On a certain occasion, the Lord made known to him many things that should transpire a short period before his latter-day coming. He said, "Great tribulation shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve; and righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; and righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine own elect from the four quarters of the earth." P. of G. P., page 21.
The Book of Mormon, in every particular, fulfils this very ancient prediction of Enoch's. It is a record of truth; it was brought forth from the earth; it bears testimony of the Only Begotten Son of God; of his birth, death, resurrection, teachings, and ministrations among the Nephites. Righteousness has been sent down out of heaven by the restoration of the Priesthood, with all its authority, ordinances, and blessings, through which, alone, righteousness can be made manifest.
The latter-day gathering of Israel has been inaugurated, and righteousness, and truth are sweeping the earth as with a flood, and gathering the elect from the four quarters of the earth.
This wonderful prophecy of Enoch's was reiterated by prophets who lived many centuries after him. The Psalmist David, who lived until 1015 B. C., mentions this event in connection with the latter days: "Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven;" Psalms 85. 11.
The prophet Isaiah, also, saw in prophetic vision these great events of the latter days, when he said: "Let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open and let them"—that is, the earth and the skies together—"bring forth salvation;" 45. 8.
According to the twenty-ninth chapter of Isaiah. there was to be a people who like Ariel, or Jerusalem, were to be brought down and they should speak out of the ground, their speech was to be low out of the dust.
The predictions in verses 1-6 of this chapter have been fulfilled in every particular, in the history of the Nephites and in the coming forth of their record, the Book of Mormon.
For an account of the fulfilment of many of the predictions in this chapter, see P. of G. P., pages 49-54.
Ezekiel's prophecy, in chapter 37, verses 16-20, concerning the sticks of Judah and Joseph, is literally fulfilled in this generation. The most of the Latter-day Saints are of the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. There can be but one conclusion with regard to the Bible, and that is, that it is the stick of Judah referred to by Ezekiel.
The stick or record of Joseph, is fitly represented by the Book of Mormon, which is a record of the Nephites, who are descendants of Joseph who was sold into Egypt. They are both, to-day, in the hands of Ephraim.