How Are You Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Isaiah 58-66 in a lesson titled “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion.” The following information introduced the lesson. 

Early in His ministry, Jesus Christ visited a synagogue in Nazareth, where He was raised. He stood there to read from the scriptures, opened the book of Isaiah, and read what we now know as Isaiah 61:1-2. He then announced, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” This was one of the Savior’s most straightforward declarations that He was the Anointed One, who would “heal the brokenhearted” and “preach deliverance to the captives” (see Luke 4:16-21). This scripture was indeed fulfilled on that day. And, like many other prophecies of Isaiah, it is also being fulfilled in our day. The Savior continues to heal the brokenhearted who come unto Him. There are still many captives who need deliverance. And there is a glorious future to prepare for – a time when the Lord will “create new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17) and “cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” (Isaiah 61:11). Reading Isaiah opens our eyes to what the Lord has already done, what He is doing, and what He will yet do for His people.

The scripture block teaches several principles, including the following: (1) Fasting builds spiritual power and blesses people in need (Isaiah 58:3-12). (2) Honoring the Lord on the Sabbath brings joy (Isaiah 58:13-14). (3) Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer (Isaiah 59:9-21; 61:1-3; 63:7-9). (4) “The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light” (Isaiah 60; 62). (5) Christ will reign on earth during the Millennium (Isaiah 64:1-5; 65:17-25; 66). This essay will discuss principle #5 about Christ reigning during the Millennium.

Isaiah spoke of a day when “the former troubles are forgotten” (Isaiah 65:16). While this prophecy has several fulfillments, in its fullest sense, that day is yet to come – when Jesus Christ will return. Isaiah described this future day in Isaiah 64:1-5; 65:17-25; 66. Isaiah often used words like “rejoice” and “rejoicing.” The Savior’s return will be a day of rejoicing for those who are prepared for His coming.

President Russell M. Nelson spoke about preparing the world for the Second Coming of the Savior in the April 2020 General Conference (“The Future of the Church: Preparing the World for the Savior’s Second Coming,” Ensign, April 2020, 13-17). 

The choice to come unto Christ is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. All members of the Church have access to the doctrine, ordinances, priesthood keys, and blessings of the gospel, regardless of their location. People can be “brought to the knowledge of the Lord” (3 Nephi 20:13) without leaving their homelands.

True, in the early days of the Church, conversion often meant emigration as well. But now the gathering takes place in each nation. The Lord has decreed the establishment of Zion (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:6; 11:6) in each realm where He has given His Saints their birth and nationality…. Zion is “the pure in heart” (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21). It is wherever righteous Saints are. Spiritual security will always depend upon how one lives, not where one lives. I promise that if we will do our best to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and access the power of His Atonement through repentance, we will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord….

Do whatever it takes to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by increasing your understanding of the doctrine taught in His restored Church and by relentlessly seeking truth. Anchored in pure doctrine, you will be able to step forward with faith and dogged persistence and cheerfully do all that lies in your power to fulfill the purposes of the Lord.