Relying on The Lord in the Last Days

More than a decade ago, I heard a Church leader declare that the time was fast approaching when the spiritual convictions we had cultivated up to that point in our lives would not be sufficient for what lies ahead. I believe that time has already arrived. If we are not actively strengthening our personal testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we may not survive the perils of the present day, and we most certainly will not survive what is coming. The temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be as essential to the salvation of mankind in the last days as was the ark in the days of Noah. How can we prepare our minds and hearts to endure the tribulations that are now upon us and will only worsen in days to come? Is there more to be done than storing food and supplies and weapons? While temporal preparations are absolutely essential, can we suppose they will preserve us if we are negligent in our individual spiritual preparations? Can we be saved without our dead? What has The Lord declared about trusting in the arm of the flesh? Do we really want to put our trust in the arm of flesh, and by so doing, gamble away our divine, eternal birthright?