Isaiah prophesied that a messenger would precede the Savior and help people be ready for His arrival:
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Isaiah 40:3
The gospel writers recognized John the Baptist as the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy, as did the Book of Mormon prophet Lehi. (See Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4; 1 Nephi 10:7-8.) But other Book of Mormon prophets—Alma, Samuel the Lamanite, and multiple Jaredite prophets—extended this same invitation as they preached, indicating that the imperative to “prepare the way of the Lord” was not limited to the time immediately preceding the Savior’s mortal ministry. (See Alma 7:9; Alma 9:28; Helaman 14:9; Ether 9:28.)
In October 1831, the Lord extended this charge to all of us:
Hearken, and lo, a voice as of one sent down from on high, who is mighty and powerful, whose going forth is unto the ends of the earth, yea, whose voice is unto men—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. …
Yea, a voice crying—Prepare ye the way of the Lord, prepare ye the supper of the Lamb, make ready for the Bridegroom.
Doctrine and Covenants 65:1, 3
John the Baptist prepared the way of the Lord by urging other people to prepare. Ultimately, each of us must open our hearts and align our thoughts and actions with the Savior to be ready for His return to the earth. We can also invite and encourage one another in this effort.
President Russell M. Nelson said:
We do not know the day or the hour of His coming. But I do know that the Lord is prompting me to urge us to get ready for that “great and dreadful day.”
“Confidence in the Presence of the Lord,” General Conference, April 2025
He urged us to fill our lives with charity and virtue, two attributes that will give us confidence in the Savior’s presence. He specifically encouraged us to engage in the following actions:
- Be a peacemaker. Stop judging and demeaning others.
- Plead with God to fill your heart with charity, especially for those who are difficult to love.
- Garnish your thoughts with virtue, which will boost your positive thoughts and drive away impure ones.
- Spend more time in the temple: “Increased time in the temple will help us prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Today, I will prepare myself for the Savior’s return. I will strive for greater charity and virtue in my thoughts, feelings, and actions. I will also encourage others in their efforts to “prepare the way of the Lord.”