How can we prepare for the Savior’s return to the earth?
During His mortal ministry, Jesus provided some guidance to His disciples. As recorded in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, He foretold wars and rumors of wars, false prophets, and natural disasters preceding His glorious return. Like a careful observer who can detect the seasons by the state of a fig tree, His disciples would recognize these disruptive events for what they are: signs that the Savior’s return is drawing closer. To those who are prepared, like the five wise virgins from the parable, His return will be a joyful occasion.
In March of 1831, Joseph Smith received a revelation in which the Lord repeated and elaborated on the guidance He had given anciently. Doctrine and Covenants 45 can be divided into four sections:
- The Savior introduces Himself as our Creator, our Advocate, and our Advisor (verses 1-15).
- He describes the events which will occur before His return, drawing heavily on Matthew 24-25 and Zechariah 12-14 (verses 16-59).
- He commands Joseph Smith to begin translating the New Testament (verses 60-62). (Joseph had previously been focused on translating the Old Testament. See Revelations in Context: Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation.)
- He commands members of the church to gather and establish Zion (verses 63-75).
Here are some blog posts relating to themes in this revelation:
- The Savior’s goal is not vengeance but rehabilitation: Wilt Thou Turn Away Thine Anger? – Helaman 11:15-16.
- He is on our team, supporting us and championing our cause: What Does It Mean for Jesus to Be Our Advocate?
- The Book of Mormon and the temple can refine and purify us, so that we will be ready to meet Him when He comes: What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
- We must not allow our emotional and spiritual stability to depend upon the world’s values and priorities: The Sun Shall Be Darkened – 2 Nephi 23:9-11.
- God can help us avoid the panic which might otherwise overwhelm us when we face difficult experiences: Every Man’s Heart Shall Melt – 2 Nephi 23:6-8
- “The righteous need not fear” (1 Nephi 22:17, 22). We can follow the Savior’s example to “be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6, Doctrine and Covenants 45:35), even during unsettling experiences: What Is the Day of Burning Spoken of by Malachi?
- We should strive to promote unity, holiness, and charity, to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ: “Bring Forth My Zion” – 1 Nephi 13:37.
- God wants His children to be united and to be holy: What Is Zion?
Blog Posts: April 27-May 2
Holy Places
As Jesus described the catastrophic events which would precede His Second Coming, He gave His disciples some advice: When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Matthew 24:15 In a modern revelation, after prophesying of “a desolating sickness” which “shall cover…
“We Heard Him Pray for Us” – 3 Nephi 17:17
On the first day of the Savior’s ministry on the American continent, He “commanded the multitude that they should kneel upon the ground.” Then, He also knelt and offered a prayer. What did He say? We don’t know, because “the things which he prayed cannot be written” or even spoken by a human being (3…
That They Might Have Joy
If you can have hope for the future, then you can have joy today. When Lehi taught his son Jacob that men (and women) “are that they might have joy,” he wasn’t talking about an easy life, free from adversity. There must be “opposition in all things,” he said. Jacob himself had endured significant trials,…
“Armed with Righteousness” – 1 Nephi 14:14
In an 1831 revelation, the Lord reminds us of the city of Enoch, a group of people who were “separated from the earth,” and lifted up to heaven, because of their purity, charity, and unity (Doctrine and Covenants 45:11, see also Moses 7:21). He said that they would remain in heaven until “a day of…
A Standard for My People
Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would one day erect a standard which would attract people from all nations: Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. Isaiah 49:22, 1 Nephi 21:22, 2 Nephi 6:6…
“Fools Mock”
Included in Alma’s list of soul-searching questions to the people of Zarahemla was the following: “Is there one among you that doth make a mock of his brother, or that heapeth upon him persecutions?” Alma added, “Wo unto such an one, for he is not prepared, and the time is at hand that he must repent or he cannot…
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