The destructions of the last days will be so severe that they will strike fear into the hearts of the wicked. From the Book of Revelation, ’the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men…said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’ (Rev 6:16). ’I have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man; And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire’ (DC 63:33-4).
In spite of the phrase suggesting that the saints shall narrowly escape these destructions, the Lord has been more reassuring in other scriptures. He has said that the righteous need not fear, ‘if ye are prepared ye shall not fear’ (DC 38:30) and ’great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve’ (Moses 7:61). The saints are given a fire insurance policy if they are living the law of sacrifice, ’verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming’ (see DC 64:23, but note that at the time DC 64 was given, the term “tithing” referred to all church offerings not just the tenth of one’s income). By way of conclusion, if one is prepared—having repented, come unto the Lord, and kept the law of sacrifice, there is no reason to fear. Those righteous individuals will escape the burning planned for the wicked. Hence the advice, ’stand ye in holy places and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord, Amen’ (DC 87:8).