I have been studying the book The Cleansing Of America by W. Cleon Skousen.   Using the following scriptures, the author makes a case for the real cleansing being by a "scourge".  


And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that shall sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; But they receive it not, for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of man. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be men standing in that generations that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land. (D&C 45: 28-31)

And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Fathers kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgement to be poured out upon the children of Zion. (D&C 84: 54-58)

Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion The pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn. For behold, and lo, vengeance cometh speedily upon the ungodly as the whirlwind; and who shall escape it? The Lords scourge shall pass over by night and by day, and the report thereof shall vex all people; yea, it shall not be stayed until the Lord come: (D&C 97: 21-23)

Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord. First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord. (D&C 112: 24-26)

For the time cometh that judgement must begin at the house of God; and if first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4: 17-18)


I have heard more that a few LDSs express the wish that it would happen soon.   At times I feel that way myself.   But it always occurs to me that we need more time for more people to hear, learn, and accept the gospel.