spiritual evidence from the patriarchal blessings of people from this region, where most of the people are have been blessed to belong to one of the ten tribes. The guys at Ward Radio discuss this at length in the episode above—Jonah Barnes actually served his mission in Siberia, so he has firsthand experience with this. Also, there is some pretty solid scriptural evidence in Jacob 5 and the allegory of the olive tree. When the branches of the natural tree are first scattered throughout the vinyard, there is a location that is mentioned once in verse 24, and never mentioned again. If this represents the lands of the lost ten tribes during Christ’s time, that makes sense, since their culture had not yet been wiped out—but after it was wiped out, and the survivors assimilated into the culture that conquered them, they were no longer a “branch” within the context of the allegory.

So how does this relate to Ezra’s Eagle? If the ten tribes are actually among us, and not in space as Michael Rush believes—indeed, if the descendants of the lost tribes are currently being gathered into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, through the missionary work currently happening in central Asia—then the “remnant of Jacob” that will go forth as a lion is the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who gather to the New Jerusalem, either to build it or to migrate there after it has been built. Third Nephi 20 and 21 go into great depth about this.

But what does it mean that they will tread down their enemies among the gentiles? Does it mean that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will go all nationalistic, organize a militia, and go to war directly against the United States? Almost certainly not. After all, the twelfth article of faith states: “we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.”

But I could see a scenario where the United States collapses and becomes a failed state on the national level, with cartels, gangs, and local warlords stepping into the power vacuum under the veneer of what’s left of our democratic republic. Under that scenario, the church would step into the gap and help its members to organize and develop a strong, self-reliant community that could not only survive in such a post-collapse world, but actually thrive in it. In many ways, we’re already set up to do exactly that. And if the call comes during this time of chaos to build up the New Jerusalem, I could see us making a modern pioneer trek to Missouri, and prevailing over the gangs and warlords who try to stand in our way.

Under this scenario, the last two feathers of Ezra’s Eagle aren’t the Anti-Christ and the Beast, but the last two presidents of the United States, who attempt to restore the nation after the catastrophic fall of the deep state (represented by the three eagle heads) but who ultimately fail to do so. This is when the nation collapses, and we become a failed state on the federal level. Then the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints rises up to fill in the gap, standing against the gangs and warlords in the ensuing power vacuum, until we are called to build the New Jerusalem and fulfill the end-times prophecies contained in 3 Nephi.

To me, this is a much more plausible interpretation of Ezra’s Eagle than Rush’s view that the lost ten tribes will liberate us in some sort of extraterrestrial invasion of our planet, while a godlike Anti-Christ rules the whole world. But frankly, I don’t think any of this is going to happen—at least, not on the timeline of Ezra’s Eagle. President Trump won the election with a clear mandate, and I believe he will become our 47th president. With the way things are currently unfolding, I no longer believe that the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy is true in a literal sense. It may have been an authentic vision of a possible series of events, but I do not believe we are on that timeline. After all, there is a reason why Joseph Smith never translated the Apocrypha—or canonized it, for that matter.

But I guess we’ll find out soon. After all, if anything happens to Trump between now and January 20th… let’s just pray for our country during this very uncertain time.

(And for the record, if the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy is true, I still totally believe that Janet Yellen is the first eagle’s head.)

WIP Excerpt: The Road to New Jerusalem, Chapter 1

[Author’s Note: This is an AI-assisted rough draft, so it’s still got a lot of issues that are going to be worked out before the final draft. The genre is post-apocalyptic / end-times fiction, and I plan to publish this novel under my pen name J.M. Wight.]

The late spring air was dry and pleasant, the afternoon sun not quite hot enough to justify turning on the precious air conditioning that drew so much power from the house batteries. Jacob Wilcox knelt among the tidy rows of vegetables in their front yard garden, his calloused hands stained with dirt. Nearby, his wife Emily dug through the soil, carefully plucking out the pesky weeds that had sprung up among the tomatoes they’d recently planted. Their two year-old daughter giggled nearby, chasing a butterfly through the overgrown grass on the other side of the sidewalk.

“Look, Mommy!” Lily squealed as she scampered after the delicate creature, which evaded her grasping fingers with ease.

“Careful, sweetheart,” Emily called out, smiling at their daughter’s innocent delight. Her eyes met Jacob’s, and he nodded, wiping his brow with the back of his hand.

“We’ll need to expand the potato patch soon,” he said, his blue eyes scanning the yard critically. “With food shortages getting worse, we can’t afford to waste any space.”

Emily nodded, her braid swinging as she bent to pat soil around a tomato plant. “I was thinking we could tear out those old rose bushes by the fence. They’re not practical anymore.”

A flicker of sadness passed over Jacob’s face. Those roses had been Emily’s pride and joy, before… well, before everything changed. As with most of the people still living on their street, their front yard had been converted almost completely from lawn to garden space. Jacobe had even extended the garden to the neighboring house, which had been unoccupied ever since the elderly couple that used to live there had passed away. Though technically they didn’t own it, Provo city gave them a break on their property taxes to maintain it, and the yard space was useful for feeding their growing family. Besides, it kept their street from looking as ugly as some of the others in the city, where totally abandoned houses stood in broken disrepair, their yards covered in weeds and overgrown saplings.

“It’s hard to believe this used to be such a lively neighborhood,” Emily murmured, following Jacob’s gaze. “Now it feels…empty.”

Jacob nodded, his brow furrowing. “The population crash has taken its toll, that’s for sure. But at least we have this.” He gestured to the garden, the rich soil yielding the fruits of their labor. “With the supply chains collapsing, we’re blessed to have this extra space to grow our own food.”

Emily smiled faintly, wiping a strand of hair from her face. “I’m grateful for that, Jacob. It’s one less thing we have to worry about.” Her expression darkened slightly. “Though I can’t help but wonder what else the future might hold.”

Jacob reached over, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “Have faith, my love. The Lord is watching over us, even in these uncertain times.”

Emily nodded, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. “You’re right.” She squeezed his hand back, then returned her attention to the garden, her movements calmer, more assured.

Jacob glanced from Lily to the craggy mountains that towered only a few miles from their house. The mountains were one of the few things that hadn’t changed, though the paint on the Y above Brigham Young University had almost completely worn off. The faint scent of sagebrush carried on the breeze, mingling with the earthy smell of the freshly tilled soil. It wasn’t difficult to imagine what the pioneers must have felt when they’d planted their first crops in the soil not far from here. Jacob couldn’t help but feel his kinship with them as he turned to regard their own small garden.

The jingle of an approaching bicycle bell suddenly caught their attention. They turned to see Brother Hansen, the stake executive secretary, pedaling up the cracked sidewalk.

“Brother and Sister Wilcox,” he called out, smiling wanly as he stopped his bike in front of their yard. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”

“Not at all,” Jacob replied, setting down his shovel. “What can we do for you?”

Brother Thompson’s eyes darted between them. “President Thornton would like to meet with you both this evening at the Stake Center. Seven o’clock, if that’s convenient.”

Jacob felt Emily stiffen beside him as she drew a sharp breath. He squeezed her hand for support.

“Did he say what it’s regarding?” Jacob asked. There were only a small handful of possibilities.

Brother Hansen shook his head. “No, he didn’t provide me with any details.”

Emily glanced quickly at Jacob, as if gauging his reaction. “Jacob…”

“Can we make it?” he asked her softly.

She bit her lip and nodded. He turned to Brother Hansen again.

“Of course. We’ll be there.”

With a nod and a smile, Brother Hansen remounted his bicycle. “Thank you, Brother and Sister Wilcox. We’ll see you there.”

They watched in silence as he rode away, hardly daring to speak until he turned the corner and passed out of sight. Jacob turned to his wife, searching her face, which had suddenly gone pale, her green eyes wide with apprehension.

“What did Brother Hansen want, Daddy?” Lily asked in her innocent voice.

Jacob let go of Emily’s hand and knelt down to give his daughter a reassuring smile.

“Mommy and Daddy have a meeting with President Thornton tonight, after you go to bed. But don’t worry, I’m sure Grandma can babysit you while we’re gone.”

Emily bit her lip. “Do you think President Thornton is going to…” Her voice trailed off, leaving her thought unspoken.

Jacob took a long breath. “I don’t know,” he admitted, the words feeling heavy on his tongue. “But we have that extra house… it makes sense that they might call us to live the Principle.”

The Principle. Yet another thing that they now had in common with the early pioneers. Had it been as difficult a thing for them to live as it was for the saints now? Until President Soares had announced the resumption of the practice, nearly everyone in the church had thought of plural marriage as a historical anomaly—something that the Lord had required only of the early saints, for reasons that were unique to their time and circumstances. But now, it was clear that the true anomaly was the century and a half in which the practice of plural marriage had been suspended.

“It could be about anything,” Jacob said softly, trying to reassure her. But his own heart was racing. A summons from the Stake President was rarely a casual matter these days.

Emily shook her head. “Why else would he want to see us both? We’re not rich, but we’re better off than most. We have the extra house next door…”

“Which we’re using for more garden space,” Jacob interjected. “Emily, please. Whatever happens, we’ll face it together. Our faith will see us through.”

Emily bit her lip, clearly unconvinced. Jacob longed to pull her close, to chase away her fears. But he knew that right now, his certainty would only push her further away.

“Mommy,” Lily asked, her big blue eyes filled with worry. “Why do you look so sad?”

Emily forced a smile and scooped Lily up into her arms. “I’m fine, dear. Just some adult stuff to deal with. How about we go inside and make some lemonade together?”

Lily nodded enthusiastically, her thoughts now consumed by the promise of a sweet treat. Jacob watched them go, his heart heavy. He lingered a moment longer, surveying the fruits of their labor—the garden, the houses, the comfortable life they’d built. How fragile it all now seemed.

Jacob adjusted his tie in the mirror, carefully smoothing out the silk fabric until it lay perfectly against his threadbare white shirt. Behind him, Emily sat on the edge of their bed, quietly brushing out her long chestnut hair. The weight of their impending meeting with the stake president hung between them like a thick fog. Even so, neither of them said anything until a knock at the front door broke the silence.

“That’ll be your mother,” said Emily, rising at once to her feet. “I’ll go check on Lily one more time and be down in a few minutes.”

Jacob nodded, watching her slip out of the room before he made his way downstairs. Sure enough, his mother Eleanor was waiting on the porch, a gentle smile on her face.

“Good evening, Jacob. I hope I’m not making you late.”

“Not at all, Mom,” he said, stepping aside to let her enter. “We’ve already put Lily to bed. Thanks for watching her while we’re gone.”

Eleanor paused, studying his face with her keen blue eyes. “Is everything alright, Jake? You seem troubled.”

Jacob sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “It’s just this meeting with President Thornton. I can’t help but wonder if he’s going to ask Emily and me to… you know…”

“To enter into plural marriage?”

He nodded, his shoulders sagging. “To be honest, I don’t know how Emily would take that. She’s struggled with the Principle ever since President Soares announced it. I’m not sure her testimony is strong enough for something like that.”

“Have you talked with her about it?” Eleanor asked gently.

“Not really,” Jacob admitted, looking down at his shoes. “I don’t want to push her. She’s been through so much already, with her mother leaving the church and all. I don’t know how to bring it up without making things worse.”

Eleanor’s gentle gaze lingered on her son, her brow furrowed in concern. “Oh, Jacob. I know your love for Emily is strong and you only want to protect her. But a good husband must also be able to have difficult conversations. You cannot keep avoiding this forever.”

Jacob let out a heavy sigh, feeling the weight of his mother’s words. How could he explain to Emily that while he didn’t necessarily agree with the concept of plural marriage, he had faith in the church and its leaders? That they were being guided by a higher power, even if it was hard to comprehend at times? His mind was filled with conflicting emotions, but he knew deep down that Eleanor was right. They couldn’t keep brushing this issue aside.

Emily’s soft footsteps on the worn wooden stairs drew Jacob’s attention. He looked up to see her descending, her chestnut braid swaying gently with each step. A smile tugged at his lips, momentarily easing the tension that had built in his chest.

“Hey there,” Jacob said softly, meeting Emily at the bottom of the stairs. He leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “Lily go down okay?”

Emily nodded, her hazel-green eyes meeting his. “She did. She asked for an extra story tonight.”

Eleanor stood from her seat, smoothing her skirt. “Well, I’ll be here if she needs anything. You two go on now, don’t want to keep President Thornton waiting.”

“Of course.” Jacob guided Emily towards the door with a light touch on her lower back. “Thanks again for watching Lily, Ma. We shouldn’t be more than a couple hours.”

“Take all the time you need,” Eleanor said, embracing each of them in turn. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

They walked in silence for a moment, the fading sunlight casting long shadows across their path. The once-vibrant neighborhood had a haunting, abandoned feel, with overgrown yards and darkened windows hinting at the collapse that had transformed their community. Given everything that had happened in the last few years, it truly was a blessing that they lived in a town where it was safe to walk five blocks after dark. Then again, things had never gotten as bad in Utah as they had in most of the rest of the country.

“Could you have ever imagined our town looking like this?” he whispered, struggling to find the right words.

“So much has changed,” Emily said, her voice trembling as she squeezed his hand tighter. “And who knows what else could change, depending on what President Thornton has to say.”

Jacob’s chest tightened, and he squeezed his wife’s hand in a way that he hoped was reassuring. Five years had passed since the church had issued Official Declaration 3, with the unanimous support of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. Jacob had been on his mission at the time, and like everyone else in the church, Jacob had struggled with it, but he felt he’d gained a testimony of it—or at least, as much of a testimony as one could gain without actually practicing the Principle. But with Emily, he wasn’t so sure.

“It’ll be alright, Em,” he murmured, his voice low and soothing. “And even if it is, we’ll… we’ll figure it out. The Lord wouldn’t ask anything of us that we can’t handle.”

Emily nodded, her gaze fixed on the familiar path leading to the stake center. “I know, Jacob. I just…” She paused, worrying her lip between her teeth. “What if President Thornton does want us to consider plural marriage? I don’t know if I can do it, Jacob. The thought of sharing you with someone else…”

Jacob squeezed her hand, wishing he knew the right words to comfort her. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” he said gently. “We don’t know for sure what this meeting is about.”

Emily leaned into his touch. “I know the church teaches that plural marriage is a righteous principle,” Emily whispered, her gaze fixed on the pavement. “But I’m not sure I’m strong enough to live it. Does that make me faithless?”

Jacob stopped walking, turning to face her. “Of course not,” he said firmly, cupping her cheek. “Having questions doesn’t mean you lack faith, Emily. It just means you’re human.”

Emily managed a small smile, drawing strength from Jacob’s reassuring touch. “I’ll try to be strong. For you, and for Lily.” She sighed, her shoulders sagging. “I just wish I had your unwavering faith.”

“Your faith is strong, Emily,” Jacob insisted, his tone earnest. “You’ve never wavered in your love for the Lord, even when times have been difficult.” He brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “As long as we have each other, and the Lord on our side, we can handle anything. Right?”

“Right,” she murmured, though he could still hear the uncertainty in her voice.

“Brother and Sister Wilcox,” said Brother Hansen, setting aside the three-ring binder splayed across his lap as he rose to greet them. His smile was warm, but did little to ease the tension Jacob felt as he and Emily stepped into the foyer of the stake center.

“Is President Thornton seeing someone right now?” Jacob asked as he shook Brother Hansen’s hand.

The stake executive secretary laughed. “No, for once we aren’t running behind. I also left the next interview slot open, in case the president wants some extra time with you.”

Jacob could practically hear his wife’s nervous swallow. Uncertainty coiled in the pit of his stomach, but he forced it down. He had to be strong enough for both of them.

Brother Hansen quickly ushered them down the hall to the stake offices behind the chapel. The lights on the other side of the building were off, making the empty hallway beyond feel like a long, dark tunnel. President Thornton was waiting at the last door before the darkness, his smiling face partially shadowed.

“Jacob and Emily,” he welcomed them warmly. “It’s good to see you both. Please, come inside.”

President Thornton was an older man, with gray hair and a navy blue suit and a white shirt, both of them slightly wrinkled. His tie was red and navy blue, with a simple chevron design. His smile was warm and friendly, though his eyes were solemn. Jacob felt his wife stiffen involuntarily as he pulled back the large conference chair for her.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” President Thornton said as he took his own seat at the head of the large conference table. “I know this has been a difficult time for many of us, with all the changes our church has recently experienced.”

Jacob took the chair beside his wife and squeezed her hand, acutely aware of Emily’s tension. He cleared his throat. “We’re happy to serve in any way we can, President.”

There was a moment of silence, heavy with anticipation. President Thornton leaned forward, his hands clasped in front of him. He met each of their eyes.

“Brother and Sister Wilcox, I have prayed earnestly about your family and the role the Lord would have you play in the unfolding events of these latter days.”

This is it, Jacob thought, bracing himself. He felt an awful knot form in his stomach.

“In the last general conference,” President Thornton continued, “President Soares announced that the time has come to build up Zion in the land of Missouri.” He paused, his gaze sweeping between the two of them. “Brother and Sister Wilcox, the Lord has called you to go to Missouri and help build the New Jerusalem.”

The words hung in the air for a moment. Jacob blinked, surprise washing over him. He turned to Emily, searching her face for a reaction. Her eyes were wide, a mix of relief and uncertainty evident in her expression.

“You… aren’t calling us to practice plural marriage?” he asked.

President Thornton smiled. “No, Brother and Sister Wilcox. I have not brought you here to call you to practice the Principle at this time. Rather, it is the Lord’s will that you should take your family to the New Jerusalem.”

Jacob felt the breath leave his lungs in a rush, the knot in his stomach unraveling. They were not being called to practice plural marriage. He was not being asked to take a second wife at this time. But as he glanced at Emily, he saw a different emotion flickering across her face – one tinged with uncertainty and apprehension.

“The New Jerusalem?” Emily’s voice was soft, tinged with a hint of wonder and trepidation. “But…what about our life here? Our home, our family?” She reached for Jacob’s hand, her fingers trembling slightly.

President Thornton nodded sympathetically. “I know this is a lot to take in. The call to build Zion is not one to be taken lightly.” He clasped his hands on the table, his gaze earnest. “But the Lord has spoken, and we must heed His call. The Lord has chosen your family, along with several others from our stake, to join the first wave of settlers. You, Jacob and Emily, are called to help built up Zion there—to be part of the vanguard of saints heeding this prophetic mandate.”

Jacob’s mind was suddenly in turmoil, torn between excitement and the fear of leaving behind everything he knew. Moving to Missouri would mean starting over, leaving behind the comfortable life they had built. Yet it was also a chance to take part in fulfilling the prophecies about building the city of Zion in the last days, a duty that thrilled him to his core.

“What exactly will this calling entail, President Thornton?” he asked.

“I know it will be difficult to leave your homes behind,” President Thornton said solemnly. “But you won’t be alone in the journey. Your father, Thomas, has been called to lead the caravan, along with both of his wives.”

Jacob blinked in surprise. “He’s already accepted the call?”

“Yes,” said President Thornton, smiling. “I extended it to him just an hour ago.”

“When do we leave?” Emily asked.

President Thornton turned to regard her kindly. “Not until everything has been put in order. The prophet’s counsel on this matter is clear: we are not to go up in haste, or to run faster than we have strength. You will have all the time you need to make the necessary preparations.”

But not to sell their house, Jacob knew. No matter how much time they took, he doubted they’d ever find a buyer. The population collapse had completely destroyed the real estate market, even here in the free state of Utah.

“I know it will be a difficult sacrifice,” President Thornton said, as if reading his thoughts. “But I testify that your family will be blessed as you answer the prophet’s call.”

Jacob nodded and glanced at his wife, squeezing her hand. “We know, President Thornton. We’ll go.”

The stake president smiled. “Thank you, Brother and Sister Wilcox. Do you have any questions?”

Before Jacob could speak, Emily’s soft voice cut through the silence. “I know you haven’t called us to live the Principle at this time, but if… if we’re asked to live that law upon arriving, how are we to…” Her voice trailed off, leaving the question unspoken.

President Thornton nodded kindly. “The prophet Joseph Smith taught us that a religion that does not demand the sacrifice of all things does not have the power to produce faith unto salvation. The Lord’s timing is His own, and I cannot tell you everything that He will require of you. But I promise that He will guide and uphold you as you put your trust in Him.”

The tension in the room eased somewhat, though Jacob could sense that Emily wasn’t totally satisfied with the stake president’s answer. It would not be easy to leave everything behind.

“We will do all that the Lord requires of us,” he said firmly.

“Thank you, my dear brother,” President Thornton answered. “Now, I suggest you go home and start making preparations for your journey.”

He rose to his feet, signaling the end of their interview.

Jacob leaned against the heavy black door of the stake center, holding it for his wife as they stepped out into the crisp evening air. The last traces of twilight were just visible on the horizon, and hundreds of stars were already visible in the dark, cloudless sky, multiplying by the minute above the sparsely lit city.

Emily was the first to break the heavy silence as they walked hand in hand down the darkened neighborhood street. “At least we weren’t called to practice plural marriage,” she offered.

“Yeah,” said Jacob, glancing at her sideways. Wasn’t he the one who was supposed to say that? He squeezed her hand reassuringly, but she still felt tense and nervous. What was she worried about?

“So,” he said, “the New Jerusalem.”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice barely louder than a whisper. Her steps were slow and hesitant, and not just from the darkness or the cracked and broken sidewalk.

“Hey,” said Jacob, putting an arm around her as they walked. “Is everything okay?”

But as they walked down the street back toward their house, Emily’s steps were slow and hesitant, suggesting that she was still troubled. Jacob longed to wrap his arms around her and comfort her, to tell her that everything would be alright, but the words caught in his throat like a lump of coal. Despite the peacefulness of the night, a storm brewed within them both, uncertain and fearful of what their new calling would bring.

Emily was the first to speak, breaking the stillness. “Missouri,” she said doubtfully. “The New Jerusalem. It all sounds so extravagant. But what about our lives here? Our home, our friends?” She looked at him with a pleading expression. “How can we just up and leave everything behind?”

Jacob’s heart sank. He had no easy answers, only the unwavering belief that they must follow the prophet’s guidance, even if it felt like an impossible path to follow.

“The Lord will bless us, Emily,” Jacob said, trying to convince himself as much as her. “It won’t be easy, but the Lord will provide for us, just as He has for His people throughout history.”

Emily’s grip on Jacob’s hand tightened, her fingers trembling slightly. “I want to believe that, Jacob. I really do. But…” She trailed off, her gaze fixed on the cracked sidewalk beneath their feet.

Jacob’s stomach churned with a mixture of empathy and frustration. He knew Emily’s faith wasn’t as unwavering as his own, but he desperately wanted her to feel the same peace he did about their calling. He searched for the right words, praying silently for guidance.

“Remember when we first got married?” he asked softly. “How scared we were about starting our life together, especially with the world falling apart around us?”

Emily nodded, a faint smile ghosting across her lips. “How could I forget? We were so young, so naive.”

Jacob pressed on, encouraged by her response. “But we made it through, didn’t we? We built a life together, despite everything. The Lord blessed us then, and He’ll bless us now.”

As he spoke, Jacob’s gaze drifted upward, taking in the vast expanse of stars above them. The night sky seemed to pulse with an otherworldly energy, as if the very heavens were affirming his words. A cool breeze rustled through the nearby trees, carrying with it the faint scent of pine and distant rain.

But when Jacob looked back at Emily, his heart sank. Instead of comfort, he saw a shadow pass over her face, her eyes growing distant and troubled. The smile that had briefly graced her lips had vanished, replaced by a tightness that made his chest ache.

“Emily?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, her hair catching the dim light of a nearby streetlamp. “Never mind, Jacob. I’ll be alright.”

The rest of their journey was filled with heavy silence. As they neared their modest home, Jacob couldn’t help but catch a glimpse of his own reflection in the darkened windows. The man staring back at him looked lost and uncertain – a stark contrast to the confident, strong leader he knew he was supposed to be. He felt grateful for the opportunity to help build the New Jerusalem, to be chosen among those preparing for Christ’s return. But as he thought about the daunting task ahead, doubts and insecurities crept in, making him question if he was truly worthy of such an important role.

What About Ezra’s Eagle?

Several years ago, I wrote a blog post about the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy, which has somehow become the #2 search result for that term on Google. As a result, I’ve been getting hundreds of views on that blog post every week—and whenever Glenn Beck or some other conservative media commentator discusses the apocryphal prophecy, I get thousands of views.

I’m not an expert on the prophecy, and the only reason I blogged about it was because, as a fiction writer, I found it intriguing. For that reason, I’ve edited the original blog post to link to Michael B. Rush’s website and YouTube channel, since he’s the guy who first “discovered” this prophecy, or first discovered the interpretation that applies to our current political situation.

I’ve since come to the conclusion that most of Rush’s work is not true, especially the stuff he has to say about the lost ten tribes. But Ezra’s Eagle is still intriguing, because the events of the last couple of months suggest that the prophecy is still in play.

But first, it’s worth taking a more critical look at it:

I think this YouTuber makes some very good points, and his other videos about the end-times and Latter-day Saint eschatology are very well researched and present a solid position for where we currently stand and what still needs to happen before Christ returns in power and glory to inaugurate His millennial reign. However, I do think he gets a couple of things wrong here:

First, President Trump did not fill out his first term. He was de facto removed from office after the events of January 6th, as evidenced by the deletion of his Twitter account and the fact that General Milley reached out to his counterpart in the CCP to declare that he would not obey an order from the president to launch a nuclear attack on China. Yes, Trump was a “lame duck” president at the time, but he still had two weeks left in his term, during which he was de facto no longer the president.
Second, I think we can make a solid case that Joe Biden has been de facto removed from power. With all of the media attention on Trump and Harris, not a lot of people are talking about this, but Biden has basically been on “vacation” ever since he (or more likely, someone on his staff) issued the letter announcing that he was withdrawing from the election. In fact, it appears that the letter itself was part of a coup to remove him from power. His presidential schedule has basically been empty since then. So with all of that going on in addition to his obvious dimentia, can we really say that he’s still the de facto president? I think not.

By my reckoning, Trump and Biden both fit the criteria for the first two short feathers of the second wing, and Biden was indeed “sooner away than the first.” (2 Esdras 11:27). So if the events of the next few months were to play out according to the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy, what would that look like?

Please bear in mind that I am a science fiction writer, not a professional scriptorian or political commentator. I have no special knowledge, and I literally make up stories for a living. So please don’t take this scenario as a prediction of future events, or (God forbid) as any sort of encouragement to violence. Instead, think of it as a rough outline for a political thriller that follows Ezra’s Eagle—and if you want to turn my outline into an actual book, feel free to write it. It should make for a very entertaining piece of fiction, and nothing more.

But anyways, if I were writing a novel that follows the timeline of Ezra’s Eagle, here is how it would play out:

1. Trump is assassinated before the 2024 election

And I beheld, and, lo, the two that remained thought also in themselves to reign: (2 Esdras 11:28)

The prophecy makes it clear that each feather corresponds to a particular king or ruler. Trump was the first short feather of the second wing. If Biden is the second short feather, then there are still two more short feathers who have to have their time before the three eagle heads wake up, and it appears from verse 28 that these other two feathers are candidates in an election that is cut short. Unfortunately, since Trump has already had his time, I don’t think he’s one of those feathers. Therefore, for the prophecy to be fulfilled, I think he needs to be removed.

Here’s how I see it playing out: in the next couple of weeks, there is a second assassination attempt on Trump, which actually succeeds. As his running mate, J.D. Vance becomes the name on the top of the Republican ticket. Tensions reach a boiling point, and a lot of people expect the Right to react with political violence after Trump’s death, but that doesn’t actually happen at this time. Instead, Vance gets a huge surge of popularity, and it appears that he will win the election in a landslide.

This is what triggers the waking of the three Eagle heads.

2. The 2024 election is canceled and Janet Yellen becomes interim president

And when they so thought, behold, there awaked one of the heads that were at rest, namely, it that was in the midst; for that was greater than the two other heads.

And then I saw that the two other heads were joined with it.

And, behold, the head was turned with them that were with it, and did eat up the two feathers under the wing that would have reigned. (2 Esdras 11:29-31)

I still think Janet Yellen is the most likely candidate for the first eagle head, because of her connections with the Federal Reserve and her current position in the Treasury. In this scenario, Trump’s assassination fails to result in the sort of violent right-wing backlash that the deep state needs to construct the political narrative for a plausible Harris victory (with a “fortified” election, of course), so instead, they orchestrate an economic meltdown and a currency collapse. This is something they were already planning to do, in order to usher in their central bank digital currency (which is also the mark of the beast), but they have to accelerate those plans by a couple of years, and also take power directly in order to ensure a smooth transition.

We already see signs of the beginning of an economic collapse, or a “hard landing” as the financial wonks like to put it. The 2-year and 10-year US Treasuries have been inverted for the last two years, but they just uninverted a few days ago. Every time this has happened in the past, we get a recession, and with the current fragile state of the global economy and the financial system, a recession could easily turn into a total collapse.

3. The United States goes to war in a major escalation of global armed conflict

But this head put the whole earth in fear, and bare rule in it over all those that dwelt upon the earth with much oppression; and it had the governance of the world more than all the wings that had been. (2 Esdras 11:32)

And whereas thou sawest three heads resting, this is the interpretation:

In his last days shall the most High raise up three kingdoms, and renew many things therein, and they shall have the dominion of the earth,

And of those that dwell therein, with much oppression, above all those that were before them: therefore are they called the heads of the eagle.

For these are they that shall accomplish his wickedness, and that shall finish his last end. (2 Esdras 12:22-25)

I’m not going to try to predict which flashpoint explodes first, or how the opening moves of the next global war play out. Personally, I think we’re already in the opening phases of WWIII, but there are a lot of ways that conflict could escalate: for example, a US/Israeli attack on Iran, or an Iranian attack on Israel, or an expansion of the Russo-Ukraine war to Poland and/or the Baltics, or a Chinese invasion of Taiwan… you get the picture. Point is, there is a major escalation of global war, potentially including tactical (though not strategic) nuclear weapons, and the US is at the heart of it.

4. Janet Yellen dies in a second global pandemic

And whereas thou sawest that the great head appeared no more, it signifieth that one of them shall die upon his bed, and yet with pain. (2 Esdras 12:26)

The Ezra’s Eagle prophecy is clear that the first eagle head dies of some sort of illness. The most likely fulfillment of this is that we get a second pandemic, much worse than covid-19 and likely also from a human-engineered virus of some kind. It may start with a second lab leak, but given the state of the world at this point in the timeline, I think it’s more likely to be an actual bioweapon, deployed with the purpose of destroying our country.

5. The United States falls into a civil war, and the deep state breaks up

For the two that remain shall be slain with the sword.

For the sword of the one shall devour the other: but at the last shall he fall through the sword himself. (2 Esdras 12:27-28)

After Janet Yellen dies, the deep state breaks into competing factions, and the US breaks into a hot war, during which the other two eagle heads (ie Janet Yellen’s successors) kill each other. I have no idea who the other two members of this deep state triumvirate might be, so I’m not going to speculate. But in this scenario, they come out of the shadows after Yellen’s death and drive the country into a civil war.

6. A new election is held, but ultimately fails to restore the United States

And whereas thou sawest two feathers under the wings passing over the head that is on the right side;

It signifieth that these are they, whom the Highest hath kept unto their end: this is the small kingdom and full of trouble, as thou sawest. (2 Esdras 12:29-30)

The other proponents of the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy think that the last two feathers are connected with the Antichrist, but I reject this interpretation because I don’t believe that the prophecies about the Antichrist are talking about a single charismatic leader. Instead, I think these two last feathers are a remnant of the deep state that tries to put the country back together after the civil war. It could be two presidential candidates who are never seated, or it could be two actual presidents who fail to serve out their full terms.

7. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints steps into the post-civil war power vacuum as a political entity and establishes a new government within the territory of the former United States

And the lion, whom thou sawest rising up out of the wood, and roaring, and speaking to the eagle, and rebuking her for her unrighteousness with all the words which thou hast heard;

This is the anointed, which the Highest hath kept for them and for their wickedness unto the end: he shall reprove them, and shall upbraid them with their cruelty.

For he shall set them before him alive in judgment, and shall rebuke them, and correct them.

For the rest of my people shall he deliver with mercy, those that have been pressed upon my borders, and he shall make them joyful until the coming of the day of judgment, whereof I have spoken unto thee from the beginning. (2 Esdras 12:31-34)

This is also where Daniel’s prophecy about the stone cut out of the mountain without hands begins to have a political fulfillment, and when the Latter-day prophecies about the establishment of Zion in the Kansas City area of Missouri begin to be fulfilled. It’s also where the Ezra’s Eagle prophecy ends.

Once again, this is not how I think events will actually play out. Rather, if I were writing a novel about Ezra’s Eagle and the 2024 US presidential election, this is how I would write it. I’m not a theologian or a political pundit: I’m just a guy who makes up stories and publishes them as science fiction. And ultimately, I think Ezra’s Eagle is more fiction than fact.

But it could happen this way…

The best take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that I’ve heard

This is, by far, the best take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that I’ve heard. It’s between a Jew and a Palestinian, but both of them are converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which means that they’re less interested in winning a debate and more interested in coming to a common understanding, even though they are approaching it from completely opposite sides. It also means that they’re willing to say things that the hardliners on both sides of the conflict would consider heretical, and own up to their own side’s mistakes and shortcomings. Really fascinating stuff, with none of the bloviating lies, manipulative gaslighting, or emotional hyperbole that characterizes so much coverage of the conflict these days. You’ll probably get more out of it if you’re a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but even if you’re not, I highly recommend giving it a listen.

The Babylon Bee Guide to Every Christian Denomination

Saw this video a couple of days ago, thought it was hilarious—especially the parts about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “Mormons? Just kidding—we said Christian denominations!” And then later… “Unitarian Universalists? They’re atheists. We’ll even take the Mormons over these guys.”

Although, to be fair… if Joseph Smith’s first vision was real, and God really did tell fourteen year-old Joseph not to join any church, because He didn’t recognize any of them as His true church and kingdom… then of course every other denomination that rejects the restored gospel would also reject the Mormons as not being “true Christians.”

But yeah, one thing we definitely need to work on is our beard game. Brigham Young, Joseph F. Smith—we used to be even more awesome than the Church of Christ with their Duck Dynasty guys, but man, we’ve really lost it in the last hundred years!

The Burden of America

The prophecies of Isaiah were written around 750 B.C. and pertained primarily to the major powers of his own day, but if you tweak them just a bit, they apply remarkably well to us. Believers will say that’s because his prophecies were laced with intentional double-meaning, but you don’t have to be a believer to see how remarkably well his words apply to our day and age.

According to Avraham Gileadi (my favorite commentator on the book of Isaiah), the ancient nation that most closely corresponds to the modern United States of America is Egypt. So I thought it would be interesting to present a few exceprts from Isaiah 19, replacing “Egypt” with “America,” “Egyptian” with “American,” etc.

1 The burden of America. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into the United States of America: and the idols of America shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of America shall melt in the midst of it.

2 And I will set the Americans against the Americans: and they shall fight every one against his brother, and every one against his neighbour; city against city, and kingdom against kingdom.

3 And the American Dream shall fail in the midst thereof; and I will destroy the counsel thereof: and they shall seek to the idols, and to the charmers, and to them that have familiar spirits, and to the wizards.

4 And the Americans will I give over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a fierce dictator shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the Lord of hosts.

…

11 Surely the Republicans are fools, the counsel of the wise counsellors of the president is become brutish: how say ye unto the president, I am the son of the wise, the son of the founding fathers?

12 Where are they? where are thy founding fathers? and let them tell thee now, and let them know what the Lord of hosts hath purposed upon America.

13 The Republicans are become fools, the Democrats are deceived; they have also seduced America, even they that are the stay of the states thereof.

14 The Lord hath mingled a perverse spirit in the midst thereof: and they have caused the United States to err in every work thereof, as a drunken man staggereth in his vomit.

…

22 And the Lord shall smite the United States of America: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the Lord, and he shall be entreated of them, and shall heal them.

What’s really behind the “Mormon Church”‘s stance on the Respect for Marriage Act?

Earlier this year, the US Supreme Court overthrew Roe v. Wade in the Dobbs v. Jackson decision. This was a major legal and cultural earthquake. A big question that arose from this decision was how will this affect Obergefell v. Hodges, which codified same-sex marriage as legal back in 2015? Most of the conservative justices stated that Dobbs does not affect Obergefell, but Justice Thomas stated that he was willing to revisit that case.

In response, congress crafted the Respect for Marriage Act, which would require the federal government to redefine “marriage” in a way that would recognize same-sex marriage equally with traditional marriage. What does this mean for those who believe that marriage should be limited to a union between a man and a woman? As I understand it, those who espouse this view could be prosecuted for discrimination if this bill passes. There are some protections for religious institutions, but many conservatives believe that these are too weak, and that this law would put us on the slippery slope to churches losing their tax exempt status and possibly even being forced to perform same-sex marriages.

To everyone’s surprise, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out with an official statement in support of this legislation, or specifically, this “way forward.” There’s been a lot of noise in the press about this, most of which is either misinformed or outright misinformation, so here is the full statement:

The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints related to marriage between a man and a woman is well known and will remain unchanged.

We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters.

We believe this approach is the way forward. As we work together to preserve the principles and practices of religious freedom together with the rights of LGBTQ individuals, much can be accomplished to heal relationships and foster greater understanding.

Some outlets, like the Washington Post (where democracy dies in darkness), are reporting that this statement represents a doctrinal shift for the church, and an embrace of same-sex marriage. However, a careful reading should demonstrate that this is fake news calculated to create a false narrative and manufacture consent for that false narrative. Sadly, this is typical of MSM rags like the Washington Post.

Other commentators argue that the restored church has “surrendered to the spirit of the age” and is siding with Utah Senator Mitt Romney, who is ready to sign the Respect for Marriage Act as it stands, instead of Utah Senator Mike Lee, who is pushing for an amendment to the bill that would strengthen the protections for religious freedom.

Frankly, I don’t see that. The church’s statement does not endorse any specific legislation, but “this [new] approach,” and expresses support for “the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections.” (emphasis added) Yes, the statement came out before the bill passed the house and Mike Lee put forward his amendments, but I don’t see anything to indicate that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is siding with Romney over Lee.

But has the restored church gone over to the spirit of the age? At best, it appears that the church is making a strategic retreat in the culture wars. It’s certainly a far cry from the Proposition 8 debate in the 00s, in which Californians ultimately voted to ban same-sex marriage. What a different world that was! With this most recent statement, it appears that the church has switched from defending the traditional definition of marriage to pushing instead for protections on religious freedom.

How are we supposed to square this with paragraph 9 of the Family Proclamation? That was the question that Greg Matsen asked on the most recent episode of the Cwic Media podcast. For reference, here is paragraph 9 in its entirety:

“We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”

When you read the rest of the Family Proclamation, which is a line-by-line, point-by-point refutation of many of the radical gender theories currently taking over our society (which is remarkable, since the proclamation was issued in the 90s, long before any of these radical ideologies had hit the cultural mainstream), it certainly seems to be at odds with the church’s recent statement, which supports “preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters” and “the rights of LGBTQ individuals.”

But what if those two documents aren’t at odds at all? What if the best way to “preserve and maintain” traditional marriage in our current cultural climate is also to preserve LGBTQ rights? In other words, what if the church isn’t capitulating or retreating from the marriage issue, but making a strategic retreat in anticipation of a new front opening up in the culture wars—a battle which will make strange bedfellows of same-sex marriage proponents and the defenders of traditional marriage?

In an ideal world, the church would want to foster a society in which the laws of the land are in harmony with the laws of the restored gospel—in other words, a society that defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Obviously, we don’t live in that society (at least, not here in the United States). So what are our options instead?

On the one hand, we can accept that same-sex marriage is now the law of the land, and seek to promote laws that strengthen both the traditional family and the families of same-sex couples together. On the other hand, we can push for the libertarian approach of “getting the government out of the marriage business altogether,” removing the tax benefits and legal protections of marriage and making the state totally agnostic to marriage and families.

Which of those two paths is more likely to “maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society”? Which of those paths is more likely to lead to a society where marriage is considered to be obsolete and unnecessary?

Which brings us to the next major front in the culture wars, which I believe is going to be between those who view marriage and family as a social goods, and those who view the family as a “system of oppression” and want to deconstruct and abolish it altogether. We got a sneak peak of this in 2020, when the Black Lives Matter movement posted the following statement on their website:

We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and ‘villages’ that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.

At the time, this statement created some controversy, and the organization ultimately took it down. If you search online for information about it, you get a bunch of articles “debunking” that BLM ever advocated destroying the traditional family. But the radical left’s modus operandi is first to hide and deny what they’re doing, then to accuse you of doing what they’re actually doing, then to ridicule you for pointing out what they’re doing, and finally to attack you for opposing it at all. We’re already well into the first phase of that process.

Black Lives Matter isn’t the only faction in the radical left that would love to destroy or abolish the nuclear family. Those who are pushing to normalize pedophilia would love to see such a cultural shift too. Same with those who are pushing the Cloward-Piven strategy of making us all more dependent on the state. Same with the Malthusian climate change alarmists who are pushing the depopulation agenda.

If this is the next big front in the culture wars, then conservatives might play right into the hand of the enemy by continuing to push a losing cultural battle for the traditional definition of marriage. After all, what better way to “get the government out of the marriage business” than to point out that we can’t even agree on the definition of marriage in the first place? And once the state becomes agnostic to marriage, we’re well on the slippery slope to a society that views the family itself as obsolete and unnecessary.

I would love to live in a society that recognizes the traditional definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman, and that vigorously promotes measures to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. Unfortunately, at this point it’s going to take a generational struggle to get us to that society—perhaps even a multi-generational struggle—and we’re not going to win that struggle by fighting the last generation’s war.

So has the restored church capitulated on the issue of traditional marriage? Has it surrendered to the spirit of the age? Hardly. If anything, I think the brethren are just as far-sighted and inspired as they were when they gave us the Family Proclamation. Be prepared to make some very strange bedfellows in the coming years.