From ‘Sermons not Spoken,’ Published in 1985 by Bookcraft, Neal A. Maxwell wrote:
. . . the basic unsettlement of “all things” may reflect the seismology of a sensual, secular society. The sense of being unanchored will be pervasive and will pertain to “all things,” including the shifting relationships among nations, the overturning of traditional moral values, and the widespread political instability. All such events will finally center in the feelings inside individuals. The wars and multi-caused commotions will produce “distress of nations, with perplexity.”
“Perplexity” refers to a confused mental state concerning the condition of things, a sense of bewilderment. “Commotion” can be defined as a circumstance, individual or collective, of unrest, uncertainty, and upheaval.
Thus, while much of this confused condition will understandably and justifiably be attributable to wars and rumors of wars, to fear and anxiety over conflicts of the planet, it would be superficial to look only at those obvious causes without exploring and noting the underlying conditions which brought about those symptoms. The unsettled, unspiritual state of much of mankind, the confusion over moral values, the uncertainty over the purpose of life and the reality of Deity—these will contribute mightily.
Though the ultimate and collective expressions of the world’s malaise (feelings of uneasiness – Oxford) spring partly from political and military symptoms, the sense of commotion may therefore be rooted in spiritual causes rather than exclusively and solely in geophysical and political ones. This demonstrates how easy it is for galloping fear to turn into fatalism, bewilderment, or abandonment.
These circumstances will include that foreseen by Peter, in which, among other things, “truth shall be evil spoken of” (2 Peter 2:2).
No wonder the Lord, through Isaiah, spoke in special reproof of those who create upheaval in traditional and correct values.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20; see also 2 Nephi 15:20.)
Once the light of Christ which has been given to every man (Doctrine & Covenants 84:46) is dimmed, if not extinguished, then the capacity people have to know good from evil is largely gone, and this creates ultimate confusion and ultimate darkness. (see Moroni 7:15-17).
Significantly, verse 17 (above link) notes that neither the devil nor his angels persuade people to do that which is good, and “neither do they who subject themselves to him.” Those who subject themselves to the adversary and do his work, about whom Isaiah spoke, have their modern counterparts who will condemn for evil that which is not evil (see Doctrine & Covenants 64:16). Likewise with those who lift up their heel against the Lord’s anointed to cry that the Lord’s anointed have sinned, when they have not sinned (see Doctrine and Covenants 121:16).
The malaise stems in large measure from a wide spread disbelieving in God or relegating Him to a minor role in the universe, causing an upheaval in realm of traditional and true values.
All of this and much more creates the unrest and uncertainty and upheaval. The resultant commotion causes men’s hearts to fail them. Hence the fear and anxiety and bewilderment within man—to say nothing of the external disorders in the natural world which will precede the second coming of the Son of Man.
Indeed, if wars are made in the hearts and minds of men, how much more disorder, how much more war and conflict are made in the hearts and minds of despiritualized men and women in an environment in which “all things shall be in commotion”!
Given the commotions noted above, it will be likely that, for instance, in international relations things will not hold still.
In a time of “perplexity of nations,” it will be difficult for nations (whether regarding their political or economic systems) to resolve anything and have it stay resolved. Even if accords are reached that aim at achieving long-term security—political, economic or military—such will likely prove elusive of sustained implementation . . . “til there [is] no remedy (2 Chronicles 36:16).
Thus, when systems cannot be relied upon to deliver, such is merely the collective and outward manifestation of individuals who can no longer be counted upon, because they themselves are confused. (To be continued). ~Neal A. Maxwell, Sermons Not Spoken (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1985) 29-31
Continued. . . Distress of Nations With Perplexity II
