A Warning to the people of Salt Lake Valley
I am no one special. I hold no office in any church and I did not ask for this, nor did I seek for anything like it. I am only writing this because I was instructed to publish this account and the words that were given to me to declare. I was given a task to declare a warning to the people who live in Salt Lake Valley on November 3, 2017. The transcript of what I was told to say is below.
First, I need to give a brief account as to how this came about. My wife and I were visiting my brother and sisters and their spouses who all live along the Wasatch Front. Mostly in Davis County, Utah. We got together in the evening at a restaurant in Brigham City. My wife and I live in Cedar City so rather than drive home that night we stayed at my sister’s home in Hooper and planned to travel home the next day.
The next morning the spirit came upon me almost as soon as I woke up. It was not so much words that were spoken, but a very strong impression was conveyed to me, with a picture that I saw in my mind. I saw myself behind the Capitol Building in Salt Lake City standing up in the foothills. I was instructed to pronounce a curse directed to the inhabitants of Salt Lake City. I have never received an impression like that before, certainly never with such power and force that came upon me then. I was experienced enough with the Holy Spirit having guided me from time to time, to know that the source of this impression was from the Lord. In my naivete I begged the Lord not to give a curse, but could I give a blessing instead? The answer I received was “Yes, you can give a blessing, but you must say the words I give you.”
I pondered on this all morning as I got ready for the day. I didn’t tell my wife what I had experienced until we were in the car and on our way home. I told her that we had to make a stop on the way and explained to her what I had been instructed to do. She accepted what I said more readily than I expected as I was a little nervous about how she would react.
We drove to Salt Lake City and made our way to the north side of the Capitol building. My wife asked me if I knew where we were going. I told her I didn’t know, but felt impressed to turn on a particular road. I didn’t know where my destination, but received impressions to turn when it was necessary. I had never been to this part of Salt Lake City. I made one last turn and found a small park way up on the hill side with a view of the whole valley. I knew this was the place I was being led to. I parked the car and we got out. The park turned out to be Ensign Peak Park. I had no idea that Ensign Peak was north of the Capitol building. I always assumed it was to the East near Immigration Canyon where the Pioneers first entered Salt lake Valley. We followed the trail up to the top of Ensign Peak, which was a 30-minute hike to the top.
As I read the plaques at the top of the peak describing its significance in the history of the settling of the valley, I began to realize the wise and wonderful purpose of the Lord in having me go to that exact spot. Within a few days after the saints arrived in Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young and many of the apostles and other prominent men in the company hiked up to the top of Ensign Peak. There they prayed and dedicated the valley to the gathering of the saints and the establishment of Zion. It was to be a gathering place for all nations to come to the valley. Here I was to give, as I understood it, a countermand to that original blessing.
My wife and I were alone on the top of the peak. I prayed that the Lord would give me the words to say, and that I would speak only what he instructed. My wife recorded my words on an iPhone so that I could later write them down. I stood looking over the Salt Lake Valley which you could see in its entirety from that vantage point. I raised my arms over my head and uttered as loudly as I could these words under the influence of the Holy Spirit:
“Inhabitants of Salt Lake City, Latter Day Saints and Christians, I deliver a message to you. The Lord has blessed and protected this valley for one hundred and seventy years. People have prospered in this valley and enjoyed protection and peace during this time. The Lord created this place and brought you here as a place of prophesy in the last days, a haven for His people to prepare for His second coming.
The time is quickly coming when the Lord will try the inhabitants of this valley to winnow out those who truly seek to do His will and perform His righteousness.
AWAKE! Awake to the realization that the Lord has reestablished a new covenant in these last decades in final preparation of His coming. Listen to the words of these last messengers who have been sent forth by the Lord to declare His words to you. If you accept this last covenant, when the tribulation comes, and difficult times are coming shortly to this valley, they will pass over you and your families. He will protect and watch over you.
Awake, all you sons and daughters of Zion and listen to these words. Moroni saw our day and declared that there are none save only a few who do not lift themselves up in pride, wear very fine clothes, envy church leaders, and covet and desire to accumulate money at the expense of the poor. He said that EVERY church has become polluted because you love your buildings more then you love the poor and the needy, sick and afflicted. Because you love your buildings more than the poor they will be destroyed. Because you love to accumulate riches, they will be cast into the rocks and hiding places and lost. Read the words of the final covenant offered to the gentiles this year in Idaho. Repent and turn to face the Savior and seek with all your heart to know Him. Join in accepting the terms of the covenant and embrace the gospel of Christ. If you do you will become sons and daughters of Christ, with every right, privilege, and performance that accompanies taking His name upon you. Amen”
Afterwards, I didn’t know what to make of this whole incident. I asked the Lord why I was asked to do this. I asked the purpose of making this declaration especially since there was no one there to take note of it except my wife and me. I didn’t receive an answer. I mentioned this incident to a friend of mine some months later and he offered that there was obviously a purpose known to the Lord; it may have been necessary for a mortal to perform that task in order for a work to commence by angels, or something of the sort.
Eight months later, in July 2018, I was praying about a different matter. At one point the spirit asked me if there was something I desired to ask. I asked, “What was the purpose of the warning I gave on Ensign Peak and what is to be end of the matter?” He answered, “It was a beginning, the start.” I understand that what was prophesied to come upon “His house” (D&C 112:24-26) was soon to begin. Then the spirit said to me very distinctly, “I want you to publish what I told you to speak.” I understood this to mean that I make this declaration as public as I can so that it will reach as many as possible. This is my witness that this is the Lord’s work. You can find the words of the new covenant that is again being offered by the Lord at this link: http://scriptures.info/scriptures/tc/section/158
Craig Richards