(Stake Conf. Sat. night)
Our theme for this conference in found in –
D& C. 1: 12
Prepare ye, prepare ye for that which is to come, for the Lord is nigh;
The phrase “be prepared” or “being prepared”, I believe brings a number of different thoughts to each of us. To many it would be that of emergency preparedness, including food storage or a 72 hour kit. Which are extremely important and someday many of us may wish we had been more faithful in following that counsel. Many would think of the Scout motto – and the experiences most of us have had as a scout, scout leader or parents. Some would think of preparing for a talk or lesson, the time for preparation is over for me and those sitting on the stand.
Many times these and other situations having to do with preparedness – can bring fear or anxiety to many if not most of us (especially being a scout leader). In modern revelation the Lord had promised that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30).
Our theme is given in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants – but, it wasn’t the first of the revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in that book. In the section heading it reads –
This section constitutes the Lord’s Preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation.
Taken in context, it is given to “ye people of my church” (vs. 1) about the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It’s a voice of warning unto all people, by the mouths of (His) disciples, whom (He has) chosen in these last days (vs.4). Elder Oaks stated that “the Second Coming is an event eagerly awaited by the righteous and dreaded or denied by the wicked.”
I guess the question that we need to ask ourselves is which emotions would overcome us if such an event would happen today – would it be excitement or dread.
Alma asked such a searching question to the saints at his time on whether they are prepared or not –
Alma 5: 27 -28
Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?
Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.
Logically the only thing that should scare us is if we are not prepared.
Saints and Prophets throughout history have continually looked at Second Coming as one the greatest event that will ever happen. Taking a back seat only, to the Atonement and the triumphal death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Elder Oaks in conference a couple of years ago asked –
What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow – through our premature death or through His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgiveness would we extend? What testimonies would we bear?
If we would do these things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparations are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them.
We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparations for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult – the spiritual.
I think it is obvious that most of us would act differently if we knew that today was our last day on the earth. I wouldn’t get a hair cut or even shave – especially since they don’t happen very often anyway. I wouldn’t worry about what I ate or if I had exercised or not. These aren’t what Elder Oaks or Alma where referring to – they were talking about things of a spiritual nature, our last and final preparations, to stand before our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
If you’re anything like me, these preparations couldn’t all be accomplished in a day. Nor does the Lord require us to be finished or perfect in our eternal progression on a moments notice. But, there are a lot of things that could be taken care of now that aren’t, there are fences to mend, lost sheep to be found and testimonies to be born.
The life and mission of the Savior was wholly dedicated and centered on the will of the Father and the redemption and salvation of mankind.
A question we should evaluate is if such a short-term preparation was to take place, where our thoughts or actions would be centered – for the benefit of others like the Savior or internal, more concern on what will happen to us. I know that I would need some personal time. But, I hope like Lehi, I would want to bless my family and express my love and appreciation for them. Then why don’t I spend the time to do it now? Indeed at that moment the time for preparation is over.
Alma 34:32 –
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.
Now is the time for us to put things in order – or at least to show our desires to come unto Christ. To lay aside our favorite sins and prepare both physically and spiritually.
Thankfully, to the righteous the Savior will not come unexpectedly – no we will not know exactly the hour or the day.
The Savior used a parable to help His follower to understand -
Matt 24:32-33
Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the door.
When the leaves come on the trees we know that summer is nigh – what are the leaves that show us His coming is close?
Some of these signs include –
- Fulness of gospel restored and preached in all the world
- False Christ’s and false prophets
- Wars and rumors of wars
- Earthquakes in divers places
- Famine and pestilence
- Desolating sickness covering the land
- Iniquity abound
- Whole earth in commotion
- Men’s hearts failing them
These events or leaves will and are increasing in frequency. All of us have known this for years.
Brothers and sisters, we have all heard the parable of the 10 virgins many times. I have had a hard time understanding why half of them were waiting for the bride groom with their lamps in hand, knowing that they had no oil. Could it be that they had been told so many times that He was coming that they have become complacent, or have been deceived that it really will never happen.
D&C 42: 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.
In the scriptures we learn that Noah preached for more than a hundred years – no wonder those that didn’t have the Spirit with them – were surprised when the rain actually began to fall.
The answer to our problem is included in the scripture – they that are wise, and receive the truth. Then have taken the Holy Spirit as their guide – shall abide the day.
All of us at baptism and when we partake of the sacrament - have the promise that if we are obedient the Holy Spirit will always be with us.
Following the quoting of this scripture – Elder Oaks stated
The other half will be denied entrance because they are not prepared. It is not enough to have received the truth. We must also “have taken the Holy Spirit for [our] guide” and “not [be] deceived.”
How do we take the Holy Spirit for our guide? We must repent of our sins each week and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament with clean hands and a pure heart, as we are commanded to do. Only in this way can we have the divine promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]”. That Spirit is the Holy Ghost, whose mission is to teach us, to lead us to truth, and to testify of the Father and the Son.
The Spirit of the Lord can and should be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection as we allow it. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, through diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, and through dedicated service. And we should avoid anything that causes the Spirit to withdraw it‘s self from our lives.
Elder Bednar stated -
We should also endeavor to discern when we “withdraw [ourselves] from the Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in [us] to guide [us] in wisdom’s paths that [we] may be blessed, prospered, and preserved”. Precisely because the promised blessing is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, we should attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit.
Taking “the Holy Spirit for [our] guide” is possible and is essential for our spiritual growth and survival in an increasingly wicked world. Sometimes as Latter-day Saints we talk and act as though recognizing the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives is the rare or exceptional event. We should remember, however, that the covenant promise is that we may always have His Spirit to be with us. This supernal blessing applies to every single member of the Church who has been baptized, confirmed, and instructed to “receive the Holy Ghost.”
The companionship of the Holy Ghost is the endless supply of oil for our spiritual preparation or lamps. The Spirit will help us to be able to know where and what we need to do, it motivates us unto repentance and truly dedicated service.
The last three verses of section 1 – the Lord gives us counsel and bears witness of the true of His word.
37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen.
Brothers and sisters, the rest of tonight and tomorrow we will hear from individuals – testifying for the need to prepare in different areas of our lives. This counsel will mean nothing or we may heed it like the unwise virgins, if we don’t have the spirit as our guide. We need to prepare now, first to invite the Holy Ghost as our constant companion. This is done by putting our lives in order – and coming unto Christ.
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