I have not wanted to post about this chapter and have put it off today because it is a description of the destruction of the wicked. My heart aches for the wicked, for those that desire to do harm rather than good. I feel like Ammon and his brethren when they were so concerned about the souls of the Lamanites because they did not want them to be lost. According to Parry (1998) verses 2-5 "comprises the Lord's command to us to gather Israel by hoisting a banner or ensign on a mountain; calling with a voice; and beckoning with the hand. When these three signals are given, the earth cannot doubt the veracity of the invitation to join the Saints in Zion.
Those who gather will come from all parts of the earth (13:5), will be sanctified in the temple (13:3), and will become part of the Lord's army to serve in the holy war against evil (13:4-5), all of which will occur in preparation for the Lord's coming when he will destroy modern Babylon as he destroyed ancient Babylon. As the Lord invites his people to gather to Zion, and the temple, Satan simultaneously entices people to become part of Babylon (14:4-20)" (p. 129). We know that we will not be left alone, to fight this battle against evil. Ultimately God will be the one to wage the war of destruction and end the conflict. Such phraseology as destroy the whole land, howl ye, hands be faint, every man's heart shall melt, afraid, pangs and sorrows, faces as flames, punish the world for evil, shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, consummate the sorrow of this time.
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