Hello friends. Let’s start right off with a quick quiz. I’ll give you the first half of President Nelson’s statement and see if you can guess or remember the second half. At the close of last October’s conference, in a talk titled A New Normal, President Nelson said, “May we go forward together to fulfill our divine mandate ___.” What is that mandate? If you don’t remember, just think what it might be. The answer will be a few paragraphs down.
With the wonderful Easter season just around the corner and our studies in the Doctrine and Covenants touching on the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, I’ve been reminded of an experience I had 25 years ago. It was a time in my life when the Spirit testified to me very strongly of specific truths.
This happened as I was flying home to Idaho to attend my father’s funeral. My father was a great example to me of kindness, humility, and gratitude. I would be speaking at the funeral, and so I was contemplating our earthly life and beyond. I clearly recall the feeling from the Spirit that life marches on, and future events that seem so distant that they might not really happen eventually do occur.
I’m not sure if other people’s minds work like mine, but as a young boy, my father’s eventual death seemed so far into the future that I allowed myself to think that it might not really happen. Or maybe I just didn’t want to think about it at all. Now that I contemplated his passing, the general theme of my thoughts turned to gospel teachings. The Spirit strongly testified to me that other events that I viewed as being so far in the future that they might not really happen truly would eventually occur.
Specifically, the Spirit testified to me of the actuality and truth regarding the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and the Day of Judgment. If your mind works like mine, those two prophesied events may seem so far in the future that they might not really happen at all, or perhaps we just do not want to think about them. The Spirit made clear that avoiding preparation for those events with full diligence and commitment of heart would be robbing ourselves of current and future blessings and happiness.
The importance of preparing for the Second Coming was emphasized by President Nelson when he said, “May we go forward together to fulfill our divine mandate—that of preparing ourselves and the world for the Second Coming of the Lord.” (Hint, you just read the answer to the quiz above.)
I would like to add my witness, gained at a tender time for me 25 years ago, that Jesus Christ will come again in great glory as the scriptures teach. I also testify that we will stand to be judged of Jesus Christ according to our works and the desires of our hearts. These will be happy times for us if we prepare by studying and applying the scriptures and following our living prophet.
Akron Ohio Stake News 