Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People » Oops, I missed the End of the World…

By Devyn S.

May. 24th, 2011 at 3:52 pm

On May 19th, I had the opportunity to have a discussion with one of the May 21st “End of the World” folks while I was waiting for a delayed train in Penn Station in New York City. He was adamant about the end of the world and the massive earthquake that would occur with the lifting up of the righteous. He was deadly serious and very concerned about it. I asked him what he wanted the rest of us to do? He said that we should repent, accept Jesus and be lifted up. I asked if it was that easy? He replied that “yes it was”. I wanted to continue to ask questions, but had to run to my train. I was not expecting the world to end on Saturday, but do I really ever expect the world to “end” in my lifetime? Honestly, it is not something I think about too often. What about you?

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1. CS Eric

Tue, May 24, 2011 @ 5:57pm

I know people read all kinds of Great and Important things into their patriarchal blessings as they try to interpret and understand them, but the way I read mine, I don’t think I’ll be around when it happens. So, no, I don’t think about it very much.

2. diane

Tue, May 24, 2011 @ 6:55pm

I knew the end of the world was not coming, but still, during the appointed time I couldn’t help but notice that the sky went black outside my window, and there was a small opening of pure white clouds. A little ironic, don’t ya think/..

3. Devyn S.

Tue, May 24, 2011 @ 8:10pm

1. CS Eric – My grandmother was convinced her Patriarchal Blessing mentioned she would be around for the Second Coming. Unfortunately, she did in 1999…

2. diane – wow, we just had rain… I was waiting for the earthquake.

4. annegb

Tue, May 24, 2011 @ 11:22pm

I’ve been thinking about it the last few weeks with this weather. I picture a movie of the week with all this and it would definitely be a disaster movie. I mean, an end of the world type of disaster movie. Has it ever been like this? It’s been cold here in southern Utah since the winter of 2009. No lie. Could this be global warming?

5. a random John

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 11:21am

Given how unfortunately named our Church is (Latter-Day can be understood to mean Last Days) I’m glad that we have softened our emphasis on end times over our short history. Yes the Second Coming is still emphasized but we don’t worry about when it will be.

I am working up a longer post on this subject, but I for one don’t worry at all about the subject and wouldn’t act differently if I thought it was all going to end tomorrow. That said, I have no expectation that it will end in the traditional sense at all. Frankly I think that the idea of a tech singularity pretty interesting and the Mormon transhumanists are onto something.

6. Bookslinger

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 12:04pm

As a friend says: “Jesus is coming when you die.”

Look at all the natural disasters we’ve had in the last few years.

Didn’t Elder Oaks, at a General conference within the last 4 years or so, say that the _frequency_ of severe natural disasters has picked up?

7. bbell

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 12:16pm

As I explained out of Matthew 24 to a group of boys on Sunday there is no reason at all to believe any preacher that claims to know when Jesus is coming back.

8. MCQ

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 12:30pm

I had no idea that there were Mormon transhumanists, arJ. Do they face any discrimination in their wards? Which restrooms do they use when they attend church?

9. a random John

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 1:24pm

Transhumanists have progressed beyond the need to pee and poop. Does your iPhone need to poop?

10. Bookslinger

Wed, May 25, 2011 @ 1:29pm

“being around when it happens”.

That could mean being alive as a mortal. But it could also mean being qualified to be resurrected the morning of the 2nd Coming, and participating in it as a resurrected being. Both live mortals and resurrected beings (ie, fresh out of the grave) will be “caught up in the air” that morning.

11. Devyn S.

Thu, May 26, 2011 @ 1:33pm

4. annegb – too funny. Do you think God actually impacts our weather?

5. a random John – look forward to your post

6. Bookslinger – I have heard a lot of anecdotes about the increased disasters, but I have not seen any quantitative data that says they are, so I am skeptical. Our news coverage is better but that may be it.

7. bbell – true, but it is not as interesting.

8. MCQ – never heard of them either.

10. Bookslinger – fair enough – I am happy to be there either way..

12. Carl Youngblood

Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 10:09pm

Hey guys, member of the Mormon Transhumanist Association board of directors (and former mission companion of John’s) here. Most of us are still active and welcome in our respective wards. We don’t think of the MTA as somehow competing with or supplanting our church activities. It is just a non-profit dedicated to promoting human exaltation through the charitable use of science and technology, as well as increasing awareness of technological trends and ethics issues. We support and encourage our members in their respective religious faiths and merely ask that those who join the group support our affirmation, which is broad enough to include any religion, although most of us are associated with Mormonism in some way.

13. Carl Youngblood

Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 10:15pm

Oh, and by the way, I still take a dump like everyone else. ;-)

14. a random John

Sat, May 28, 2011 @ 10:18pm

SEE! I told you there are Mormon Transhumanists! Hi Carl, how are things? And seriously, do you anticipate taking a dump (other than a core dump) once you upload your mind sometime after the singularity?

15. annegb

Sun, May 29, 2011 @ 2:34pm

Well, yes, ARJ, I think God affects the weather. Who doesn’t? That’s a no-brainer.

What in the world is a transhuman? For some reason, I’m thinking drnk your blood fangs and seeing that guy from Vampire Diaries. No offense Carl. They are very good-looking.

16. Synthetic Rattan

Mon, May 30, 2011 @ 6:01am

He answered your question so easy… And most of us accept Jesus. So…, the next question is will the end of the day happen? But…, we missed it… Ha ha ha..