Chapter 44: The Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Material for this lesson can be found in two chapters of the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church:...(the old Priesthood/Relief Society manuals), in Joseph Smith Chapter 21, in Brigham Young Chapter 45, in John Taylor Chapter 24, in Wilford Woodruff Chapter 24, in Joseph F. Smith Chapters 0 and 44, in David O. McKay Chapter 7 and in Harold B. Lee Chapter 23.

The above can be found by going to the new “lds.org” then click on “Go to Classic LDS.org” (lower left corner), then click on “Gospel Library” then “Lessons” then “Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society.” The manuals are all found at the bottom of this page.

As with the last lesson Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual Chapters 35 and 36 are wonderful resources for this lesson. It is available online at “institute.lds.org” then click on “Course Catalog” on the top bar. There are many references that could be given for the lesson title, but we will confine this blog to the subjects found in the sections of this lesson.

1 - - Looking forward to the Savior’s Second Coming

In the blog for this lesson, section 4, “He will complete the First Resurrection” there is a quote from Harold B. Lee stating that the resurrection (in conjunction with the Atonement) was the “greatest event in the history of the world.” If this is true, the Second Coming could very well be the second greatest “event in the history of the world.”

Concerning this event, President Wilford Woodruff plead and promised:

Trust in God. Do your duty. Remember your prayers. Get faith in the Lord, and take hold and build up Zion. All will be right. The Lord is going to visit his people, and he is going to cut his work short in righteousness, lest no flesh should be saved [see D&C 84:97; Matthew 24:22]. I say to you, watch the signs of the times, and prepare yourselves for that which is to come (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 258).

The first principle of the Gospel, according to the fourth Article of Faith is: “First, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ…” Remembering this is important as we “look forward” to the Second Coming. Here is repeated a promise from President Monson as he talked about the signs of the Second Coming from Chapter 43 in this blog:

The future is as bright as your faith (Ensign, May 2009, 89).

2 - - What Will Jesus Do When He Comes Again?

Some of what Jesus will do that is discussed in this whole lesson was declared by Joseph Smith:

…the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, and woe will be unto them if they do not repent and be baptized in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the remission of their sins, and come in at the strait gate and be numbered with the house of Israel. For God will not always be mocked, and not pour out his wrath upon those that blaspheme his holy name, for the sword, famines, and destruction will soon overtake them in their wild career, for God will avenge, and pour out his vials of wrath, and save his elect [see Revelation 16:1] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 256).

2(A) - - He will cleanse the earth

To better understand why Jesus will need to “cleanse the earth” at His Second Coming it is helpful to briefly outline the battle which Christ had with Lucifer in premortality (see Chapter 3 of this blog) which continues throughout six thousand years of the earth’s history and will come to a head at the Second Coming. Following are some scriptures which help understand this battle:

First a formula by which the great and abominable church, founded by Satan, can be identified:

And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity.

And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it (1 Nephi 13:5 - 6).

Nephi also helps us understand that the dividing line of Christ and Satan:

And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil.

And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth (1 Nephi 14:9 - 10).

Helaman also makes it clear where all wickedness has its origin:

Now behold, those secret oaths and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit—

…and he has brought it forth from the beginning of man even down to this time.

And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin (Helaman 6:26, 29, 30).

From Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual Elder McConkie helps with some definition of this church:

In prophetic imagery, Babylon is the world with all its carnality and wickedness. Babylon is the degenerate social order created by lustful men who love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. Babylon is the almighty governmental power that takes the saints of God into captivity; it is the false churches that build false temples and worship false gods; it is every false philosophy . . . that leads men away from God and salvation. Babylon is false and degenerate religion in all its forms and branches. Babylon is the communistic system that seeks to destroy the freedom of people in all nations and kingdoms; it is the Mafia and crime syndicates that murder and rob and steal; it is the secret combinations that seek for power and unrighteous dominion over the souls of men. Babylon is the promoter of pornography; it is organized crime and prostitution; it is every evil and wicked and ungodly thing in our whole social structure (pp. 97-8).

These aspects of the “church of the devil” are what Jesus will destroy when He “cleanses the earth.”

Indeed, Jesus will entirely destroy this church at the Second Coming:

For I will reveal myself from heaven with power and great glory, with all the hosts thereof, and dwell in righteousness with men on earth a thousand years, and the wicked shall not stand.

And the great and abominable church, which is the whore of all the earth, shall be cast down by devouring fire (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 29:11, 21)

Joseph Smith helped us understand more about this “devouring fire.” Concerning the parable of wheat and tares (Matthew 13:24-32) Joseph taught:

Now we learn by this parable, not only the setting up of the Kingdom in the days of the Savior, which is represented by the good seed, which produced fruit, but also the corruptions of the Church, which are represented by the tares, which were sown by the enemy…

Now men cannot have any possible grounds to say that this is figurative, or that it does not mean what it says, for He is now explaining what He has previously spoken in parables; and according to this language, the end of the world is the destruction of the wicked; the harvest and the end of the world have an allusion directly to the human family in the last days, instead of the earth, as many have imagined, and that which shall precede the coming of the Son of Man, and the restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began; and the angels are to have something to do in this great work, for they are the reapers.

“The Son of Man shall send forth His angels, and gather out of His Kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity, and shall cast them into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth” [Matthew 13:41–42.]

We understand that the work of gathering together of the wheat into barns, or garners, is to take place while the tares are being bound over and preparing for the day of burning; that after the day of burnings, ‘the righteous shall shine forth like the sun, in the Kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear’ [Matthew 13:43]” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 299-301).

Joseph Smith also declared:

The earth will soon be reaped—that is, the wicked must soon be destroyed from off the face of the earth, for the Lord hath spoken it, and who can stay the hand of the Lord, or who is there that can measure arms with the Almighty, for at his commands the heavens and the earth must pass away. The day is fast hastening on when the restoration of all things shall be fulfilled, which all the holy prophets have prophesied of, even unto the gathering in of the house of Israel. Then shall come to pass that the lion shall lie down with the lamb, etc.

But, brethren, be not discouraged when we tell you of perilous times, for they must shortly come, for the sword, famine, and pestilence are approaching. There shall be great destructions upon the face of this land, for ye need not suppose that one jot or tittle of the prophecies of all the holy prophets shall fail, and there are many that remain to be fulfilled yet. The Lord hath said that a short work will he make of it, and the righteous shall be saved if it be as by fire [see Romans 9:28; 1 Nephi 22:17] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 251-2).

Brigham Young also added:

In the progress of the age in which we live, we discern the fulfilment of prophecy, and the preparation for the second coming of our Lord and Savior to dwell upon the earth. We expect that the refuge of lies will be swept away, and that city, nation, government, or kingdom which serves not God, and gives no heed to the principles of truth and religion, will be utterly wasted away and destroyed (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 333).

2(B) - - He will judge His people

One of my favorite scriptures on this judgment is found in the Book of John:

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: (John 5:22).

This scripture is also an important evidence of falsity of the doctrine of the Trinity (see Chapter 3 in this blog for further discussion of this deception). This scripture simply makes no sense if there is no separation between the Father and the Son, as taught in the doctrine of the Trinity.

After quoting the scripture referred to in this section, Matthew 25:31-46, President Hinckley stated:

There will be a judgment not only of the nations but also of the people (BYU Speeches, 25 March 1979, p. 4).

From the Encyclopedia of Mormonism we learn that resurrection is also a judgment:

The Plan of Salvation teaches of a partial judgment at the time of death, when the spirit leaves the mortal body and enters the world of spirits (Alma 40:11-14), of another partial judgment at the time of resurrection, when the spirit and the physical body are permanently resurrected and reunited… (p. 774).

The reason that the resurrection is a partial judgment is due to the types of bodies with each of us is resurrected. Again, from Encyclopedia of Mormonism we learn:

The resurrected body will be suited to the conditions and glory to which the person is assigned in the day of judgment... (p. 1223).

Joseph Fielding Smith stated it this way:

In the resurrection there will be different kinds of bodies; they will not all be alike. The body a man receives will determine his place hereafter. There will be celestial bodies, terrestrial bodies, and telestial bodies, and these bodies will differ as distinctly as do bodies here... (Doctrines of Salvation 2:286).

So in addition to the “partial judgment” at death where all will go to either paradise or spirit prison, depending on when one is resurrected, resurrection is also a “partial judgment” because one will either receive a celestial body, a terrestrial body, a telestial body, or a body destined for outer darkness.

2(C) - - He will usher in the Millennium

In this section we read, “The righteous will be caught up to meet Jesus at His coming (see D&C 88:96)” (p. 259). In the next section it also refers to those of the first resurrection in that “They will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes down from heaven” (p. 259). Among some important scriptures which corroborate this idea include the teaching of Jesus Christ when He came to the Americas after resurrection:

Therefore, if ye do these things blessed are ye, for ye shall be lifted up at the last day (3 Nephi 27:22).

In the Doctrine and Covenants Jesus also declared two times:

Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and I will lift them up at the last day (D&C 52:44).

…therefore, gird up your loins and be faithful, and ye shall overcome all things, and be lifted up at the last day. Even so. Amen (D&C 75:22).

From the Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual comes a quote from Elder Charles Penrose describing part of this event of “lifted up”:

He comes! ...The dead Saints burst forth from their tombs, and “those who are alive and remain” are “caught up” with them to meet him. The ungodly rush to hide themselves from his presence, and call upon the quivering rocks to cover them… He comes! with all the hosts of the righteous glorified.

The breath of his lips strikes death to the wicked. His glory is a consuming fire. The proud and rebellious are as stubble; they are burned and “left neither root nor branch.” He sweeps the earth “as with the besom of destruction.” He deluges the earth with the fiery floods of his wrath, and the filthiness and abominations of the world are consumed. Satan and his dark hosts are taken and bound—the prince of the power of the air has lost his dominion… (p. 101).

The “fiery floods” referred to by Elder Penrose may have to do with the “baptism of fire” that the earth will experience at the Second Coming. President John Taylor explained:

The earth, as a part of the creation of God, has fulfilled and will fulfill the measure of its creation. It has been baptized by water, it will be baptized by fire; it will be purified and become celestial, and be a fit place for celestial bodies to inhabit (Times and Seasons 5:408-9).

Joseph Fielding Smith added:

The Earth actually has a spirit, just like we do. It had to be baptized (the flood) to fulfill all righteousness, just like us. It will also have to receive the baptism of fire (at the second coming of Christ) in order to receive its exaltation and become a celestialized world (Doctrines of Salvation, I:73-4).

All of this may be connected to the “lifted up” referred to in this section, since by some means Jesus Christ will preserve both His celestial and terrestrial children when He destroys His telestial and perdition children by fire. From the story of the flood there may be a pattern which might also apply to the Second Coming. At the time of the flood, there were two means in the scriptures whereby the Lord “lifted up” the righteous.

First, the city of Enoch was “caught up” because of the impending flood (see Moses 7:21 and 37). Contrary to some Mormon myths, these saints were not translated just because they were righteous, but because the world was so wicked and all wicked people were going to be destroyed from the face of the earth (Moses 8:29-30). Remember Enoch and Noah served very long missions teaching faith, repentance and baptism so people could be saved. So serious was the Lord about warning His children that He also sent angels to preach on earth to His children (Moses 7:25).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that even after the city of Enoch was “taken up” there was provision for other converts:

…during the nearly 700 years from the translation of Enoch to the flood of Noah, it would appear that nearly all of the faithful members of the Church were translated, for “the Holy Ghost fell on many, and they were caught up by the powers of heaven into Zion“ (Moses 7:27) (Old Testament Institute Student Manual, 4-14).

Second, the Lord provided an ark for the remaining eight righteous souls to be “lifted up” above the destruction of the world in order to repopulate a new cleansed earth.

Since the “baptism” of the earth would cleanse it from all wickedness, the Lord “lifted up” all who would listen and become His people (Moses 7:47). While we do not know the method, the Lord will, as He has promised, “lift up” all who are not wicked and preserve them from the fires of destruction of the wicked prior to the Second Coming.

Regarding the great quote in this section from Brigham Young, he followed it by emphatically declared:

This will be the work of the Latter-day Saints in the Millennium (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 333-4).

All of the above will be further developed in Chapter 47.

2(D) - - He will complete the First Resurrection

Further significance of the “First Resurrection” and the destiny of those who receive this wonderful blessing is dealt with more extensively in Chapter 46.

President Lee explained the paramount place of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in history:

…the writers of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, record the greatest event in the history of the world, the literal resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. Dramatically had been demonstrated the greatest of all the divine powers of an incarnated Son of God (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 217).

President McKay elaborated further:

For over four thousand years, man had looked into the grave and had seen only the end of life. Of all the millions who had entered therein, not one person had ever returned as a resurrected, immortal being.
It was, therefore, a new and glorious message that the angel gave to the women who fearfully and lovingly had approached the sepulcher in which Jesus had been buried: “… Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6.)

If a miracle is a supernatural event whose antecedent forces are beyond man’s finite wisdom, then the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most stupendous miracle of all time. In it stand revealed the omnipotence of God and the immortality of man.

The resurrection is a miracle, however, only in the sense that it is beyond man’s comprehension and understanding. To all who accept it as fact, it is but a manifestation of a uniform law of life. Because man does not understand the law, he calls it a miracle.

Indeed, to the Savior of the world there is no such thing as death—only life—eternal life. Truly he could say, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live.” [John 11:25.]

May each recurring Easter emphasize this truth, and fill our souls with the divine assurance that Christ is truly risen, and through him man’s immortality secured (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, 66-7).

President Joseph F. Smith expounded on the doctrine of resurrection:

Death came upon us without the exercise of our agency; we had no hand in bringing it originally upon ourselves; it came because of the transgression of our first parents. Therefore, man, who had no hand in bringing death upon himself, shall have no hand in bringing again life unto himself; for as he dies in consequence of the sin of Adam, so shall he live again, whether he will or not, by the righteousness of Jesus Christ, and the power of his resurrection. Every man that dies shall live again.

Jesus Christ … is the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead, as he was raised up, so will he raise up all the children of his Father upon whom the curse of Adam came. For as by one man came temporal death upon all men, so by the righteousness of Christ all shall come to life, through the resurrection from the dead upon all men; whether they be good or whether they be evil, whether they be black or white, bond or free, learned or unlearned, or whether they be young or old, it matters not [see 1 Corinthians 15:21–22; Alma 11:44]. The death that came by the fall of our first parents is eradicated by the resurrection of the Son of God, and you and I cannot help it.

Christ himself burst the barriers of the tomb, conquered death and the grave and came forth “the first fruits of them that slept.” [1 Corinthians 15:20.

…all men…will come forth from the grave whether they will or not. They can’t help themselves. We could not help the curse of mortal death coming upon us, neither shall we be able to avoid or to prevent the resurrection of this body from that grave; for as God raised from the dead, so will all mankind.

We believe there is no other form of resurrection from death to life; that as he [Jesus Christ] rose, and as he preserved his identity, even to the scars of the wounds in his hands and feet and side, that he could prove himself to those that were skeptical of the possibility of rising from the dead, that he was indeed himself, the Lord crucified, buried in the tomb, and raised again from death to life, so it will be with you and with every son and daughter of Adam, born into the world.

We [will] come forth out of the grave, when the trump shall sound, and these our bodies shall rise and our spirits shall enter into them again, and they shall become living souls, no more to be dissolved or separated, but to become inseparable, immortal, eternal.

The elements which compose this temporal body will not perish, will not cease to exist, but in the day of the resurrection these elements will come together again, bone to bone, and flesh to flesh. The body will come forth as it is laid to rest, for there is no growth or development in the grave. As it is laid down, so will it arise, and changes to perfection will come by the law of restitution. But the spirit will continue to expand and develop, and the body, after the resurrection will develop to the full stature of man.

The spirit and the body will be reunited. We shall see each other in the flesh, in the same tabernacles that we have here while in mortality. Our tabernacles will be brought forth as they are laid down, although there will be a restoration effected; every organ, every limb that has been maimed, every deformity caused by accident or in any other way, will be restored and put right. Every limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 89).

President Lee added:

The purpose of life was to bring to pass immortality and eternal life [see Moses 1:39]. Now, immortality means to eventually gain a body that will no longer be subject to the pains of mortality, no longer subject to another mortal death.

The heavy hand of death becomes lighter, the pall of gloom is pierced and throbbing wounds are soothed as faith lifts us beyond the sordid trials and sorrows of mortal life and gives a vision of brighter days and more joyous prospect, as has been revealed, when “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4) through the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. With such faith and understanding you who may be called upon to mourn can sing as it has been written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” (1 Corinthians 15:54–55.) (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Harold B. Lee, 219, 221).

The terrific blessing and scope of the resurrection to each of us is explained by President Woodruff:

When the resurrection comes, we shall come forth clothed with immortal bodies; and the persecutions, suffering, sorrow, pain and death, incident to mortality, will be done away forever.

This doctrine of the resurrection of the dead is most glorious. It is comforting, at least to my spirit, to think, that, in the morning of the resurrection, my spirit will have the privilege of dwelling in the very same body that it occupied here (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 81).

President McKay also shared how precious is this blessing:

In 1912, Elder David O. McKay, then a member of the Twelve, and his wife, Emma Ray, experienced their first great sorrow in parenthood when their two-and-a-half-year-old son, Royle, passed away. Elder McKay’s account of the event shows the heartache he felt but also demonstrates his faith in a future resurrection:

Mon., 8 April 1912. O what a night of suffering for our darling boy! Every breath he drew seemed agony to him! The doctors examined him this morning, and discovered that his pain was due to pleurisy [inflammation of the lung] on both sides. At this we almost lost hope; but later when [the doctor] told us that by an examination he knew what germ had caused the infection and that he had the anti-toxin, we again took courage.
But Royle was too weak and the complications of diseases too many. He battled bravely all day, taking the little stimulant given him at intervals as willingly as a grown person would. At 9:30 p.m., Papa, Thomas E. [McKay] and I again administered to him. Ray felt very hopeful, and lay down on the cot beside him for a little rest. Soon his little pulse weakened, and we knew that our baby would soon leave us. ‘Mama’ was the last word on his precious lips. Just before the end came, he stretched out his little hands, and as I stooped to caress him, he encircled my neck, and gave me the last of many of the most loving caresses ever a father received from a darling child. It seemed he realized that he was going, and wanted to say, ‘Goodbye, Papa,’ but his little voice was already stilled by weakness and pain. I am sure he recognized his Mama a moment later. She had rested only a few minutes; and noticing that the nurses were somewhat agitated, she was bending over her darling baby in a second and did not leave him until we gently led her from the room from which Death had taken our baby boy.

The end came at 1:50 a.m., without even a twitch of a muscle. ‘He is not dead but sleepeth’ was never more applicable to any soul, for he truly went to sleep. He did not die (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: David O. McKay, 61-2).

2(E) - - He will take His rightful place as King of heaven and earth

The title of this section is well stated as follows:

Articles of Faith 1:10: “We believe … that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 256).

Joseph Smith proclaimed:

It has been the design of Jehovah, from the commencement of the world, and is His purpose now, to regulate the affairs of the world in His own time, to stand as a head of the universe, and take the reins of government in His own hand. When that is done, judgment will be administered in righteousness; anarchy and confusion will be destroyed, and ‘nations will learn war no more.’ [See Isaiah 2:4.].

…when ‘the Lord shall be King over the whole earth,’ and ‘Jerusalem His throne.’ ‘The law shall go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.’ [See Zechariah 14:9; Jeremiah 3:17; Micah 4:2.].
He whose right it is, will possess the kingdom, and reign until He has put all things under His feet’ [see Ezekiel 21:27; 1 Corinthians 15:27] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 257-8).

Brigham Young also taught:

The time will come when every knee will bow, and every tongue confess to and acknowledge him, and when they who have lived upon the earth and have spurned the idea of a Supreme Being and of revelations from him, will fall with shamefacedness and humble themselves before him, exclaiming, “There is a God! O God, we once rejected thee and disbelieved thy word and set at naught thy counsels, but now we bow down in shame and we do acknowledge that there is a God, and that Jesus is the Christ.” This time will come, most assuredly. We have the faith of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 332).

As did President John Taylor declare:

Who made this earth? The Lord. Who sustains it? The Lord. Who feeds and clothes the millions of the human family that exist upon it, both Saint and sinner? The Lord. Who upholds everything in the universe? The Lord. … Who has given to man understanding? The Lord. Who has given to the gentile philosopher, machinist, etc., every particle of intelligence they have with regard to the electric telegraph, the power and application of steam to the wants of the human family and every kind of invention that has been brought to light during the last century? The Lord. … Who has a right to rule the nations, to control kingdoms and govern all the people of the earth?

The Scriptures … represent Christ as being the rightful heir, and inheritor of this world; they represent him as having come once to atone for the sins of the world; but that he will afterwards come as its ruler, judge, and king (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, 221-2).

3 - - How Will We Know When the Savior’s Coming Is Near?

This subject, as explained in the last paragraph of this section, was well covered in Chapter 43.

It may also be helpful to understand that there are “several appearances” by Jesus Christ in what we call the Second Coming. Four of these are outlined in the Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, under Doctrinal Outline “B” on p. 100. Understanding these will help us know the Second Coming is near.

In case the following quote was not used in the last lesson, a repeat from this blog, it may be useful here. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland stated:

The promised Second Coming of the Savior began with the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820 (CES Fireside for Young Adults, Sep. 12, 2004).

These firesides are available at “institute.lds.org” online.

The restoration, then, is the beginning of the Second Coming.

Concerning the material presented in this section, I like the way Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained in a conference talk (the whole talk is excellent for this section):

Brothers and sisters, over the sweep of Christian history, some believers have, by focusing on a few prophecies while neglecting others, prematurely expected the Second Coming. Today, while we are obviously closer to that great moment, we are in the same danger.

…I have no hesitancy in saying that there are some signs—but certainly not all—suggesting that “summer is nigh” (Matt. 24:32). We would do well to notice and to ponder, but without either becoming preoccupied or ignoring any sprouting leaves because of being “overcharged” with the “cares of this life” (Luke 21:34).

Members of the Church need not and should not be alarmists. They need not be deflected from quietly and righteously pursuing their daily lives, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7) (Ensign, May 1988, 7, 9).

4 - - How Can We Be Ready When the Savior Comes?

Brigham Young had good insights to answer the question posed in the title of this section:

If the people will not serve the Devil another moment whilst they live, if this congregation is possessed of that spirit and resolution, here in this house is the Millennium. Let the inhabitants of this city be possessed of that spirit, let the people of the territory be possessed of that spirit, and here is the Millennium. Let the whole people … be possessed of that spirit and here is the Millennium, and so will it spread over all the world (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 333).

President Taylor added:

We talk sometimes about Zion, that has got to be built up in Jackson County; also about a New Jerusalem that has to be built and prepared to meet a Jerusalem that shall descend from the heavens. How do our lives and actions compare with these things? Are our hearts, feelings and affections drawn out after them, or are we forgetful and our minds swallowed up with the affairs of time and sense? (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, 61).

President Woodruff also helps us understand the importance of this question:

We are in the last dispensation and fulness of time. It is a great day, and the eyes of all the heavens are over us, and the eyes of God himself and all the patriarchs and prophets. They are watching over you with feelings of deep interest, for your welfare; and our prophets who were slain, and sealed their testimony with their blood, are mingling with the Gods, pleading for their brethren. Therefore, let us be faithful, and leave events in the hands of God, and he will take care of us if we do our duty.

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming to reign on earth. The world may say that he delays his coming until the end of the earth. But they know neither the thoughts nor the ways of the Lord. The Lord will not delay his coming because of their unbelief, and the signs both in heaven and earth indicate that it is near. The fig trees are leafing in sight of all the nations of the earth [see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:38–40], and if they had the Spirit of God they could see and understand them (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 251-2).

In Chapter 24 (see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1) Jesus explains the Second Coming to His apostles. In Chapter 25 it appears that Jesus explains to them and us how to get ready. One of the most important teachings there is the Parable of the Ten Virgins. Concerning this parable, President Woodruff explained:

Now, those who have got oil in their lamps, are men who live their religion, pay their tithing, pay their debts, keep the commandments of God, and do not blaspheme his name; men and women who walk in the light of the Lord; men and women who will not sell their birthright for a mess of pottage or for a little gold or silver; these are those that will be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.

The man that is righteous cannot save the wicked. We have got to live our own righteousness, that is keep the commandments of God.

The parable of the ten virgins is intended to represent the second coming of the Son of man, the coming of the Bridegroom to meet the bride, the church, the Lamb’s wife, in the last days; and I expect that the Saviour was about right when he said, in reference to the members of the church, that five of them were wise and five were foolish; for when the Lord of heaven comes in power and great glory to reward every man according to the deeds done in the body, if he finds one-half of those professing to be members of his church prepared for salvation, it will be as many as can be expected judging by the course that many are pursuing.

Now the question is, how can we keep oil in our lamps? By keeping the commandments of God, remembering our prayers, do as we are told by the revelations of Jesus Christ, and otherwise assisting in building up Zion. When we are laboring for the kingdom of God, we will have oil in our lamps, our light will shine and we will feel the testimony of the Spirit of God. On the other hand, if we set our hearts upon the things of the world and seek for the honors of men, we shall walk in the dark and not in the light. If we do not value our priesthood, and the work of this priesthood, the building up of the kingdom of God, the rearing of temples, the redeeming of our dead, and the carrying out of the great work unto which we have been ordained by the God of Israel—if we do not feel that these things are more valuable to us than the things of the world, we will have no oil in our lamps, no light, and we shall fail to be present at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Who is going to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah? [Those] who enjoy the Holy Ghost and live under the inspiration of the Almighty, who abide in Jesus Christ and bring forth fruit to the honor and glory of God. No other people will be.

I pray that we may live in such a manner as not to be among the foolish virgins, but understand the signs of the times, do our duty, maintain our integrity, overcome the world, and be prepared to receive our Redeemer when he comes, with joy, and not in grief and shame (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 255-8).

President Spencer W. Kimball also had wonderful insights concerning this parable:

I believe that the Ten Virgins represent the people of the Church of Jesus Christ and not the rank and file of the world. All of the virgins, wise and foolish, had accepted the invitation to the wedding supper; they had knowledge of the program and had been warned of the important day to come. They were not the gentiles or the heathens or the pagans, nor were they necessarily corrupt and reprobate, but they were knowing people who were foolishly unprepared for the vital happenings that were to affect their eternal lives.

They had the saving, exalting gospel, but it had not been made the center of their lives. They knew the way but gave only a small measure of loyalty and devotion. I ask you: What value is a car without an engine, a cup without water, a table without food, a lamp without oil?

Rushing for their lamps to light their way through the blackness, half of them found them empty. They had cheated themselves. They were fools, these five unprepared virgins. Apparently, the bridegroom had tarried for reasons that were sufficient and good. Time had passed, and he had not come. They had heard of his coming for so long, so many times, that the statement seemingly became meaningless to them. Would he ever come? So long had it been since they began expecting him that they were rationalizing that he would never appear. Perhaps it was a myth.

Hundreds of thousands of us today are in this position. Confidence has been dulled and patience worn thin. It is so hard to wait and be prepared always. But we cannot allow ourselves to slumber. The Lord has given us this parable as a special warning.

Even the foolish ones trimmed their lamps, but their oil was used up and they had none to refill the lamps. They hastened to make up for lost time. Now, too late, they were becoming conscious of the tragedy of unpreparedness. They had been taught. They had been warned all their lives.

In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. In the parable, oil can be purchased at the market. In our lives the oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching [and visiting teaching], control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures--each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payment of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity--these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps (Faith Precedes the Miracle, 252-6).

In light of the above, Elder James E. Talmage also adds:

The refusal of the wise virgins to give of their oil at such a critical time must not be regarded as uncharitable; the circumstance typifies the fact that in the day of judgment every soul must answer for himself; there is no way by which the righteousness of one can be credited to another's account; the doctrine of supererogation is wholly false. The Bridegroom's condemnatory disclaimer, ‘I know you not,’ was equivalent to a declaration that the imploring but neglectful ones, who had been found unready and unprepared, did not know Him” (Jesus the Christ, 536).

Chapter 43: Signs of the Second Coming

Material for this lesson can be found in two chapters of the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church:... (the old Priesthood/Relief Society manuals), in Joseph SmithChapter 21, in Brigham YoungChapter 45 and in Wilford WoodruffChapter 24. These can be found by going to the new “lds.org” then click on “Go to Classic LDS.org” (lower left corner), then click on “Gospel Library” then “Lessons” then “Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society.” The manuals are all found at the bottom of this page.

As with the last lesson Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual Chapter 34 and 35 are a wonderful resource for this lesson. It is available online at “institute.lds.org” then click on “Course Catalog” on the top bar. There are many references that could be given for the lesson title, but we will confine this blog to the subjects found in the sections of this lesson.

1 - - Jesus Christ Will Return to the Earth

In this section we read, “He [Our Heavenly Father] also expects us to be spiritually ready when the Savior comes in His glory” (p. 251). Concerning this, President Woodruff proclaimed:

As we anticipate the Savior’s return to reign on the earth, we must prepare ourselves individually, as families, and as a people.
The signs in both heaven and earth all indicate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. …When my mind, under the influence of the Spirit of God, is open to comprehend these things I many times marvel and wonder, not only at the world but also at ourselves, that we are not more anxious and diligent in preparing ourselves and our families for the events now at our doors, for though the heavens and the earth pass away, not one jot or tittle of the word of the Lord will go unfulfilled (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 250).

Matthew 24 is quoted throughout this lesson. President Woodruff stated:

We are told in the 24th chapter of Matthew, that Jesus, on a certain occasion, taught his disciples many things concerning his gospel, the temple, the Jews, his second coming and the end of the world; and they asked him—Master, what shall be the sign of these things? The Savior answered them, but in a very brief manner.
[He then read to them from D&C 45] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 252).

1 A - - Wickedness, War, and Turmoil

This section is not really divided into the above three categories, but we will do so. ”Wickedness” is an interesting subject as a Sign of the Second Coming. Later in the blog, President Benson will be quoted as to using the patterns found in the Book of Mormon to prepare us for the Second Coming. In this great book we find:

…and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed (Mormon 4:5).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained how this will be repeated:

Before this earth becomes a fit habitat for the Holy One, it must be cleansed and purified. The wicked must be destroyed; peace must replace war; and the evil imaginations in the hearts of men must give way to desires for righteousness. How shall this be brought to pass? There are two ways: (1) By plagues and pestilence and wars and desolation. The wicked shall slay the wicked, as did the Nephites and the Lamanites in the day of the extinction of the Nephites as a nation. Plagues will sweep the earth, as the Black Death ravaged Asia and Europe in the fourteenth century. The carcasses of the dead will be stacked in uncounted numbers to rot and decay and fill the earth with stench. (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Student Manual, 95).

The second way is the cleansing of the earth by fire, which is covered in the next lesson.

Concerning wickedness and plagues, a fairly recent newspaper headline declared, “AIDS Called Leading Killer of Women.” The story out of Geneva, Switzerland then stated:

In its first study of women’s health, the World Health Organization said yesterday that the AIDS virus is the leading cause of death and disease among women between the ages of 15 and 44 (Boston Globe, Nov. 10, 2009).

The Church’s official statement on AIDS refers to a talk that President Hinckley, then of the First Presidency, gave in conference. He proclaimed:

There is a plague of fearsome dimensions moving across the world…

AIDS is a commonly fatal malady caused primarily from sexually transmitted disease and secondarily from drug abuse. Unfortunately, as in any epidemic, innocent people also become victims.

We, with others, hope that discoveries will make possible both prevention and healing from this dread affliction. But regardless of such discoveries, the observance of one clearly understandable and divinely given rule would do more than all else to check this epidemic. That is chastity before marriage and total fidelity after marriage.

Prophets of God have repeatedly taught through the ages that practices of homosexual relations, fornication, and adultery are grievous sins. Sexual relations outside the bonds of marriage are forbidden by the Lord. We reaffirm those teachings (Ensign, May 1987, 45).

In this section it quotes, “The Lord said, ‘The love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound’ (D&C 45:27).” Elder M. Russell Ballard quoted this same scripture in a talk and then elaborated:

Citing figures from a 30-year study, Ballard referred to a 560 percent increase in violent crimes, a 400 percent increase of births outside of marriage, a 200 percent increase in teen-age suicides and a 75-point decrease in average SAT scores over the last 30 years as evidence of Christ’s prophesies. Ballard said the figures are direct results of sordid media programming and movies.

“Hollywood and TV” must be held accountable for the decline of America’s moral landscape, he added (Salt Lake Tribune, Mar. 16, 1996).

Concerning “war” Joseph Smith received a sobering revelation:

One such revelation came on Christmas Day in 1832. The Prophet spent part of this day at home, deep in contemplation about the serious problems facing the nations of the world at that time. “Appearances of troubles among the nations became more visible this season than they had previously been since the Church began her journey out of the wilderness,” the Prophet said. Events in the United States were leading toward civil war, and outbreaks of deadly diseases were widespread throughout the world. While “praying earnestly on the subject,” the Prophet received the revelation now found in section 87 of the Doctrine and Covenants. The Lord revealed to Joseph that before the Second Coming, war would be poured out upon all the nations and natural calamities would chasten the people:

“With the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations. … Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord” (D&C 87:6, 8) (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 249-50).

Dr. James Waller, a social psychologist, gave some evidence of fulfillment of the above prophecy from Joseph Smith [without reference to Joseph Smith] in a lecture given at Weber State University on April 15, 2003. He stated:

“…in the four decades following WW II, there have been 150 wars and only 26 days of peace” (The Signpost, April 16, 2003).

Concerning “turmoil” Elder M. Russell Ballard gave sobering data about earthquakes in these latter days. After quoting Matthew 24:7 on “earthquakes” Elder Ballard explained:

Although the prophecies tell us that these things are to take place, more and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an acceleration of worldwide calamity. As members of the Church, we must not forget the Savior’s admonition, “Be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass.” These are difficult times, when the forces of nature seem to be unleashing a flood of “famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.”

Recently I read a newspaper article that cited statistics from the U.S. Geological Survey indicating that earthquakes around the world are increasing in frequency and intensity. According to the article, only two major earthquakes (earthquakes measuring at least six on the Richter scale) occurred during the 1920s. In the 1930s the number increased to five, and then it decreased to four during the 1940s. But in the 1950s, nine major earthquakes occurred, followed by fifteen during the 1960s, forty-six during the 1970s, and fifty-two during the 1980s. Already almost as many major earthquakes have occurred during the 1990s as during the entire decade of the 1980s (Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31).

In March of 2011 Japan had four earthquakes above seven on the Richter scale in three days.

Perhaps the earthquakes in the last days are a reaction of the earth against evil (see Moses 7:48, 56) similar to what Spencer W. Kimball stated concerning the earthquakes in the Americas at the time of the crucifixion:

These earth spasm [were] a revolt by the created earth against the crucifixion of its Creator (Pearl of Great Price Manual, 24).

Concerning “turmoil” something not mentioned here, but very much aligned with earthquakes is also mentioned in scripture as a sign of the Second Coming:

For not many days hence…also cometh the testimony of the voice…of the waves of the sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds (D&C 88:87-90).

When I taught earth science in high school in 1970 (I know, that is ancient history) we had a word in our text books that not a single student had ever heard of. It was “tsunami.” There are very few who do not know that word today.

Joseph Smith declared concerning these things:

The scripture is ready to be fulfilled when great wars, famines, pestilence, great distress, judgments, etc., are ready to be poured out on the inhabitants of the earth.

There will be a short work on the earth. It has now commenced. I suppose there will soon be perplexity all over the earth. Do not let our hearts faint when these things come upon us, for they must come, or the word cannot be fulfilled (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 252).

Joseph Smith also explained that even if we die in the midst of the events preceding the Second Coming, God will take care of us:

[I] explained concerning the coming of the Son of Man; also that it is a false idea that the Saints will escape all the judgments, whilst the wicked suffer; for all flesh is subject to suffer, and ‘the righteous shall hardly escape’ [see D&C 63:34]; still many of the Saints will escape, for the just shall live by faith [see Habakkuk 2:4]; yet many of the righteous shall fall a prey to disease, to pestilence, etc., by reason of the weakness of the flesh, and yet be saved in the Kingdom of God. So that it is an unhallowed principle to say that such and such have transgressed because they have been preyed upon by disease or death, for all flesh is subject to death; and the Savior has said, ‘Judge not, lest ye be judged.’ [See Matthew 7:1.] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 253).

Brigham Young shared great wisdom concerning all of the above and prophesies from the God of the Eternities:

When the wicked have power to blow out the sun, that it shines no more; when they have power to bring to a conclusion the operations of the elements, suspend the whole system of nature, and make a footstool of the throne of the Almighty, they may then think to check “Mormonism” in its course, and thwart the unalterable purposes of heaven [see D&C 121:33]. Men may persecute the people who believe its doctrines, report and publish lies to bring tribulation upon their heads, earth and hell may unite in one grand league against it, and exert their malicious powers to the utmost, but it will stand as firm and immovable in the midst of it all as the pillars of eternity. Men may persecute the Prophet, and those who believe and uphold him, they may drive the Saints and kill them, but this does not affect the truths of “Mormonism” one iota, for they will stand when the elements melt with fervent heat, and the heavens are wrapt up like a scroll and the solid earth is dissolved [see Isaiah 34:4; D&C 88:95] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 325).

A great concept about dealing with all of the above was given by Elder Russell M. Nelson in last April Conference after he named earthquakes, tsunamis, and governments collapsing:

But we need do not need to let our fears displace our faith. We can combat these fears by strengthening our faith (April Conference, 2011).

1 B - - The Restoration of the Gospel

From the Encyclopedia of Mormonismwe learn a simple but powerful truth of just how important is the restoration to the Second Coming:

The fundamental purpose of the restoration is to prepare the Church and the world to receive their Kind, the Lord Jesus Christ (p. 1219).

It may also be important to note that President Hinckley declared:

He [Jesus Christ] has come again to usher in a dispensation (Discourses of President Gordon B. Hinckley, 2:555).

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland also stated:

The promised Second Coming of the Savior began with the First Vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1820 (CES Fireside for Young Adults, Sep. 12, 2004).

These firesides are available at “institute.lds.org” online.

President Woodruff explained how the restoration aids preparation for the Second Coming:

I want to ask who are looking for the fulfillment of these events, and who upon the earth are preparing themselves for the fulfillment of the word of the Lord through the mouths of prophets, patriarchs and apostles for the last six thousand years? Nobody that I have any knowledge of, [except] the Latter-day Saints, and I for one feel that we are not half so much awake as we ought to be, and not half as well prepared as we ought to be for the tremendous events which are coming upon the earth in quick succession in these latter days. Who can the Lord expect to prepare for his second coming but his Saints? None.

How much has the Lord plead with the nations of the earth to give them celestial glory, honor, immortality and eternal life? He has plead with them for the last six thousand years, and has raised up his servants from time to time and called upon the inhabitants of the world to prepare themselves for the great day of his second advent and coming, which is at hand. He is calling upon them loudly to-day; and, as I have said to some of my brethren lately, the Lord now wants to know whether the Latter-day Saints are willing to work with him or not. It is a day of decision.

Before Christ comes a people have got to be prepared by being sanctified before the Lord. Temples have got to be built; Zion has got to be built up; there must be a place of safety for the people of God while his judgments are abroad in the earth, for the judgments of God will visit the earth.

The organizations, which have been established in this Church from the beginning, are all helps and governments, and are associated together to carry out this great work. The eyes of the heavens are over us. The Son of God and all the Prophets and Patriarchs that have lived upon the earth are watching over this great work—this great organization preparing for the coming of the Son of Man (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 253, 254-5).

Brigham Young made an interesting statement about the restoration:

There never has been a day for ages and ages, not since the true church was destroyed after the days of the Apostles, that required the faith and the energy of godly men and godly women, and the skill, wisdom and power of the Almighty to be with them, so much as this people require it at the present time. There never was that necessity; there never has been a time on the face of the earth, from the time that the church went to destruction, and the Priesthood was taken from the earth, that the powers of darkness and the powers of earth and hell were so embittered, and enraged, and incensed against God and Godliness on the earth, as they are at the present.

The Devil is just as much opposed to Jesus now as he was when the revolt took place in heaven. And as the Devil increases his numbers by getting the people to be wicked, so Jesus Christ increases his numbers and strength by getting the people to be humble and righteous. The human family are going to the polls by and by, and they wish to know which party is going to carry the day (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 332).

I really like what Brigham Young said about Joseph and the restoration:

I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the Kingdom of God on earth and sustain it. These keys are committed to this people, and we have power to continue the work that Joseph commenced, until everything is prepared for the coming of the Son of Man. This is the business of the Latter-day Saints, and it is all the business we have on hand (Discourses of Brigham Young, 458).

1 C - - The Coming Forth of the Book of Mormon

President Ezra Taft Benson gave us a wonderful key to understanding the “Signs of the Second Coming” from the Book of Mormon in a wonderful conference talk:

The record of the Nephite history just prior to the Savior’s visit reveals many parallels to our own day as we anticipate the Savior’s second coming Ensign, May 1987, 4).

In another great talk by President Benson in the opening talk of conference, he declared:

The Book of Mormon is the instrument that God designed to “sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out [His] elect.” (Moses 7:62.) This sacred volume of scripture needs to become more central in our preaching, our teaching, and our missionary work…

The time is long overdue for a massive flooding of the earth with the Book of Mormon for the many reasons which the Lord has given. In this age of the electronic media and the mass distribution of the printed word, God will hold us accountable if we do not now move the Book of Mormon in a monumental way.

We have the Book of Mormon, we have the members, we have the missionaries, we have the resources, and the world has the need. The time is now!

My beloved brothers and sisters, we hardly fathom the power of the Book of Mormon, nor the divine role it must play, nor the extent to which it must be moved.

“Few men on earth,” said Elder Bruce R. McConkie, “either in or out of the Church, have caught the vision of what the Book of Mormon is all about. Few are they among men who know the part it has played and will yet play in preparing the way for the coming of Him of whom it is a new witness. … The Book of Mormon shall so affect men that the whole earth and all its peoples will have been influenced and governed by it. … There is no greater issue ever to confront mankind in modern times than this: Is the Book of Mormon the mind and will and voice of God to all men?” (Millennial Messiah pp. 159, 170, 179.) We testify that it is.

Now, my good Saints, we have a great work to perform in a very short time. We must flood the earth with the Book of Mormon—and get out from under God’s condemnation for having treated it lightly. (See D&C 84:54–58.)

I challenge the members of the Church to participate in the family-to-family Book of Mormon program—to send copies of the Book of Mormon on a mission for you. Sister Benson and I have been doing this for some time now, and we intend to do more. We should be sending out millions of copies of the Book of Mormon to the missionaries every month (Ensign, Nov. 1988, 4).

Four years later, a survey by Library of Congress and Book-of-the-Month Club found the Book of Mormon to be # 8 of books that most influenced lives (New York Times, Nov. 20, 1991).

In “answers.com” it states that as of 2002 there have been 115 ½ billion copies of the Book of Mormon printed in 102 languages printed. From the same source, there are about 6.7 billion people on the earth as of 2008. That means there would be about 17 copies for every person on earth.

President Woodruff explained how the restored scriptures are so crucial to understanding how to prepare for the Second Coming:

If the world wants to know what is coming to pass, let them read the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants; let them read [the] revelations of St. John. As God lives they will come to pass. Not one of them will fall unfulfilled.

I say that throughout the whole of the Scriptures—the Old and New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, the second coming of the Lord is frequently referred to; and has the Lord promised these things without intending to fulfil them? No, he has not, they will be fulfilled.

If we, as Latter-day Saints, want anything to stir us up, let us read the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; they contain enough to edify and instruct us in the things of God. Treasure up the revelations of God and the gospel of Christ contained therein (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 252-3).

1 D - - The Gospel Preached to All the World

President Woodruff declared the importance of the title of this section:

I think, many times, that we, as elders of Israel and as Latter-day Saints, come far short of realizing our position before the Lord. The work required at our hands is great and mighty; it is the work of Almighty God. We are held responsible for presenting the gospel of Christ to all the nations of the earth. … We are held responsible for all this and for building temples to the Most High, wherein we can enter and attend to ordinances for the salvation of our dead (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 254).

Brigham Young explained how the gospel would need to be preached to all of the world and then major destruction would take place:

All we have yet heard and we have experienced is scarcely a preface to the sermon that is going to be preached. When the testimony of the Elders ceases to be given, and the Lord says to them, “Come home; I will now preach my own sermons to the nations of the earth,” all you now know can scarcely be called a preface to the sermon that will be preached with fire and sword, tempests, earthquakes, hail, rain, thunders and lightnings, and fearful destruction. What matters the destruction of a few railway cars? You will hear of magnificent cities, now idolized by the people, sinking in the earth, entombing the inhabitants. The sea will heave itself beyond its bounds, engulfing mighty cities. Famine will spread over the nations and nation will rise up against nation, kingdom against kingdom and states against states, in our own country and in foreign lands; and they will destroy each other, caring not for the blood and lives of their neighbors, of their families, or for their own lives (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 331).

1 E - - The Coming of Elijah

This section was well covered in this blog, Chapter 40 in section # 4, “Our Ancestors Need Our Help.” A review may be helpful if needed here.

1 F - - Lehi’s Descendants Will Become a Great People

Jacob 5 gives a wonderful pattern of how the Lord placed Israel all over the earth in the scattering (see Chapter 42). Concerning the children of Lehi, Brigham Young stated:

Those islanders [of the Pacific] and the natives of [America] are of the House of Israel—of the seed of Abraham, and to them pertain the promise; and every soul of them, sooner or later, will be saved in the Kingdom of God, or be destroyed root and branch (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 325).

Alma 63:5-8 tells of Hagoth who took fleets of ships from Zarahemla. Many believe the islands of the Pacific were populated by these children of Lehi. In 1991, Robert E. Parsons, emeritus professor of Ancient Scripture at BYU, presented a paper at the Sixth Annual Book of Mormon Symposium. The paper, "Hagoth and the Polynesians," is reprinted as a chapter in The Book of Mormon: Alma The Testimony of the Word, published by BYU's Religious Studies Center. In this paper, Professor Parsons quoted the following:

Elder Hugh B. Brown, in the closing prayer at the cornerstone laying ceremony at the New Zealand Temple: " . . . We humbly thank Thee that this building is erected in this land, so that those faithful Maoris who came here in early days, descendants of Father Lehi, may be remembered by their descendants. . . . "

President David O. McKay, in the dedicatory prayer at the New Zealand Temple, April 20, 1958: "We express gratitude that to these fertile islands thou dist guide descendants of Father Lehi and hast enabled them to prosper."

Elder Gordon B. Hinckley, at the dedication of the New Zealand Temple, April 20, 1958: " . . . Here are two great strains of the house of Israel and the children of Ephraim from the isles of Britain, and the children of Lehi from the isles of the Pacific."

President Joseph F. Smith: "I would like to say to you brethren and sisters of New Zealand, you are some of Hagoth's people, and there is No Perhaps about it!"

Professor Parsons then stated:

In conclusion it seems fair to state that although the Church has no official, published declaration on the origin of the Polynesians, there have been enough semi-official statements by prophets of the Lord to leave little doubt that the Church believes that the Polynesians are direct blood relatives of Lehi's colony… “Hagoth believed to be link between Polynesia and peoples of America” Church News, Saturday, July 25, 1992).

A friend of mine, Jonathan Woodstock, researched out the following:

Eighteen of the nineteen nations with the highest percentages of LDS in their population are in the Pacific Islands (the first seven) or South America (Chili is number 8 at about 3 ½ %). The United States is the only other one in the top nineteen (it is number 13 on the list at about 1.8 %). Tonga and Samoa are almost 50% and 40% respectively.

“Lehi’s Descendants” are already becoming “a Great People!”

1 G - - Building of the New Jerusalem

In the Millennium there will be two ruling centers, one in old Jerusalem and one in New Jerusalem, or Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. Joseph Smith was excited when it was revealed to him concerning New Jerusalem:

In early June 1831, just weeks after the gathering from New York to Ohio was complete, the Saints assembled in Kirtland for a conference of the Church. On June 7, the day after the conference ended, Joseph Smith received a revelation that turned Church members’ thoughts toward Zion: “The next conference … shall be held in Missouri, upon the land which I will consecrate unto my people” (D&C 52:2).

The Saints were intensely interested in establishing Zion—a holy city…

“I received, by a heavenly vision, a commandment in June [1831], to take my journey to the western boundaries of the State of Missouri, and there designate the very spot which was to be the central place for the commencement of the gathering together of those who embrace the fullness of the everlasting Gospel. … seeking diligently at the hand of God, He manifested Himself unto us, and designated, to me and others, the very spot upon which He designed to commence the work of the gathering, and the upbuilding of an ‘holy city,’ which should be called Zion—Zion, because it is a place of righteousness, and all who build thereon are to worship the true and living God, and all believe in one doctrine, even the doctrine of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Now Church leaders would be leaving immediately to determine the location of Zion. Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, and others started the 900-mile journey to Jackson County, Missouri…

In mid-July, the Prophet arrived in western Missouri, a beautiful area of rolling, fertile prairie, thick with flowers. There, in reply to his pleading to know Zion’s specific location, the Lord revealed that “the place which is now called Independence is the center place; and a spot for the temple is lying westward, upon a lot which is not far from the courthouse” (D&C 57:3) and that tracts of land should be purchased. On August 2, Joseph Smith and others met to begin the building of Zion. The Prophet recorded: “I assisted the Colesville branch of the Church to lay the first log, for a house, as a foundation of Zion in Kaw township, twelve miles west of Independence. The log was carried and placed by twelve men, in honor of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Saints worked diligently to build up Zion, but by late 1833, they had been driven out of their homes in Jackson County by severe persecution, leaving behind their dreams of establishing Zion and building a temple there. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed that the conditions for the redemption of Zion in that land were not yet fulfilled and that the establishment of Zion must “wait for a little season” (D&C 105:9). (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 183-5).

Joseph explained how this would fulfill prophesy:

The city of Zion spoken of by David, in the one hundred and second Psalm, will be built upon the land of America, ‘And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads’ [Isaiah 35:10]; and then they will be delivered from the overflowing scourge that shall pass through the land (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 188).

Joseph clarified the two ruling centers:

first he quoted Moses 7:62]

Now I understand by this quotation, that … righteousness and truth are to sweep the earth as with a flood. And now, I ask, how righteousness and truth are going to sweep the earth as with a flood? I will answer. Men and angels are to be co-workers in bringing to pass this great work, and Zion is to be prepared, even a new Jerusalem, for the elect that are to be gathered from the four quarters of the earth, and to be established an holy city…

next quoted 3 Nephi 20:22]

Now many will feel disposed to say, that this New Jerusalem spoken of, is the Jerusalem that was built by the Jews on the eastern continent. But you will see, from Revelation 21:2, there was a New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven, adorned as a bride for her husband; that after this, the Revelator was caught away in the Spirit, to a great and high mountain, and saw the great and holy city descending out of heaven from God. Now there are two cities spoken of here. As everything cannot be had in so narrow a compass as a letter, I shall say with brevity, that there is a New Jerusalem to be established on this continent, and also Jerusalem shall be rebuilt on the eastern continent [see Ether 13:1–12]. ‘Behold, Ether saw the days of Christ, and he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come; after it should be destroyed, it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord, wherefore it could not be a New Jerusalem, for it had been in a time of old.’ [Ether 13:4–5.] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 188-9).

Joseph was devastated when the Saints were expelled from Jackson County:

I cannot learn from any communication by the Spirit to me, that Zion has forfeited her claim to a celestial crown, notwithstanding the Lord has caused her to be thus afflicted, except it may be some individuals, who have walked in disobedience, and forsaken the new covenant; all such will be made manifest by their works in due time. I know that Zion, in the due time of the Lord, will be redeemed; but how many will be the days of her purification, tribulation, and affliction, the Lord has kept hid from my eyes; and when I inquire concerning this subject, the voice of the Lord is: Be still, and know that I am God! (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 185).

Joseph did not give up on Zion being redeemed in the future:

If Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; for His work will go on until Israel is gathered…

So long as unrighteous acts are suffered in the Church, it cannot be sanctified, neither can Zion be redeemed.

Let every one labor to prepare himself for the vineyard, sparing a little time to comfort the mourners; to bind up the broken-hearted; to reclaim the backslider; to bring back the wanderer; to re-invite into the kingdom such as have been cut off, by encouraging them to lay to while the day lasts, and work righteousness, and, with one heart and one mind, prepare to help redeem Zion, that goodly land of promise, where the willing and the obedient shall be blessed.

But Judah shall obtain deliverance at Jerusalem. [See Joel 2:32; Isaiah 26:20–21; Jeremiah 31:12; Psalm 1:5; Ezekiel 34:11–13.] These are testimonies that the Good Shepherd will put forth His own sheep, and lead them out from all nations where they have been scattered in a cloudy and dark day, to Zion, and to Jerusalem (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 186-8).

In 1842 Joseph firmly declared his knowledge that these things would surely come to pass in the Wentworth letter, now Article of Faith# 10:

We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth…

Brigham Young continued this hope:

The Lord has restored the Priesthood in our day for the salvation of Israel. Does he design to save anybody else? Yes; he will save the House of Esau, and I hope to live until I see Mount Zion established, and saviors come up to save those poor, miserable beings who are continually persecuting us—all who have not sinned against the Holy Ghost. Our labor is to save ourselves, to save the House of Israel, to save the House of Esau, and all the Gentile nations—every one that can be saved.

What will be the final result of the restoration of the Gospel, and the destiny of the Latter-day Saints? If they are faithful to the Priesthood which God has bestowed upon us, the Gospel will revolutionize the whole world of mankind; the earth will be sanctified, and God will glorify it, and the Saints will dwell upon it in the presence of the Father and the Son (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 244, 324).

Likewise did President Joseph F. Smith:

There is never a time, there never will come a time to those who hold the Priesthood in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when men can say of themselves that they have done enough. So long as life lasts, and so long as we possess ability to do good, to labor for the upbuilding of Zion… (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith, 247).

In an interesting prophesy, Joseph declared:

Judah must return, Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple, and water come out from under the temple, and the waters of the Dead Sea be healed [see Ezekiel 47:1–9]. It will take some time to rebuild the walls of the city and the temple, etc.; and all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance. There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east [see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 252-3).

Since there will be a temple at both old and New Jerusalem, we would do well to heed the plea from President Howard W. Hunter in a First Presidency Message:

It would be the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church be temple worthy (Ensign, Oct 1994, 2).

Where better to prepare for the coming of the Lord than in a House of Lord!

2 - - Knowing the Signs of the Times Can Help Us

This section quotes D&C 49:7 in that concerning the Second Coming “The hour and the day no man knoweth…” (p. 255).

While he did not tell us when, Joseph Smith did caution:

We shall … do well to discern the signs of the times as we pass along, that the day of the Lord may not ‘overtake us as a thief in the night.’ [See D&C 106:4–5.]” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 251).

President Woodruff added:

I do not think anyone can tell the hour of the coming of the Son of Man. … We need not look for the time of that event to be made known.

You will find numerous predictions in regard to his coming, such as—“I come quickly,” “I come at an hour ye think not,” “My coming is at the door,” “I come as a thief in the night,” “I come in an hour when you are not looking for me,” and “Blessed is he who is looking for the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 250, 253).

On the day after Christmas President Hinckley was on a panel on CNN’s Larry King Live, hosted by Larry King. The following is an excerpt:

KING: And you’ve been waiting so many years for this, the return of the Messiah. When do you expect it?

HINCKLEY: I don’t – I don’t know. Even the angels in heaven don’t know. I have no idea. But I’d welcome it at any time. The world has so many problems, that if he were to come, it would be better, I think – far better/

KING: There’s no doubt that, in your mind, he is coming.

HINCKLEY: He is coming, but I have no idea when (Dec. 26, 2004).

President Woodruff’s suggestion is also appropriate:

In a general conference address in April 1950, Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “I recall a reported statement, attributed, as I remember it, to President Wilford Woodruff. Some of the brethren of his time are said to have approached him … and to have inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!’” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 250).

Elder Boyd K. Packer gave wonderful advice concerning this in a conference talk:

Teenagers also sometimes think, “What’s the use? The world will soon be blown all apart and come to an end.” That feeling comes from fear, not from faith. No one knows the hour or the day (see D&C 49:7), but the end cannot come until all of the purposes of the Lord are fulfilled. Everything that I have learned from the revelations and from life convinces me that there is time and to spare for you to carefully prepare for a long life.

One day you will cope with teenage children of your own. That will serve you right. Later, you will spoil your grandchildren, and they in turn spoil theirs. If an earlier end should happen to come to one, that is more reason to do things right (Ensign, May 1989, 53).

Joseph Smith added an interesting “near-the-end” sign:

I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, “In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 252).

In this section, D&C 45:59 is quoted, “For the Lord shall be in their midst” (p. 255). The Lord is in our “midst” by way of His prophets. Joseph Smith declared:

It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and crush it and grind it to powder, but he will reveal it to His servants the prophets [see Amos 3:7].

Regarding a man who claimed to have seen the sign of the Son of Man, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “He has not seen the sign of the Son of Man, as foretold by Jesus; neither has any man, nor will any man, until after the sun shall have been darkened and the moon bathed in blood; for the Lord hath not shown me any such sign; and as the prophet saith, so it must be—‘Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.’ (See Amos 3:7.) (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 253).

Another time Joseph added:

Behold the prophecies of the Book of Mormon are fulfilling as fast as time can bring it about. The Spirit of the living God is upon me; therefore, who will say that I shall not prophesy. The time is soon at hand that we shall have to flee whithersoever the Lord will, for safety (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 256).

This section begins with a terrific question, “How can we remain calm and at peace even when some of the signs are terrifying and dreadful?” (p. 355).

President Uchtdorf gave us terrific counsel in his talk for the 2010 First Presidency Christmas Devotional given Dec. 5, 2010:

…look steadfastly for His coming. The early disciples of Jesus Christ yearned for the time when He would come again. For them, mortality was a time of preparation and growth, of sifting and refining, a time for trimming their lamps and preparing for the return of their beloved Savior.

Brothers and sisters, 2,000 years later we also stand as His disciples. We are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The term latter-day is significant. We live and serve in a time prior to the Lord's triumphant return. Our work is to prepare ourselves and the world for the coming of the Messiah in glory!

Not long after His mortal ministry, Christ said to the Apostle John, "Surely I come quickly." And John answered, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus."

Our work is to prepare ourselves and the world for the coming of the Messiah in glory!

We live in the 11th hour before the coming of the day of our Lord. Let us therefore look forward to that blessed day when the King of kings descends with a shout takes away death, dries up tears, and ushers in a new era of peace, joy, and learning.

While the Christmas season is typically a time for looking back and celebrating the birth of our Lord, it seems to me that it should also be a time of looking to the future. Let us look forward. Let us prepare for that blessed day when He will come again. Let us be as wise as those ancients who watched for His coming. As His disciples, let us have in our hearts and minds the words of John: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (found at “ldschurchnews.com”).

Perhaps one of the best things we can to prepare is follow the counsel given by Joseph Smith:

When I contemplate the rapidity with which the great and glorious day of the coming of the Son of Man advances, when He shall come to receive His Saints unto Himself, where they shall dwell in His presence, and be crowned with glory and immortality; when I consider that soon the heavens are to be shaken, and the earth tremble and reel to and fro; and that the heavens are to be unfolded as a scroll when it is rolled up; and that every mountain and island are to flee away, I cry out in my heart, What manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness! [See 2 Peter 3:11.]

Let us be wise in all things, and keep all the commandments of God, that our salvation may be sure. Having our armor ready and prepared against the time appointed and having on the whole armor of righteousness, we may be able to stand in that trying day [see Ephesians 6:13] (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 254-5).

Brigham Young’s counsel is also wonderful:

Are you prepared for the day when the Lord will consume the wicked by the brightness of his coming? No. Then do not be too anxious for the Lord to hasten his work. Let our anxiety be centered upon one thing, the sanctification of our own hearts, the purifying of our own affections, the preparing of ourselves for the approach of the events that are hastening upon us. This should be our concern, this should be our study, this should be our daily prayer, and not to be in a hurry to see the overthrow of the wicked.

We have the Kingdom of God to build up, Zion to redeem; we have to sanctify ourselves so that we may be prepared to be caught up with the Church of the Firstborn, and if we improve every day and hour, then if we die we shall be found justified. But if we continue to live, we must become Saints in very deed, or come short of the fulness of the glory of God that is to be revealed.

Whether the world is going to be burned up within a year, or within a thousand years, does not matter a groat [a kernel of grain] to you and me. We have the words of eternal life, we have the privilege of obtaining glory, immortality, and eternal lives, now will you obtain these blessings?

The Lord’s time is not for me to know; but he is kind, long-suffering, and patient, and his wrath endureth silently, and will until mercy is completely exhausted, and then judgment will take the reins. I do not know how, neither do I at present wish to know. It is enough for us to know how to serve our God and live our religion, and thus we will increase in the favor of God (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 334; also Journal of Discourses, 9:3).

As is that of President Woodruff:

All that the Latter-day Saints have to do is to be quiet, careful and wise before the Lord, watch the signs of the times, and be true and faithful; and when you get through you will understand many things that you do not today (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, 251).

Our current prophet, Thomas S. Monson, also gave terrific counsel in a conference talk:

Since last we met together in a general conference six months ago, there have been continuing signs that circumstances in the world aren’t necessarily as we would wish. The global economy, which six months ago appeared to be sagging, seems to have taken a nosedive, and for many weeks now the financial outlook has been somewhat grim. In addition, the moral footings of society continue to slip, while those who attempt to safeguard those footings are often ridiculed and, at times, picketed and persecuted. Wars, natural disasters, and personal misfortunes continue to occur.

It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith (Ensign, May 2009, 89).

Chapter 42: The Gathering of the House of Israel

Material for all of these chapters can be found in two chapters of the Teachings of the Presidents of the Church:... (the old Priesthood/Relief Society manuals), in Joseph Smith, chapter 15 and in Brigham Young, chapter 44. These can all be found by going to the new “lds.org” then click on “Go to Classic LDS.org” (lower left corner), then click on “Gospel Library” then “Lessons” then “Melchizedek Priesthood and Relief Society.” The manuals are all found at the bottom of this page.

As with the last lesson Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual will be a wonderful resource for this lesson. It is available online at “institute.lds.org” then click on “Course Catalog” on the top bar.

1 - - The House of Israel Are God’s Covenant People

In the Bible Dictionary, it states that “Israel” means “One who prevails with God” (p. 708).

This section discusses the covenant God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Following is a repeat from Chapter 15 in this blog concerning this covenant:

In the February 2006 Ensign was a wonderful article, along with some terrific artwork (not usually included online) entitled “Abraham: Father of the Faithful.” Here is a quote from that article:

In the Old Testament, Abraham is regarded as the head of the covenant line, which is personified in the house of Israel. He is often called the “father of the faithful.” Abraham received the gospel through baptism, or the covenant of salvation. The higher priesthood was conferred upon him, and he entered into celestial marriage, the covenant of exaltation, gaining assurance that he would have eternal increase. He received a promise that these same blessings would be offered to his mortal posterity. The divine promises to Abraham assured that Christ would come through his lineage and that Abraham’s posterity would receive certain lands as an eternal inheritance. These promises are called the Abrahamic covenant.

Heavenly Father’s children who are of non-Israelite lineage can be adopted into the house of Israel, becoming heirs of the covenant and the seed of Abraham through the ordinances of the gospel. (See Bible Dictionary, “Abraham,” 601; and “Abraham, Covenant of,” 602.) (p. 38)

As before stated in this blog, a terrific resource is the "LDS Scripture Citation Index," where you can click on any scripture and pull up all times that scripture was used in a conference talk. Just Google that title and it is the first item that comes up. You can also put “scriptures.byu.edu” in your address bar to pull it up. The following great quote from a conference talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks was found this way looking under “Galatians 3:29”:

The Bible tells us how God made a covenant with Abraham and promised him that through him all “families” or “nations” of the earth would be blessed (see Gen. 12:3 Gen. 22:18). What we call the Abrahamic covenant opens the door for God’s choicest blessings to all of His children everywhere. (Ensign, May 2006, 77)

If you want a good outline of the “blessings” promised to Abraham (discussed in the second paragraph of this section—after the beginning question), Paul K. Browning, did a good job in an Ensign article:

In brief, the covenant promises Abraham the following blessings if he is faithful:

1. Both his literal posterity and all those who accept the gospel will be counted as Abraham’s seed (see Abr. 2:10-11).

2. His seed will be as numerous as the stars of heaven (see Gen. 15:5).

3. His seed will be inheritors of a land that will be theirs as an everlasting possession (see Abr. 2:6; Gen. 17:7-8).

4. His seed will be the means of spreading the gospel and the priesthood to all the world (see Abr. 2:9). (Ensign, Jul 1998, 54)

The combination “Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” are used 47 times in the Old Testament (19), New Testament (10), Book of Mormon (14) and Doctrine and Covenants (4). They may be grouped as follows:

Promised Land (Gen. 50:24; Ex. 6:8, 33:1; Num. 32:11; Deut. 1:8, 6:10, 9:5, 30:20, and 34:4)

Covenant People (Ex. 2:24; Lev. 26:42; Deut. 29:13; 2 Kings 13:23; Jer. 33:26; Acts 7:8;
1 Nephi 17:40 and D&C 98:32)

In Heaven (Matt. 8:11; Luke 13:28; Alma 7:25 and Hel. 3:30) and specifically, in the Celestial Kingdom (D&C 133:55, 136:21 and 138:41)

I am the God of… (Ex. 3:6, 3:16, 4:5; Matt. 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37; Acts 3:13, 7:32;
1 Nephi 6:4, 19:10; Mosi. 7:19, 23:23; Alma 5:24, 29:11, 36:2; 3 Nephi 4:30; Morm. 9:11;)

Miscellaneous:
I appeared to (Ex. 6:3)
Great Sacrament Meeting in Last Days (D&C 27:10)
Genealogy of Jesus (Matt. 1:2 and Luke 1:34)
Plural Marriage (D&C 132:1)
To be remembered (Deut. 9:27)

Some very significant phrases from the above are:

I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. (Exodus 3:6)

And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD:
And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob… (Exodus 6:2 - 3)

Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham… (Leviticus 26:42)

I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob… (Matthew 22:32)

…this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy fathers, Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham (D&C 98:32)

Noah…Shem…Abraham, the father of the faithful; Isaac, Jacob, and Moses (D&C 138:41)

Now, what is the significance of all this? It appears that the Lord wants us to know from the Bible as well as lattter-day scripture that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are very important in several matters.

One reason for all of this may very well be the split at Abraham into two major cultures who both consider themselves the children of father Abraham. One is the Jewish and Christian people, through Abraham’s son Isaac. The other is the Islam people through Abraham’s son Ishmael. The following from Wikipedia is from the Qur’an, the Islamic equivalent of the Bible (much of it being very similar in content):

When Abraham's son reached the age of young youth, Abraham was given the command to sacrifice his son. This was a tremendous trial for the patriarch as his only son was being asked to be offered to God. When Abraham, however, told his son about his revelation, his son readily accepted his father's order. This clearly showed Abraham that his son was as devoted to God as he was. Then, when Abraham lay his son down, upon his forehead, and was about to sacrifice him and offer him up, a voice called out to him, telling him that he had fulfilled the vision and had passed the test of God successfully. Abraham was than rewarded with a momentous sacrifice, which is usually believed to have been a ram, goat or sheep.

One thing of note is that the name of the son is not given in the Qur’an, but most accept that it was Ishmael because the following passages discuss the birth of Isaac.
Abraham is of immense importance in Islam. He became the leader of the righteous in his time and it was through him that the people of both Arabia and Israel came (see, “Islamic View of Abraham”).

Also from Wikipedia:

The Qur’an states that Abraham dreamed he was to sacrifice his son. The son is not named in the Qur'an (see Qur’an 37:99—113) and in early Islam, there was a controversy over the son's identity. However the belief that the son was Ishmael prevailed, and this view is continued to be endorsed by Muslim scholars (see, “Ishmael”).

This historical Mount Moriah upon which Abraham was called to sacrifice his son (Genesis 22:20) was also the mount upon which Solomon was commanded to build the temple (2 Chron. 3:1). This temple was subsequently restored by Zerubbabel and partially rebuilt by Herod (see Bible Dictionary, 781). On this mount today stands the Dome of the Rock.

According to Sunni Islamic tradition, the rock is the spot from which Muhammad ascended to Heaven (see Wikipedia, “Dome of the Rock”). At the Dome of the Rock, a guide told one of our friends, “Here Abraham sacrificed his son Ishmael.” By many, the Dome of the Rock is considered the third-most sacred location in Islam.

One teaching of the Qur’an that deserves major attention here is its doctrine of Jesus Christ. Again, from Wikipedia:

Like all prophets in Islam, Jesus is considered to have been a Muslim (i.e., one who submits to the will of God), as he preached that his followers should adopt the "straight path" as commanded by God.

Islam rejects the Christian view that Jesus was God incarnate or the son of God, that he was ever crucified or resurrected, or that he ever atoned for the sins of mankind.

The Qur'an says that Jesus himself never claimed any of these things, and it furthermore indicates that Jesus will deny having ever claimed divinity at the Last Judgment, and God will vindicate him. The Qur'an emphasizes that Jesus was a mortal human being who, like all other prophets, had been divinely chosen to spread God's message (see, “Jesus in Islam”).

Satan, of course, is the author of attacks against the divinity and atonement of Jesus Christ. Following is a repeat from Chapter 36 of this blog. A current prophet, Elder Dallin H. Oaks, has warned:

Satan’s most strenuous opposition is directed at whatever is most important to the Father’s plan. Satan seeks to discredit the Savior and divine authority, to nullify the effects of the Atonement, to counterfeit revelation, to lead people away from the truth… (Ensign, Nov 1993, 72).

It may be, then, that in the scriptures listed above, Jehovah or Jesus Christ is being very clear that the true birthright, the chosen covenant people, and the chosen lands are through the loins of Isaac (and thus on through Jacob), and not through Ishmael. Jehovah told Abraham as much:

And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called (Genesis 21:12).

The Jews have fought over the land now known as Israel with their cousins, the descendants of Ishmael, for 4,000 years.

This mount is also the place where a new temple will be built and from which Jesus Christ will rule during the Millennium. This spot of three millennia of contention will be where the last big battle will take place before the Second Coming will culminate and is where Jesus Christ come and save his chosen people from total destruction. The phrase Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is of crucial importance.

With all of the above it is crucial that we as members of Christ’s true Church separate Satan and those leaders of Islam who he has captured into doing his bidding from our brothers and sisters who are of the Islamic faith. Within a month after 9/11, President Hinckley in general conference made this perfectly clear:

I am pleased that food is being dropped to the hungry people of a targeted nation. We value our Muslim neighbors across the world and hope that those who live by the tenets of their faith will not suffer. I ask particularly that our own people do not become a party in any way to the persecution of the innocent. Rather, let us be friendly and helpful, protective and supportive (Ensign, Nov 2001, 72).

President Hinckley’s very next words, however, warned of the battle with Satan:

It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down. We of this Church know something of such groups. The Book of Mormon speaks of the Gadianton robbers, a vicious, oath-bound, and secret organization bent on evil and destruction. In their day they did all in their power, by whatever means available, to bring down the Church, to woo the people with sophistry, and to take control of the society. We see the same thing in the present situation (Ensign, Nov 2001, 72).

The covenant of Abraham can be studied in the Bible Dictionary, p. 602). A wealth of information is also available by typing in “Covenant of Abraham” on “lds.org” under “Search all LDS.org” (upper left-hand corner).

2 - - The House of Israel Was Scattered

Concerning the reasons for the scattering of the House of Israel, Joseph Fielding Smith stated:

If you will read the 26th chapter of Leviticus and the 28th chapter of Deuteronomy—there are many other chapters also in the Bible but these two especially—you will find recorded many things by way of covenant and promise and admonition that the Lord gave to Israel. He told them what would happen if they kept his commandments. He told them the consequences of breaking his commandments. All that was clearly set forth in these scriptures before the

Israelites entered the promised land. . . .
As time went on they violated these covenants. They turned away from the admonitions, the commandments, the instructions that the Lord gave them through the Prophet Moses, and eventually, because of that rebellion, the curses came upon them and they were scattered among the nations of the earth (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 64).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie added:

Israel was scattered because she apostatized; because she broke the Ten Commandments; because she rejected the prophets and seers and turned to wizards that peep and mutter; because she forsook the covenant; because she gave heed to false ministers and joined false churches; because she ceased to be a peculiar people and a kingdom of priests. When she became as the world, the Lord left her to suffer and live and be as the world then was (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 65).

Something that could be very important to teach in this section is the account of the interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream by Daniel (see Daniel 2). The reason it might fit here is that it occurred after Judah was scattered and taken to Babylon. Brigham Young declared:

Out of this Church will grow the Kingdom which Daniel saw. This is the very people that Daniel saw would continue to grow and spread and prosper [see Daniel 2:44]; and if we are not faithful, others will take our places, for this is the Church and people that will possess the Kingdom for ever and ever (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 323).

This remarkable prophesy of the latter-day restoration was a favorite topic for President Gordon B. Hinckley. He referred to it in his first conference talk as a new prophet (Ensign, May 1995, 69), again in October conference of 1999 (Ensign, Nov 1999, 72), again in October Conference of 2003 (Ensign, Nov 2003, 4) and in his final talk as prophet, for which the title was, “The Stone Cut Out of the Mountain,” (Ensign, Nov 2007, 83). One of our favorite quotes from President Hinckley was from the Dedicatory Prayer for the Redlands Temple, March 12, 2010:

Remember all thy church, O Lord, with all their families, and all their immediate connections, with all their sick and afflicted ones, with all the poor and meek of the earth; that the kingdom, which thou hast set up without hands, may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth (“ldschurchnews.com”).

Elder James E. Talmage taught the following concerning the scattering:

It has been said, that ‘if a complete history of the house of Israel were written, it would be the history of histories, the key of the world’s history for the past twenty centuries.’ Justification for this sweeping statement is found in the fact that the Israelites have been so completely dispersed among the nations as to give to this scattered people a place of importance as a factor in the rise and development of almost every large division of the human family (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 65).

President Joseph Fielding Smith also taught:

We have something in the Book of Mormon that, if we did not have any other truth expressed in it, would be sufficient evidence of the divinity of this book. I have reference to the fifth chapter of Jacob. In this chapter we have a parable that nobody could have written unless he had the guidance of the Spirit of the Lord. It would have been impossible. . . . No greater parable was ever recorded. It is a parable of the scattering of Israel. The Lord revealed to Jacob that he would scatter Israel, and in this figure, Israel is a tame olive tree. . . .

“. . . In its native land it began to die. So the Lord took branches like the Nephites, like the lost tribes, and like others that the Lord led off that we do not know anything about, to other parts of the earth. He planted them all over his vineyard, which is the world (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 64-5).

Jacob 5 indeed needs to be emphasized in this lesson.

3 - - The House of Israel Must Be Gathered

Joseph Smith wrote, in a letter to the elders of the Church in September of 1835:

[The] subject of the gathering…is a principle I esteem to be of the greatest importance to those who are looking for salvation in this generation, or in these, that may be called, “the latter times.” All that the prophets…have written…in speaking of the salvation of Israel in the last days, goes directly to show that it consists in the work of the gathering (quoted in Gerald Lund, Fire of the Covenant, 81).

Brigham Young stated the importance of this gathering:

To possess and retain the spirit of the Gospel, gather Israel, redeem Zion, and save the world must be attended to first and foremost, and should be the prevailing desire in the hearts of the First Presidency, of the Elders of Israel, and of every officer in the Church and Kingdom of God (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 325).

President Joseph F. Smith also explained its high priority:

We proclaim the objects of this organization to be, the preaching of the gospel in all the world, the gathering of scattered Israel, and the preparation of a people for the coming of the Lord (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 64).

President John Taylor added:

Why is it that you are here to-day? and what brought you here? Because the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four quarters of the earth have been committed to Joseph Smith, and he has conferred those keys upon others that the gathering of Israel may be accomplished, and in due time the same thing will be performed to the tribes in the land of the north. It is on this account, and through the unlocking of this principle, and through those means, that you are brought together as you are to-day (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 66).

Two key gatherings in preparation for the Second Coming are outlined by Brigham Young:

By and by the Jews will be gathered to the land of their fathers, and the ten tribes, who wandered into the north, will be gathered home, and the blood of Ephraim, the second son of Joseph, who was sold into Egypt, which is to be found in every kingdom and nation under heaven, will be gathered from among the Gentiles, and the Gentiles who will receive and adhere to the principles of the Gospel will be adopted and initiated into the family of Father Abraham, and Jesus will reign over his own and Satan will reign over his own (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 66).

Elder James E. Talmage discusses the gathering of the Jews:

The sufferings of Israel have been but necessary chastening by a grieved yet loving Father, who planned by these effective means to purify His sin-stained children. . . .

Though smitten of men, a large part of them gone from a knowledge of the world, Israel are not lost unto their God. He knows whither they have been led or driven; toward them His heart still yearns with paternal love; and surely will He bring them forth, in due time and by appointed means, into a condition of blessing and influence befitting His covenant people. In spite of their sin and notwithstanding the tribulations that they were bringing upon themselves, the Lord said: ‘And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: I am the Lord their God.’ As complete as was the scattering, so shall be the gathering of Israel (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 65).

These prophesies, by Brigham Young and Elder Talmage, were fulfilled in 1948 (when Israel was declared a nation) and 1967 (when Jerusalem was once again established as a center of worship for the Jews). There will be no lasting peace for the Jewish people until the Savior returns.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie discussed an important concept concerning missionary work:

Many ancient prophecies foretold that in the last days the Lord would set up an ensign to the nations, a standard to which Israel and the righteous of all nations might gather. ( Isa. 5:26 ; 11:10–12 ; 18:3 ; 30:17–26 ; 31:9 ; 49:22 ; 62:10 ; Zech. 9:16 .) This ensign is the new and everlasting covenant, the gospel of salvation ( D. & C. 49:9 ); it is the great latter-day Zion ( D. & C. 64:41–43 ); it is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 6).

In the Priesthood/Relief Society manual for Brigham Young this “ensign to the nations” is explained further:

On July 26, 1847, just a few days after the first pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley, President Brigham Young and a small group of priesthood leaders climbed a hill north of the area that would later become Salt Lake City. They named the hill Ensign Peak in remembrance of the prophecy of Isaiah: “He will lift up an ensign to the nations from far … and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly” (Isaiah 5:26). President Young later identified this hill as the place he had seen in a vision, a place where the Saints would flourish, where the kingdom of God could be built and the latter-day Israel gathered. In the years that followed, missionaries took the message of the gospel throughout the world, and thousands of newly converted Saints came to the Salt Lake Valley. Today the building of the kingdom and the gathering of Israel goes on in hundreds of nations. President Young said, “The gathering of Israel is so important a part of the great work in which we are engaged that it occupies much of our thoughts, and we are ever anxious to afford it all just facilities and influence” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 323).

Brigham Young had actually arrived in what is now Salt Lake City the day before, later than did most of the company. Even though he was still sick, he was excited about a small hill north of the city. Accompanied by all of the apostles who arrived in the first pioneer company, he climbed what is now Ensign Peak. President George Albert Smith declared of that occasion:

President Young had a vision of Joseph Smith who showed him the mountain we now call Ensign Peak immediately north of Salt Lake City, and there was an ensign [flag] fell upon that peak, and Joseph said “build under the point where the colors fall and you will prosper and have peace."
When they [the pioneer company] entered it [the valley] President Young pointed to that peak, and said he, “I want to go there.” He went up to the point and said, “This is Ensign Peak” (Journal of Discourses, 13:85-6).

This was a seminal event in the latter-day history of the gathering of Israel through missionary work. The number of mission calls that have been issued by the Lord through His prophets under the “shadow” of that peak in these latter days must now be about 99.99 %.

All of this was prophesied in the Old Testament and primarily through Ephraim. In the Bible Dictionary, “Ephraim” means “fruitful” and Ephraim was given the birthright of Israel (p. 666). Before he died, Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons. To Joseph he proclaimed:

The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph (Genesis 49:26).

The only place in the world where there are “everlasting hills” (from pole to pole) includes Ensign Peak. These mountain ranges include the Andes from the tip of Chile, the Sierra Madres through Mexico, and the Rocky Mountains to Alaska.

The heading to Deuteronomy 33 discusses the blessing given by Moses to each tribe, “…Joseph blessed above all; he shall gather Israel in latter days…” For Joseph’s blessings is then recorded:

…his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth… (Deuteronomy 33:17).

In these latter days, the Lord has proclaimed:

And there [Christ’s people] shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim.

And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.

Behold, this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel, and the richer blessing upon the head of Ephraim and his fellows (D&C 133:32-34).

Brigham Young exclaimed:

We are now [1863] gathering the children of Abraham who have come through the loins of Joseph and his sons, more especially through Ephraim, whose children are mixed among all the nations of the earth.

Who are Israel? They are those who are of the seed of Abraham, who received the promise through their forefathers [see Genesis 22:17–18]; and all the rest of the children of men, who receive the truth, are also Israel. My heart is always drawn out for them, whenever I go to the throne of grace.

Israel is dispersed among all the nations of the earth; the blood of Ephraim is mixed with the blood of all the earth. Abraham’s seed is mingled with the rebellious seed through the whole world of mankind (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 325).

President Joseph Fielding Smith spoke of the role Ephraim would play:

It is essential in this dispensation that Ephraim stand in his place at the head, exercising the birthright in Israel which was given to him by direct revelation. Therefore, Ephraim must be gathered first to prepare the way, through the gospel and the priesthood, for the rest of the tribes of Israel when the time comes for them to be gathered to Zion. The great majority of those who have come into the Church are Ephraimites (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 66).

President Spencer W. Kimball also defined gathering and missionary work:

Now, we are concerned with the gathering of Israel. This gathering shall continue until the righteous are assembled in the congregations of the Saints in the nations of the world. This reminds us of the tenth article of faith, wherein the Prophet Joseph Smith said to his inquirer, ‘We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the new Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.’ . . .

Now, the gathering of Israel consists of joining the true church and their coming to a knowledge of the true God. . . . Any person, therefore, who has accepted the restored gospel, and who now seeks to worship the Lord in his own tongue and with the Saints in the nations where he lives, has complied with the law of the gathering of Israel and is heir to all of the blessings promised the Saints in these last days (Doctrines of the Gospel Institute Manual, 66).

The Ten Tribes were scattered by Assyria to “the North.” Ephraim was among them. A good question at this point is, “Of the sixteen Presidents of the Church, how many trace their ancestries back to the British Isles?” The answer is “All of them.” The seed of Ephraim is obviously in “the “North” countries of Great Britain.

In the Bible Dictionary, it states that the third denotation of “Israel” is “the true believers in Christ, regardless of their lineage or geographical location” (p. 708).

If someone is baptized and is not in the lineage of Jacob, or as God changed his name, Israel, he or she becomes adopted. When they get their patriarchal blessing they are then assigned to one of the tribes of Israel. From Chapter 15 of this blog, we repeat a statement from the Encyclopedia of Mormonism on adoption:

Today, members of the Church—latter-day Israel, largely Joseph’s descendants, either by blood or adoption—are to seek out the other descendants of Israel and those who would become Israelites through adoption by baptism. The Prophet Joseph Smith observed that “as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene;…while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. (p. 706)

On the other hand, if someone is of the lineage of Israel and refuses baptism or is baptized and apostatizes, he or she can leave them self outside of the covenant. President Lee explained:
…we have our free agency here, there are many who were foreordained before the world was, to a greater state than they have prepared themselves for here. Even though they might have been among the noble and great, from whom the Father declared he would make his chosen leaders, they may fail of that calling here in mortality (Ensign, Jan. 1974, 2).

We also here repeat from Chapter 40 of this blog, a powerful quote from President Wilford Woodruff:

There will be very few, if any, who will not accept the Gospel. … The fathers of this people will embrace the Gospel (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, p. 191).

Note that “the fathers of this people” may be the indication that many of the blood of Israel will “embrace the Gospel.” This means we have a great deal of family history and temple work to do for our ancestors.

Near the end of this section, Elder Nelson is quoted stating, “Zion is wherever righteous Saints are” (p. 249). Building Zion is in preparation for the Second Coming. Brigham Young emphatically stated:

We are to build up … Zion, gather the House of Israel, and redeem the nations of the earth [see D&C 115:4–6]. This people have this work to do, whether we live to see it or not. This is all in our hands.

It is obligatory upon us to see that the House of Israel have the Gospel preached to them (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, 325).

Joseph Smith declared the importance of this concept:

The building up of Zion is a cause that has interested the people of God in every age; it is a theme upon which prophets, priests and kings have dwelt with peculiar delight; they have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died without the sight; we are the favored people that God has made choice of to bring about the Latter-day glory; it is left for us to see, participate in and help to roll forward the Latter-day glory (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 186).

Joseph Smith also added to what Elder Nelson stated:

Anyplace where the Saints gather is Zion, which every righteous man will build up for a place of safety for his children.

There will be here and there a Stake [of Zion] for the gathering of the Saints. … There your children shall be blessed, and you in the midst of friends where you may be blessed. The Gospel net gathers of every kind.

We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. … The time is soon coming, when no man will have any peace but in Zion and her stakes (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 186).

It is up to us to help keep the hope of every prophet alive. In a wonderful conference talk on the subject of this lesson, “The Gathering of Scattered Israel,” Elder Russell M. Nelson stated:

Spiritual security will always depend upon how one lives, not where one lives. Saints in every land have equal claim upon the blessings of the Lord (Ensign, Nov. 2006, 79).