Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming

Hello Everyone!

This week’s topic is preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming.

Some scriptures that we were supposed to look up are in Mark 13

5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:

9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.

 23-But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

33 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

 35 Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

The words heed and watch are a different color in the scriptures to point out how often they are used.

Three things that people should watch for in order to prepare to meet the Lord are:

1. In verse 7 He says, “when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.”

2. In verse 8 He says, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.”

3. In verse 10 He says, “the gospel must first be published among all nations.”

Our teacher gave us some additional scriptures that we could look at and see if there were any additional things we can do to prepare for the Second Coming.

Doctrine and Covenants 87:8

 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. Amen.

What is taught in this scripture is that we need to be righteous when the Second Coming happens and that it is coming faster than we think.

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:32

And again shall the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, be fulfilled.

This scripture teaches us that what Daniel from the Old Testament taught about the desolation that will happen before the Second Coming will be fulfilled.

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37

And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

What this scripture teaches is that before Christ comes, his angels will come and gather up those that are elect or those that are righteous from all of the world.

Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:46-50

And what I say unto one, I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for you know not at what hour your Lord doth come.

 But know this, if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to have been broken up, but would have been ready.

 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.

Who, then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?

Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing; and verily I say unto you, he shall make him ruler over all his goods.

From these scriptures we learn that we do not know when the Lord will come but we should watch and be ready for the Second Coming and life our life righteously and serving others.

Doctrine and Covenants 33:17

Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom—

This scripture uses the parable of the 10 virgins to help us remember that we need to be prepared and striving to get into the door.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:56-57

And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

This scripture also talks about the parable of the 10 virgins.