I realize this is a Book of Mormon blog, so why am I asking the question in the title of this post? I promise I'll connect this to the Book of Mormon before long.
I came across the word calamity in Doctrine & Covenants 1:17 a few weeks ago and this question has been rolling around in my head ever since.
17 Wherefore, I the Lord, knowing the calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth, called upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and spake unto him from heaven, and gave him commandments; (D&C 1)
It seems rather important to understand what the calamity is! This section is very intricately worded, so my next step to unpacking the meaning of the word "calamity" was to pare down the text of the entire section into key points. It seems to me that verse 17 marks a turning point in the text.
The section begins with a strong voice of warning. It paints a picture of the fate of the world at the day of judgement if they are not protected by the everlasting covenant:
2 ...there is none to escape; and there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, neither heart that shall not be penetrated.
3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.
We are then asked to "hearken" to "the voice of the Lord ... by the mouths of my disciples" who "go forth, bearing these tidings unto the inhabitants of the earth, to them is power given to seal both on earth and in heaven, the unbelieving and rebellious..."
The Lord is restoring measure and order to His creation by re-establishing the everlasting covenant. The purpose of His creation has been forgotten, and He is bringing about a work to restore that purpose.
The presence of the voice of warning serves to justify "the wrath of God ... "poured out upon the wicked without measure..."
It all sounds quite severe, yet how can God look upon sin with the least degree of tolerance, knowing it blocks us from experiencing pure joy?
Just before verse 17, we are given a significant clue about the nature of the calamity spoken of in that verse:
15 For they have strayed from mine ordinances, and have broken mine everlasting covenant;
16 They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall.
The calamity is the loss of the everlasting covenant! What could possibly be worse than being unprepared for the day of judgment?
After verse 17, we are given some clear indicators of exactly what the Lord is doing to restore the proper order of things for His children.
- The Lord:
- called a prophet (v. 17)
- spake unto him from heaven (v. 17)
- gave him commandments (v. 17)
- gave commandments to others, that they should proclaim these things unto the world (v. 18)
- So that:
- that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world; (v. 20)
- That faith also might increase in the earth; (v. 21)
- That mine everlasting covenant might be established; (v. 22)
- That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers. (v. 23)
What comes next is beautiful. We get language similar to the beginning of the section, only this time with the benefit of the covenant:
31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;
32 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;
33 And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts.
34 And again, verily I say unto you, O inhabitants of the earth: I the Lord am willing to make these things known unto all flesh;
35 For I am no respecter of persons, and will that all men shall know that the day speedily cometh; the hour is not yet, but is nigh at hand, when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.
36 And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world.
How does this connect to the Book of Mormon?
I told you we'd get back to the Book of Mormon before long. Here is one obvious connection:
Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever (Book of Mormon Title Page)
Here is another: The Nephites experienced this "calamity" on a societal level. Their story is given to us as a voice of warning, to help us avoid the same fate. Moroni summarizes the importance of fully embracing the covenant in order to avoid the "calamity" that the Nephites suffered:
28 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.
29 See that ye are not baptized unworthily; see that ye partake not of the sacrament of Christ unworthily; but see that ye do all things in worthiness, and do it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God; and if ye do this, and endure to the end, ye will in nowise be cast out.
30 Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words.
31 Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been. (Mormon 9)