Book of Mormon (Plain English Version)/2 Nephi/Chapter 13
Isaiah's writings on latter-day turmoil...
(compare 2 Nephi, chapter 13)
"The Lord of Hosts will remove from Jerusalem, and from Judah, their supplies of food and water. The Lord will also remove the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the prudent, and the older leaders. He will remove the captain of fifty, the statesman, the counselor, the cunning craftsman and the eloquent speaker.
The Lord of Hosts will make children their princes, for young people will rule over them. People will oppress one another. The young will treat their elders with disrespect, and those without honor will mistreat the virtuous.
Men will demand that a brother be their ruler, saying, "You have a robe. Be our ruler and don't let this ruin come upon us.”
But the brother will respond, "My house is also barren. I can't heal you, so don't try and make me a ruler of the people.”
Jerusalem and Judah will fall because their words and actions will be against the Lord, provoking Him before His very eyes. The look on their faces will give them away, revealing their sins to be like those of Sodom. Their souls will be cursed, for they will have chosen evil for themselves!
But tell the righteous that it will be well with them, for they will yet eat the fruit of their labors. The wicked will be cursed and perish, for the reward of their own hands will be upon them!
The Lord said,
- "My people’s children oppress them and women rule over them. Oh my people, your leaders cause you to make mistakes and do away with your traditions.”
The Lord stands to plead before the Father and to judge the people. He will bring the elders and rulers of His people to trial, saying,
- "You have taken the goods of my earth for yourselves, depriving the poor.”
The Lord God of Hosts will ask them,
- "Why did you do this? Why did you waste their goods and insult their dignity?
- And because the women' of Zion are proud, walking with petite steps, chins in the air, eyes wandering and jewelry tinkling, I will smite them with baldness and expose them unadorned.”
In the very last days, the Lord will humble those who walk about smartly displaying their fine apparel--chains, bracelets, scarves, bonnets, leg ornaments, headbands, charms, earrings, rings and nose jewels. He will humble those who proudly wear their changeable suits of apparel, shawls, hair ornaments, fine linen, hoods and veils.
Then instead of smelling like perfume they will stink -- wearing rags instead of fine clothes -- being bald instead of having well set hair — being burned instead of being beautiful.
Your men will fall in battle, and Zion's daughters will mourn, sitting upon the ground, impoverished.
Under these circumstances, many women will take hold of one righteous man and say,
“We will support ourselves, just let us be called by your name to take away our shame (to have priesthood protection)."