The Savior Taught about Future Events
*Note: Joseph
Smith-Matthew is found in the Pearl of Great Price.
1. Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:4 contains questions that the Savior’s disciples asked Him.
Verses 5-20 contain the answer the Savior gave to their first question regarding the destruction of the temple.
Verses 21-55 contain His answer to their other questions concerning His Second Coming and the destruction of the wicked.
Read Joseph Smith-Matthew. Then fill in the following chart. After each item you list, write the verse number where you found the item.
My willing husband accepted the chance to study with me and be taught this lesson. We discussed the material, read other scriptures (below), and listened to some very powerful conference talks about this topic (for example Elder Holland’s Safety for the Soul. Also see Nelson, Hinckley below). Modern and ancient prophets instruct us and guide us in how to be happy and safe in the time we live.
Events to Occur
Promises to the Righteous
2. Study 1 Nephi 22:16-22;
Doctrine and Covenants 97:22,25.
Then write a statement that would give hope to a person who worries about the Second Coming.
“Fear Not! Be of good cheer!” (See Isaiah 41:10; Daniel 10:12) This is what angels say when they visit God’s children and it is what the prophets tell us. The scriptures and prophets reiterate that this is a wonderful and joyous time to live and that those that desire to be like Christ, believing in him and following his example, will be those that are caught up and will come triumphantly back to earth to live in happiness after all wickedness is destroyed.
For example D&C 88:73 teaches that God says, “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.”
Russell M. Nelson in April 1990 quoted section 88 and said, “I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:73), and that time of hastening is now.”
“The term latter-day is an expression especially difficult for translators who labor in languages in which there is not a good equivalent term. Some translations may suggest last day.
It is true that scriptures foretell the final days of the earth’s temporal existence as a telestial sphere. The earth will then be renewed and receive its paradisiacal, or terrestrial, glory. (See A of F 1:10.) Ultimately, the earth will become celestialized. (See Rev. 21:1; D&C 77:1; D&C 88:25–26.) But its last days must be preceded by its latter days!
We live in those latter days, and they are really remarkable. The Lord’s Spirit is being poured out upon all inhabitants of the earth, precisely as the Prophet Joel foretold. His prophecy was of such significance that the angel Moroni reaffirmed it to the Prophet Joseph Smith. (See Joel 2:28–32; JS—H 1:41.)”
(And in October 2001, President Hinckley said, “This morning I can scarcely restrain my emotions as I think of what the Lord has done for us.
“I do not know what we did in the preexistence to merit the wonderful blessings we enjoy. We have come to earth in this great season in the long history of mankind. It is a marvelous age, the best of all. As we reflect on the plodding course of mankind, from the time of our first parents, we cannot help feeling grateful.
“The era in which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. The hearts of men have turned to their fathers in fulfillment of the words of Malachi. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared:
| Destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem (JS-M 15-20) |
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ (JS-M 1:21-55) |
· False
Christs (1:6)
· Prophets
afflicted, killed, hated (1:7)
· Many
‘offended’ and betray or hate each other (1:8)
· False
prophets deceive many (1:9)
· Iniquity
abound (1:10)
· love
of many wax cold (1:10)
· Need
to flee in great haste with nothing (1;13-16)
· great
tribulation on the Jews . . . such as was not before sent upon Israel, of
God, since the beginning of their kingdom until this time; no, nor ever shall
be sent again upon Israel (1:18)
· All
things which have befallen them are only the beginning of the sorrows which
shall come upon them (1:19).
|
· “There
shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very
elect, who are the elect according to the covenant (1:22).
· “You
also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars” (1:23, 28).
· “Nation
shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (1:29).
· “Because
iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold” (1:30).
· After
the gospel is preached to all nations, “then shall the end come, or the
destruction of the wicked” (1:31)
· “And
immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened”
(1:32)
· “The moon shall not give her light” (1:32)
· “The
stars shall fall from heaven” (1:32).
· “And the powers of heaven shall be shaken”
(1:32).
· “After
the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken,
then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven, (1:32)
· “And
then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn; and they shall see the Son of
Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory” (1:36)
· “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” (1:37)
· “As
it was in the days of Noah, so it shall be also at the coming of the Son of Man”
(1;41).
· “Two
shall be in the field, the one shall be taken, and the other left; Two shall
be grinding at the mill, the one shall be taken, and the other left” (1:
44-45).
|
· “He
that remaineth steadfast and is not overcome, the same shall be saved” (1:11)
· Except those days should be shortened, there
should none of their flesh be saved; but for the elect’s sake, according to
the covenant, those days shall be shortened” (1:20).
|
· “He
that shall not be over-come, the same shall be saved” (1:30).
· “Whoso
treasureth up my [Christ’s] word, shall not be deceived, (1;37).
· Angels
“shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from
one end of heaven to the other” (1:37)
· “Who,
then, is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler . . .
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.(1:49-50).
|
Doctrine and Covenants 97:22,25.
Then write a statement that would give hope to a person who worries about the Second Coming.
“Fear Not! Be of good cheer!” (See Isaiah 41:10; Daniel 10:12) This is what angels say when they visit God’s children and it is what the prophets tell us. The scriptures and prophets reiterate that this is a wonderful and joyous time to live and that those that desire to be like Christ, believing in him and following his example, will be those that are caught up and will come triumphantly back to earth to live in happiness after all wickedness is destroyed.
For example D&C 88:73 teaches that God says, “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time.”
Russell M. Nelson in April 1990 quoted section 88 and said, “I will hasten my work in its time” (D&C 88:73), and that time of hastening is now.”
“The term latter-day is an expression especially difficult for translators who labor in languages in which there is not a good equivalent term. Some translations may suggest last day.
It is true that scriptures foretell the final days of the earth’s temporal existence as a telestial sphere. The earth will then be renewed and receive its paradisiacal, or terrestrial, glory. (See A of F 1:10.) Ultimately, the earth will become celestialized. (See Rev. 21:1; D&C 77:1; D&C 88:25–26.) But its last days must be preceded by its latter days!
We live in those latter days, and they are really remarkable. The Lord’s Spirit is being poured out upon all inhabitants of the earth, precisely as the Prophet Joel foretold. His prophecy was of such significance that the angel Moroni reaffirmed it to the Prophet Joseph Smith. (See Joel 2:28–32; JS—H 1:41.)”
(And in October 2001, President Hinckley said, “This morning I can scarcely restrain my emotions as I think of what the Lord has done for us.
“I do not know what we did in the preexistence to merit the wonderful blessings we enjoy. We have come to earth in this great season in the long history of mankind. It is a marvelous age, the best of all. As we reflect on the plodding course of mankind, from the time of our first parents, we cannot help feeling grateful.
“The era in which we live is the fulness of times spoken of in the scriptures, when God has brought together all of the elements of previous dispensations. From the day that He and His Beloved Son manifested themselves to the boy Joseph, there has been a tremendous cascade of enlightenment poured out upon the world. The hearts of men have turned to their fathers in fulfillment of the words of Malachi. The vision of Joel has been fulfilled wherein he declared:
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
“And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call” (Joel 2:28–32).
“There has been more of scientific discovery during these years than during all of the previous history of mankind. Transportation, communication, medicine, public hygiene, the unlocking of the atom, the miracle of the computer, with all of its ramifications, have blossomed forth, particularly in our own era. During my own lifetime, I have witnessed miracle after wondrous miracle come to pass. We take it for granted.
“And, with all of this, the Lord has restored His ancient priesthood. He has organized His Church and kingdom during the past century and a half. He has led His people. They have been tempered in the crucible of terrible persecution. He has brought to pass the wondrous time in which we now live.”)
The most important thing we can know we can readily find in modern scripture, a testimony of Jesus Christ and counsel to love him and trust him.
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come” (D&C 68:6).
“And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come.
“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call” (Joel 2:28–32).
“There has been more of scientific discovery during these years than during all of the previous history of mankind. Transportation, communication, medicine, public hygiene, the unlocking of the atom, the miracle of the computer, with all of its ramifications, have blossomed forth, particularly in our own era. During my own lifetime, I have witnessed miracle after wondrous miracle come to pass. We take it for granted.
“And, with all of this, the Lord has restored His ancient priesthood. He has organized His Church and kingdom during the past century and a half. He has led His people. They have been tempered in the crucible of terrible persecution. He has brought to pass the wondrous time in which we now live.”)
The most important thing we can know we can readily find in modern scripture, a testimony of Jesus Christ and counsel to love him and trust him.
“Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come” (D&C 68:6).
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