After President Russell M. Nelson announced 17 new temples, I sat riveted on every word of his October 2024 conference talk, ‘The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,’ as he repeatedly declared that now is the time to prepare for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. The Church hasn’t published conference transcripts yet, but I’ve listened to the talk multiple times since Sunday and transcribed parts I’ve incorporated into my scripture study. Words in italics are direct quotes.
The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again
Do you see what is happening right before your eyes? The Lord is hastening His work.
Two overarching blessings of the temple are to
- Help gather Israel on both sides of the veil
- Help prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord
Now is the time to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
[T]he shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, , The , The Father, The Prince of . (Isaiah 9:6)
He will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
To describe who would be with the Lord, President Nelson quoted a part of this scripture:
These shall make with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is , and of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. (Revelation 17:14)
President Nelson has referred to this verse and concept several times using the phraseology of his October 2024 conference talk:
He will govern from two world capitals: one in old Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14) and the other in the New Jerusalem “built upon the American continent” (Articles of Faith 1:10). . . .
In that day He will bear new titles and be surrounded by special Saints. He will be known as “Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that [will be] with him [will be those who] are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14) to their trust here in mortality. Then He “shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15). [Taken from the April 2020 article linked below]
Jesus the Christ: Our Master and More (April 2000, General Conference)
The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming (April 2020, Liahona)
The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming (November 18, 2021, Liahona)
That article was quoted in the New Testament Seminary Student Manual for Revelation 8-11
The image of Jesus Christ’s coming is glorious:
Lift up your heads, O ye generations of Jacob; and be ye lifted up; and the Lord strong and mighty; the Lord mighty in battle, who is the king of glory, shall establish you forever.
And he will roll away the heavens; and will come down to redeem his people; to make you an everlasting name; to establish you upon his everlasting rock.
Lift up your heads, O ye generations of Jacob; lift up your heads, ye everlasting generations, and the Lord of hosts, the king of kings;
Even the king of glory shall come unto you; and shall redeem his people, and shall establish them in righteousness. Selah. (JST, Psalm 24:7-10 Italicized words here are part of verses.)
President Nelson promised that the temple will help me to
- Focus on Jesus Christ
- Learn of Jesus Christ
- Covenant with Jesus Christ
- Come to know Jesus Christ
- Access His strengthening power
- Access His protection
- Feel the pure love of Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father
- Feel peace in chaos
- Feel spiritual reassurance
- Feel mercy
- Receive answers to vexing questions
- Better comprehend the joy of His gospel
Here is my promise to you—Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple.
President Nelson’s supernal promise reminded me of this same promise made by the Lord:
But and marvelous are the works of the Lord, and the of his kingdom which he showed unto us, which surpass all understanding in glory, and in might, and in dominion;
Which he commanded us we should not write while we were yet in the Spirit, and are not for man to utter;
Neither is man to make them known, for they are only to be and by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who him, and purify themselves before him;
To whom he grants this privilege of and knowing for themselves;
That through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to his in the world of glory.
And to God and the Lamb be , and honor, and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:114-119)
President Nelson promised that the Lord will be with us:
I will go your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my shall be in your hearts, and mine round about you, to bear you up. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)
The most crucial question is—To whom or to what will I give my life?
President Nelson’s searching question reminded me of an incredibly touching interaction between Jesus and His disciples:
And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, it were given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his went back, and no more with him.
Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the of eternal life.
And believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the of the living God. (John 6:65-69)
President Nelson promised that deciding to offer my whole soul to Jesus Christ will
- Give purpose and direction
- Make other decisions easier
- Give Comfort
- Strengthen
- Give peace in chaos
- Show me that there is no limit to the Savior’s capacity to help me and apply His atoning power for me
Devote time each week for the rest of [my life] to increase [my] understanding of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
There is no need to carry burdens or suffer needlessly. The Savior promised to bear our burdens, whether it be sin or sorrow, if we give it to Him. In my life, giving my burden to Him has sometimes been as simple as just uttering the words.
For behold, I, God, have these things for all, that they not suffer if they would ;
But if they would not repent they must even as I;
Which caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might drink the bitter cup, and shrink—
Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and my preparations unto the children of men. (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19)
President Nelson confirmed that Jesus took upon Himself my
- pains
- sins
- heartaches
- infirmities
And that through His infinite atonement, Jesus Christ will
- forgive me as I repent
- bless me with what I need
- heal my wounded soul
- lighten my burdens as I yoke to Him
- reveal that the painful moments of life are temporary
- cause my afflictions to be swallowed up in His joy
- enable me to help gather Israel
In a coming day, Jesus Christ will return to the earth as the Millenial Messiah. (again!)
Today I call upon you to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ and call upon you to
- help gather scattered Israel (again!)
- prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord (again!)
- talk of Christ
- testify of Christ
- have faith in Christ
- rejoice in Christ
- Come unto Christ and offer your whole soul to Him (again!)
This is the secret of Life of Joy.
These scriptures describe the Life of Joy or the felicity of the Saints when they receive a fulness of joy through resurrection and inheriting the kingdom of God.
But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.
For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.
And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
The best is yet to come
- because the Savior is coming again (again!)
- because the Lord is hastening His work (again!)
- as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ (again!)
At His Second Coming, the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together. That day will be filled with joy for the righteous. (again!)
Through the power of the sacred priesthood keys I hold, I declare this sacred truth to you and to all the world.
The Glory of the Lord Shall Be Revealed
And the of the Lord shall be , and all flesh shall it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. (Isaiah 40:5) (again!)
Obviously this verse mattered to President Nelson. I followed the trail of footnote references for Isaiah 40:5.
And prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together.
But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.
Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Hearing the Tabernacle Choir sing “And the Glory of the Lord,” from Handel’s Messiah after President Nelson’s words took my breath away. The song punctuated his message, and the Holy Spirit confirmed his words’ truths. I felt like I stood before the tree and could partake.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In