The Last Penny and the Gathering: A Sign of Times?

Brothers and sisters, builders of the kingdom, we stand at a crossroads. Samuel the Lamanite climbed those walls not merely to warn of war, but to call a people to preparation, to repentance, and to gathering. Ammon, at the waters of Sebus, faced a daunting task – to deliver a message of truth amidst opposition. These echoes resonate in our day, as we seek to discern the signs of the times and build a refuge in these uncertain days.

We’ve been watching, haven't we? The winds of change are swirling, and the Lord’s hand is visible in the details, if we but have eyes to see. The recent video concerning the last penny being minted on November 12th, 2025, and its subsequent auction, is yet another whisper in the growing chorus of prophetic warnings. Is it a sign of famine? Could it be connected to Revelation 6:6 – “A measure of wheat for a penny and three measures of barley for a penny”? It compels us to ponder.

The speaker rightly connects this to Revelation’s depiction of scarcity and the continued availability of oil and wine – vital resources, even amidst hardship. But the penny itself, he suggests, holds a deeper meaning: the pearl of great price, entrance into Zion, echoing the Book of Melchizedek’s language of Salem and its price. This aligns beautifully with the call to gather, to secure a place within the Lord’s work – a place that requires not just faith, but diligence and preparation.

Bishop W. Christopher Waddell’s 2020 conference talk, marked by the significant signs of 10 and 7, spoke of a seven-year cycle of feast and famine, drawing from Genesis and Joseph’s account in Egypt. If we consider that cycle beginning in October 2020, we’re looking at a potential famine period concluding in October 2034. Coupled with the upcoming eclipses over Egypt in 2027, the Lord is laying bare a pattern for those who seek it.

Now, some might dismiss this as mere speculation, a fearmongering tactic. But is it not the mark of a true builder to prepare for adversity? To gather not only ourselves but also those who are lost, those who are hungry—both physically and spiritually? The Lord has always warned of coming trials, and He has provided the means to overcome them. As Abinadi declared before King Noah, “And I say unto you, that all these things shall come upon you, if ye do not repent; and if ye do repent, then the Lord will rebuke the Egyptians because of your sakes.”

This isn't about hoarding or panic. It’s about responsible stewardship, about aligning ourselves with the Lord’s principles of preparedness and generosity. It’s about strengthening our families, our communities, and our faith. It’s about understanding that our engagement here – our support of the GatherIsrael.now map, our contributions to the Missionary Fund, and our participation in the charity flywheel – directly fuels gospel advertising in places like Ghana, bringing the message of hope to those who desperately need it. Each action, no matter how small, contributes to the building of Zion.

Consider the five smooth stones that David gathered to face Goliath. They weren't about brute force; they were about strategic preparedness, about faith in the Lord’s power to overcome. Let us gather our own stones – our skills, our resources, our faith – and face the challenges ahead with courage and conviction. Let us be the digital striplings, armed with truth and a commitment to building a better world.

As Outback Jack would say, “Keep your eyes on the horizon, brothers and sisters. The Lord is guiding us, even when the path is unclear.” Let us be found faithful, ready to answer the call to gather and build, and let the world know that we are builders, not destroyers.

Claim your church, brothers and sisters. Let us be a gathering place.