Where I stand on this topic:
Elder Russell M Nelson teaches, “We are of the house of Israel, specifically of the lineage of Joseph, bearing the birthright and charged with the irrevocable responsibility to prepare the world for the second coming of the Savior.” [i]
Elder David A Bednar explains, “Priesthood authority, keys, and saving ordinances are again found on the earth . . . to receive the joyous blessings of the gospel . . . The heavens are not closed. God speaks to us individually and to the world through [His] authorized leaders.” [ii]
“Today we have congregations in 189 of the 224
nations and territories of the world. (1 Nephi
14:12),” stated Elder Neil L Anderson. "You and I
are eyewitnesses of Daniel’s prophetic words . . . (Daniel
2:34–35) Our day is a remarkable time of miracles. . . .We
are witnessing the miracles of the Lord as His gospel is spreading across the world.”
[iii]
“Being a disciple in these days of destiny will be a
badge of honor throughout the eternities.
. . If you’re not a
full-time missionary with a missionary badge pinned on your coat, now is the
time to paint one on your heart—painted, as Paul said, ‘not with ink, but with
the Spirit of the living God.’ (2 Corinthians
3:3).” [iv]
President
Thomas S Monson commented about this time preceding the 2nd coming. "Lest
we at any time feel inadequate for the tasks ahead . . . may I share with you a
statement made in 1987 by then-Church President Ezra Taft Benson:
In all ages, prophets have looked down through the corridors
of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have
their eyes on . . . [this] generation.. . .
For nearly six thousand years, God has
held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second
coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God
will remain intact to welcome the return of its Head—even Jesus Christ.
While this generation will be comparable in
wickedness to the days of Noah, . . . there is a major difference this time. . . .
“. . . We
represent some of His strongest children. Ours is the
responsibility to be worthy of all the glorious blessings our Father in Heaven has in
store for us." (My emphasis.)
"This
. . . [is a] time when there is such confusion and such danger that our young
people hardly know which way they can walk,” said President Packer. “Warned
through the revelations that it would be this way, the prophets and apostles
have always been shown what to do. . . . Fifteen years ago, with the world in
turmoil, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles issued “The Family: A Proclamation to the
World,” . . . It is a guide . . . to read and to follow."
How this affects my future:
President
Monson instructs, “As the winds of change swirl around us and the moral fiber
of society continues to disintegrate before our very eyes, may we remember the
Lord’s precious promise to those who trust in Him: ‘Fear thou not; for
I am with thee: be not dismayed; Isaiah 41:10.’ What a promise!"
“Today we find ourselves in another
war,” observed Elder L Tom Perry. “This is not a war of armaments. It is a war
of thoughts, words, and deeds. It is a war with sin, and more than ever we need
to be reminded of the commandments. . . . None of us should ever underestimate
how driven Satan is to succeed (2 Nephi 2:11).” [ix]
Elder
Deiter F Uchtdorf reassures, “We do not know many details about life in that
premortal sphere, but we do know some. Our Heavenly Father has revealed to us
who He is, who we are, and who we can become . . . Your Heavenly Father knows
you. Even when no one else hears you, He hears you. When you rejoice in
righteousness, He rejoices with you. When you are beset with trial, He grieves
with you.” [x] He reminds us, “Prayer helps us transcend the stormy times. It gives us a glimpse
of that blue sky that we cannot see from our earthly vantage point, and it
reveals to us another vista—a glorious spiritual horizon filled with hope and
the assurance of the bright blessings the Lord has promised to those who love
and follow Him.” [xi]
My plan to apply it in my life:
In Primary, as a child, I learned a new
song that makes me often think about the 2nd Coming: "I Wonder
When He Comes Again" (Children's Songbook, 82) I often evaluate my life and
consider what I need to do to be ready. Isaiah 24:14 describes
those that sing praise in a time of turmoil and darkness prior to the advent of
Christ. I want to be able to sing praise. I decided to set a goal to learn
additional hymns by memory.
Elder
Packer cautions, “Each of us must stay in condition to respond to inspiration and the
promptings of the Holy Ghost. The Lord has a way of
pouring pure intelligence into our minds to prompt us, to guide us, to teach
us, to warn us. Each son or daughter of God can know the things they need to
know instantly. Learn to receive and act on inspiration and revelation.”
President
Monson suggest “a formula that will ensure [your life’s ] success:first, search the
scriptures with diligence (Alma 17:2-3);second, plan your life
with purpose; third, teach the truth with testimony (1 Peter 3:15);
and fourth, serve the Lord with love. There is no substitute for
love,” D&C 4:2, 5-6,[7] . . . those souls [you] save may well be those whom you love.” [xiii]
Elder Holland reassures,
“Take heart, be filled with faith, and remember the Lord has said He ‘would
fight [our] battles, [our] children’s battles, and [the battles of our]
children’s children (D&C 98:37).’ . . . (D&C 90:24).’ The latter days are not a time to fear and tremble. They
are a time to be believing and remember our covenants. [sic] . . .God never
leaves us alone, never leaves us unaided in the challenges that we face. '[N]or
will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall
be one man [or woman or child] upon the face thereof to be saved (Moroni 7:36).' On occasions, global or personal, we may feel we are distanced
from God, shut out from heaven, lost, alone in dark and dreary places. Often
enough that distress can be of our own making, but even then the Father of us
all is watching and assisting. And always there are those angels who come and
go all around us, seen and unseen, known and unknown, mortal and immortal
“We are living in the last days, in ‘perilous
times’ (2 Timothy 3:1)” teaches Elder Hales. “Stand
strong . . .We stand in defense of our homes and our families . . .Today
temptation finds you! Please remember that! Satan desires to have you . . . How
will you resist his aggressive tactics? Put on the whole armor of God.” . . . “Be
very careful. If you judge your actions and the standards of the Church on the
basis of where the world is and where it’s going, you will find that you are
not where you should be.’
NOTES
[i] Elder RUSSELL M
NELSON of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Call
to the Holy Apostleship,” 154th Annual General Conference, April 1984
[ii]
Elder DAVID A. BEDNAR of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles, “Special Witnesses of Jesus Christ,” lds.org viewed 10 July 2013
[iii] Elder
NEIL L.
ANDERSON, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles "It’s
A Miracle" 183rd Annual General Conference, 7
April 2013
[iv] ELDER NEIL L.
ANDERSON, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, 183rd
Annual General Conference, "What
Thinks Christ of Me?" 1 April 2012, or
Ensign, May page 111
[v]
Ezra Taft
Benson, “In His
Steps” (Church
Educational System fireside, Feb. 8, 1987); see also “In His Steps,” in 1979 Devotional
Speeches of the Year: BYU (1980), 59.
[vi] President THOMAS S
MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, "Dare
To Stand Alone", 181st
Semi-annual General Conference, Ensign, November 2011
[vii] President BOYD K. PACKER, President of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Cleansing
the Inner Vessel,” 180th Semi-Annual General Conference, October
2010
[viii]
President THOMAS S MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints, “Stand in Holy Places,”181st Semi-annual General Conference, Ensign,November
2011, 83, 86.
[ix]
Elder L. TOM PERRYof the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Obedience to Law is Liberty,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 7April 2013
[x] Elder DEITER F
UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First
Presidency, "Your
Wonderful Journey Home," 30 March
2013, Ensign, May 2013, 125-129
[xi] Elder DEITER F
UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First
Presidency, "Prayer
and the Blue Horizon," Ensign, June 2009
[xii]
President BOYD K. PACKER, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “These Things I Know,” 183rd Annual General Conference, 7 April 2013
[xiii] President THOMAS S
MONSON, President of The Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, “Come,
All Ye Sons of God” 183rd Annual General Conference, April
6, 2013
[xiv] Elder JEFFREY R HOLLAND of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “The Ministry of Angels,” 178th Semi-annual General Conference, October
2008
[xv]
Robert D. Hales, “This Is the Way; and There Is None Other Way,” in Brigham
Young University 1981–82 Speeches (1982), 3–4; available at speeches.byu.edu.
[xvi] Elder ROBERT D HALES of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Stand
Strong in Holy Places,”183rd Annual General
Conference, 6 April 2013
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