These are prophecies that were given to us to know that we are in the last days. These prophecies are put loosely into a semblance of order,thus not to be taken as being fulfilled in order.
Resources Used:
"The Coming of the Lord" by Gerald N. Lund (Bishop, Stake Pres, Mission Pres, Quorum of the 70)
"65 Signs of the Times" by David J. Ridges (CES, BYU CEW, Bishop, Patriarch)
Scriptures, History, Modern Revelation
BEING FULFILLED PROPHECIES:
1. Scattered Israel Will Be Gathered
Before the Second Coming can take place, the Jews who had been scattered over the last 2+ thousand years needed to be gathered together again. This is for all the 12 Tribes of Israel. The Lord had promised Abraham that his posterity (Israel) would spread the gospel and the priesthood throughout the world (Abraham 2:9-11.) Nephi teaches that this tribe would be gathered together again from "all four quarters of the Earth" (1 Nephi 10:12-14, 19:16.)
Isaiah also foretold of this great gathering in the last days in Isaiah 5:26-30. Then in D&C 39:11, the Lord says, "Thou shalt preach the fullness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel."
This has only been half fulfilled. The Tribe of Judah of Israel, has been gathered home in a direct fulfillment of their own prophesy via the Balfour Declaration in 1948. Now, it is just the Lost 10 Tribes who still remain to be gathered. They have their own prophecy, prophet, scriptures and will not be found until they come as "one body" down the Rocky Mountains from the northern countries (no one knows where) to the New Jerusalem. Gerald N. Lund, "Coming of the Lord" ph. 164.
2. Men's Heart's Shall Fail Them
America and the rest of the world will see great disasters, chaos, plagues, storms, earthquakes, famine, mobocracy and war. This is a necessary step for the Lord to cleanse the earth in preparation of His coming.
In Luke 21:25-27, he says, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory."
Similar messages are repeated in D&C 45:26, 88:91, and Moses 7:65-66. Fortunately, for the Saints in the last days, there is peace and stability in following the living prophets and being prepared. In Matt 24:6 and JS-Matt 1:23, Christ says, "see that ye be not troubled." There is peace in following the commandments and obeying the Prophets that we have no need to despair!
3. Sexual Immorality, Homosexuality, Lesbianism and Pornography Will Abound
This one has been in the category of "being fulfilled" for quite some time now. Unfortunately, it will only get worse. There are many warnings in the scriptures and by Prophets today against these sins and that it will be a major factor of the destruction in the last days. In Timothy 3:1, 6, the Apostle Paul uses the term, "divers lusts" which he later describes in Romans 1:23-31 as he warns the Roman Saints. Definitions for Paul's terminology in brackets are taken from "Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible."
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves. [Masturbation.]
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. [Lesbianism.]
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly. [Homosexuality.]
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whipserers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
In "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," written in 1995, it adds, "We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."
Lastly, Apostle Elder Neal A. Maxwell, in the April 1996 General Conference counseled the members of the church about "politically correct" terminology and it's error. He says, "The more what is politically correct seeks to replace what God has declared correct[...] Ironically, as some people become harder, they use softer words to describe dark deeds. This, too, is part of being sedated by secularism! Needless abortion, for instance, is a "reproductive health procedure," which is an even more "spongy expression" than "termination of pregnancy."
"Sedated by secularism." That would be terms such as "Pro-choice" which "implies agency is preserved in choosing abortion on demand, thus making an evil choice appear okay. Those who oppose this evil appear somehow anti-choice and thus, anti-God," says David J. Ridges.
Terms like "free love", "consenting adults", "significant others," "alternate lifestyles," "sexual preference," "safe sex," and "sexually active" are all ways that Satan deceives the righteous by making evil appear good and good appear evil. Unfortunately, this sign of the times will get worse and even now is considered to be the norm.
4. Many Temples Will Be Built
In the April 1980 General Conference, President Benson prophesied that, "We will see our missionaries cover the earth with the message of the Restoration. We will see temples in every land where the gospel has penetrated..."
Isaiah 2:2 says, "that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains [plural], and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it." D&C 133:13 reflects this as well.
This is also summarized in the Institute of Religion's Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Elder Erastus Snow said: "The mountain of the Lord's house" --this is a peculiar phrase, and was probably used by the Prophet because it was a common mode of expression in Israel in the days of David and many of the Prophets several hundred years after him."
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that this phrase had more than one meaning; "This great prophecy, as is often the case, is subject to the law of multiple fulfillment. 1. In Salt Lake City and other mountain locations[...] Mount Zion [New Jerusalem], itself, will be the mountain of the Lord's house in the day when that glorious temple is erected. 3. When the Jews flee unto Jerusalem, it will be "unto the mountains of the Lord's house," for a holy temple is to be built there also as part of the work of the great era of restoration." Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, pg. 339.
Today, we have a great many Temples that dot the earth, however, this is still being fulfilled because more are coming!
5. Knowledge, Science and Tech Will Increase Dramatically
Daniel 12:4 foretold, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." The Lord also told Joseph Smith, "I will hasten my work in its time," suggesting that the Lord would create the means and technology that would help to hasten the spread of the gospel throughout the world, as well as complicated and messy work such as Genealogy in order to complete Temple work.
Today we have an abundance of knowledge, science and technology that allows the Saints to quickly and efficiently do His work. If one were to look back at a graph of technology throughout the ages, it would show little to no advances before the 19th century. Germs weren't found until 1840, today we can "see" sub-atomic particles. We have gone from the telegraph in 1869 to the iphone 11 in 2019, the primitive lightbulb in 1879 to great solar and L.E.D.'s lighting that was invented in the 1960's but works even better today, the first automobile in 1890 to Tesla's self-driving, "two brained" car in 2019. We have jets, speed trains, the best medical equipment and medicine, super computers and more.
In the New Jerusalem, it is also prophesied to be even more technologically advanced!
6. Famines, Earthquakes, Tornadoes and Natural Disasters Will Abound
This sign of the times is being fulfilled in very obvious and observable ways. D&C 45:33, "And there shall be earthquakes also in divers places, and many desolations; yet men will harden their hearts against me, and they will take up the sword, one against another, and they will kill one another."
God starts with gentler approaches to bring his wayward children back to Him, but when those approaches are ignored (through missionary work, loving prophets, blessings, etc.) then He begins to use the tougher, more difficult to ignore appeals, as His children increase in wickedness.
This LiveScience article states, "According to the EM-DAT, the total natural disasters reported each year has been steadily increasing in recent decades, from 78 in 1970 to 348 in 2004." Disasters are increasing and they will continue to increase until the Second Coming is finished.
7. Diseases, Plagues, Will Sweep World in Spite of Medical Advances
D&C 109:30, "And that all their works may be brought to naught, and be swept away by the hail, and by the judgments which thou wilt send upon them in thine anger, that there may be an end to lyings and slanders against thy people."
D&C 84:97, "And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness."
D&C 45:31, "And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land."
These three D&C verses show that these sicknesses and plagues will cover the land at the Lord's decree. There is nothing that will be able to stop them until the Lord calls it back. Not even the most medically advanced countries will be able to find a "cure" or a "vaccine". Now, this is still being fulfilled because, not only are we seeing this today with covid-19, of which Elder Oaks called a "trial run" for the Second Coming (read Current Events), but it will increase in the future. If we want to avoid these plagues (you do, trust me,) then check out the Readiness Checklists and get prepared.
8. The Righteous Will Be Alerted by the Signs of the Times
In the Pearl of Great Price, the Savior refers to the faithful Saints as "mine elect. JS-M 1:39, "And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet[...] When its branches are yet tender, and it begins to put forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh at hand; so likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors."
"This is one of the many good reasons for studying and becoming familiar with the signs of the times. Not only do they provide testimony that the scriptures are true, but they also provide strength and stamina against deception, discouragement, and despair as the prophesied punishments of God descend upon the inhabitants of the earth in an effort to encourage more to repent and come unto Christ before it is too late." David J. Ridges "65 Signs of the Times," pg. 115.
On the flip side, the wicked will refuse to listen to truth and will instead listen to fables. We see this in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." We have been seeing this for a very long time. However, as we see more and more signs coming to pass, and get closer to the Tribulations, this will increase.
9. People Refuse to Believe the Signs of the Times
This is great irony. Apostle Peter says that people (I think this references members of the church because the wicked do not care about the signs of the times and therefore wouldn't bother looking,) will be so comfortable in their lifestyles and their way of thinking that they will pay no attention to the obvious fulfillment of prophecy.
2 Peter 3:3-4, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." There is no last days, life will do as it has always, done- go on, they will say. I have seen this many times and usually from "good members" of the church. It is always a very sad moment for me. Brigham Young prophesied that, "the hearts of the faithful will be filled with pain and anguish for them," referencing the many people that the Saints will "lose" in the last days, both non-member and the members who wouldn't come to gather. "Coming of the Lord", pg. 66
10. There Will be Signs and Wonders on Earth and in the Heavens
The purpose of this sign is to alert the faithful in the last days that Christ's coming is near so that they will be ready. We read about this one in D&C 45:36-40, "[...]Even so it shall be in that day when they shall see all these things (the signs of the times), then shall they know that the hour is nigh. And it shall come to pass that he that feareth (respect; the faithful) me shall be looking forth for the great day of the Lord to come, even for the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above (stars, celestial signs), and in the earth beneath (earthquakes, floods, etc.)"
Is this currently being fulfilled? Short answer, yes. The most recent (and memorable) sign in the heavens would be the rare solar eclipse in August 21, 2017, seven years after this date, on April 8th, 2024 will show a second solar eclipse. The next big sign in the heavens that we know of right now, will be on December 21-22, 2020, when Jupiter (King planet) and Saturn (the harvest/Sickle) with converge in what is thought to be part of the Star of Bethlehem.
