Monday, September 25, 2023

Allen H. Richardson and David E. Richardson on D&C 87:5

  

And it shall come to pass also that the remnants who are left of the land will marshal themselves, and shall become exceedingly angry, and shall vex the Gentiles with a sore vexation. (D&C 87:5)

 

Commenting on this verse, Allen H. Richardson and David E. Richardson wrote that:

 

It is a matter of history that some of the greatest Indian Wars took place after this revelation was given. In 1830, very few settlers had ventured onto the plains, and fewer still had crossed them. The West did not really begin to open up until land in the Oregon Territory was made available. The Gold Rush of 1849 was also a major factor in the settling of the West. The time of the westward migrations was the time of some of the greatest Indian Wars. It was the time of Geronimo, Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and many others. These Indian Wars persisted into the early 1900’s.

 

More recently, the issue of illegal immigrants has certainly “vexed” many gentile citizens of the U.S. (Allen H. Richardson and David E. Richardson, 1000 Evidences For The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2 vols. [2d ed.; South Jordan, Utah: Artisan Enterprises, 2011], 1:35)

 

As for the meaning of “vex,” here is how the Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines the term:

 

VEXverb transitive [Latin vexo.]

1. To irritate; to make angry by little provocations; a popular use of the word.

2. To plague; to torment; to harass; to afflict.

Ten thousand torments vex my heart.

3. To disturb; to disquiet; to agitate.

White curl the waves, and the vex'd ocean roars.

4. To trouble; to distress.

I will also vex the hearts of many people. Ezekiel 32:9.

5. To persecute. Acts 12:1.

6. To stretch, as by hooks. [Not in use.]

VEXverb intransitive To fret; to be teased or irritated.

 

 Further Reading:


Resources on Joseph Smith's Prophecies