Man Made Polarization

GROK feedback 9/4/2025

 

1. Scriptural Foundation for Polarization in the Last Days

The Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants (D&C), and other LDS scriptures repeatedly describe a time of intense division among people as part of the "last days" or the buildup to the Second Coming. This polarization is often portrayed as a sifting process where individuals and groups are forced to choose sides—righteousness vs. wickedness, faith vs. unbelief—leading to eternal consequences. Key themes include:

  • Division Caused by the Lord's Work: Scriptures emphasize that the Lord's "great and marvelous work" (1 Nephi 14:7) or the revealing of His "arm" (Isaiah 51:9; D&C 1:14) will inherently cause polarization. For example:
    • 1 Nephi 14:7: This describes a "great and a marvelous work" that is "everlasting," polarizing people toward "peace and life eternal" or "hardness of their hearts... unto... destruction, both temporally and spiritually." This aligns with your webpage's idea of an "everlasting and final" polarization tied to the Lord's intervention.
    • 2 Nephi 30:10: "The Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people." Here, the division is directly attributed to the Lord, but it follows a period of human wickedness and societal breakdown.
    • Luke 12:51: Christ Himself says He came not to bring peace but "division" (or polarization) on earth, implying that His gospel and the events surrounding His return will force choices that split families, nations, and societies.
    • 3 Nephi 16:10, 20: These verses describe Gentiles (non-covenant people) lifting themselves up in pride, leading to division and destruction, while the Lord's covenant people are preserved. This echoes your snapshot of current U.S. divisions (e.g., "Marxist doctrine" vs. "liberty-minded people").
  • The "Arm of the Lord" as a Polarizing Force: Your webpage ties polarization to the "Arm of the Lord Raised" phase (Isaiah 51:9; John 12:38; D&C 1:14). Scriptures portray this as a divine revelation or intervention that exposes truth, forcing a final choice:
    • It causes "everlasting" polarization (1 Nephi 14:7), where doubt is removed, and people can no longer "sit astride the fence" (as you quote from Glenn L. Pace's 1992 talk).
    • This aligns with themes in Joel 3:14 ("Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision") and Matthew 25:31-46 (the separation of sheep and goats at judgment).

These scriptures support the core idea of polarization as a divine process, but they also imply it builds on existing human conditions.

2. Evidence for a "Preparatory Period of Man-Made Polarizations"

While scriptures don't use the exact term "preparatory period of man-made polarizations," there is a basis for interpreting current or near-future human-driven divisions (e.g., political, ideological, or social conflicts) as a lead-up to the Lord's more direct involvement. This is a common theme in prophetic warnings about the last days, where human wickedness escalates before divine intervention:

  • Human Wickedness and Division as a Precursor:
    • 2 Timothy 3:1-5: Describes the "perilous times" of the last days, where people become "lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters... disobedient... fierce, despisers of those that are good... traitors." This sounds like man-made polarization (e.g., ideological divides, as in your 2022 snapshot), setting the stage for the Lord's judgment.
    • D&C 1:35-36: "The hour is nigh... when peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion." This implies a period of escalating human conflict and division before the Lord reveals His arm (D&C 1:14).
    • D&C 87:1-6: A prophecy of wars starting with the U.S. Civil War but extending to "wars upon the face of the earth" where "slaves shall rise up against their masters" and nations are divided. This could represent man-made polarizations (e.g., civil unrest, ideological wars) as preparatory to the full "desolation" and the Lord's intervention.
    • Matthew 24:6-8 (and JST-Matthew 1:23-24): Wars, rumors of wars, famines, and pestilences as "the beginning of sorrows" (or birth pains), leading to greater tribulations. These are often human-driven but escalate toward divine events like the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15).
  • Transition from Man-Made to Divine Polarization:
    • Your idea that man-made divisions (e.g., political ideologies, nuclear threats) "lead directly to the Lord's polarization" has support in scriptures showing a progression:
      • 1 Nephi 22:13-17: The wicked (including the "great and abominable church") fight among themselves (man-made division), leading to their destruction by the Lord's power (divine polarization and preservation of the righteous).
      • Mormon 8:26-31: Moroni describes a time of "secret combinations," "wars and rumors of wars," and societal decay (man-made) as signs that the Lord's work is "about to come forth" (divine escalation).
      • Ether 8:23-24: Warnings about secret combinations causing divisions and destruction among Gentiles, leading to the Lord's "awakening" and judgment.
    • LDS leaders have echoed this. For instance, President Ezra Taft Benson (in teachings like "Beware of Pride," 1989) warned of escalating pride and division in society as precursors to the Lord's refining fire. Similarly, your reference to 3 Nephi 16:10 (Gentiles fulfilling prideful divisions) fits as a man-made setup for the Lord's arm being revealed.
  • Your 2022 Snapshot as an Example: Scriptures like Joel 2:30-31 and Acts 2:19-20 describe signs (blood, fire, pillars of smoke) before the "great and terrible day of the Lord." Current events (e.g., ideological divides, threats of nuclear war) could be seen as "man-made" precursors, aligning with the "wars and rumors of wars" phase (Matthew 24:6) before the Lord's full polarization (Matthew 24:29-31).

3. Is This "Seeing Things That Are Not Really There"?

  • Strengths in the Mosaic: Your interpretation fits well within the broader "mosaic" of last-days prophecies. Scriptures consistently show a pattern: human sin and division intensify (preparatory phase), then the Lord intervenes with His arm, causing a final, everlasting sifting (e.g., Malachi 3:2-3; D&C 45:57-59). This is not imaginary—it's a reasonable application, supported by LDS scholars like Bruce R. McConkie (in Mormon Doctrine, pp. 732-734), who describes signs of the times as escalating human wickedness leading to divine events.
  • Potential Over-Interpretation: The scriptures don't explicitly label a "preparatory period of man-made polarizations" as distinct from the Lord's work. Some divisions are directly caused by the Lord (e.g., 2 Nephi 30:10), while others stem from human agency but are permitted as part of the plan (Agency is key; see 2 Nephi 2:11-16). Your view risks over-applying current events (e.g., Marxism vs. liberty) to prophecy, which could be subjective. Prophets like Joseph Smith cautioned against forcing timelines (D&C 130:12-13), and events like the "arm of the Lord" are often symbolic of gradual revelation rather than a sudden switch.
  • Balanced View: This concept is scripturally grounded but interpretive. It's similar to how some see the "beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8) as a preparatory phase. If it helps in your personal study or webpage, it's valid as long as it's presented as insight rather than dogma.