4/10/2018 - Section 88:92-102

April 10, 2018

Section 88:92-102

Christ’s Second Coming Signs, Progression, Eternal Progression, Earth as Our School, Obedience IS Happiness,

I have long and calmly looked forward to my time to leave this earth. I have long felt tired, and wondered if there is really anything else that I could do that would make a significant difference to me or to those I love. I have read of the turmoil that will precede the 2^nd coming, and certainly don’t look forward to living through the things the scriptures tell us about those times. But I love to read and think about Christ’s triumphant second coming. I read a quote from Joseph Smith that I hope to remember-especially if I am still on this earth when He comes again: “There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the word do? They will sy it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of Man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east. “ Teachings pp 286-87)

And now, after reading v’s 92-102, I think I should just stop my rather sweet anticipation of my death. I have no control over when I shall die. I have no control over when Christ will come. What I DO have control over is whether I am worthy to either be caught up to be with him from my grave, or if I have to wait through several soundings of the trumps to be found worthy to remain through the millennium. How do I become that worthy? Simply by doing my best to follow His words every single day. By staying close to my Father through prayer. By reading the scriptures and letting them direct my thoughts and actions. By doing my best to be worthy of, and to pay attention to, the promptings of the Holy Ghost. And to changing my ways immediately when I realize I could be or do better. The Lord didn’t put us here to fail. He is always near us, waiting only for our approach. I need to continue my earthly learning efforts up until the day I am no longer here. That will bring me the greatest happiness here on earth, as well as in my heavenly home. I need to Just Do It! And try my best to Just Do It a little better every day. Simple!!

8/13/2021 – D&C 88:96-116

V 96 begins the information that tells us just how the resurrection will occur. It seems that it will be done in a planned order. Those who lived and are now in their graves, and those who are, at that time, currently living as ‘saints’, will be “caught up to meet him [the Lord, whose face has been revealed to all]” v 95. 

V 99 clearly says that after those people have been reunited with Christ, then “another angel shall sound, which is the second trump” and then all those who had already died, but had been in spirit prison where they had had the opportunity to be taught about God’s plan, “that they might receive the gospel and be judged according to men in the flesh”. 

V100: the third trump shall sound “and then come the spirits of men who are judged, and are found under condemnation. V 101 tells us that these people “will live not again until the thousand years are ended…until the end of the earth…” But after the millennium is completed a fourth trump will sound, and those who will be in the telestial kingdom, as well as those who are sons of perdition & “who remain filthy still”.

V 103 tells us there will be a fifth trump, and that will be sounded by an angel “who committeth the everlasting gospel…unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people.”

V 106: There will be a sixth trump which will tell us that all is completed, and confirm to all that: “It is finished! The Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.”

V 107: It is then that “the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.”

V’s 108-110: There will be yet another trump, and that will be a time for all to review: “the mighty works of God in the first thousand years—And so on, until the seventh angel shall sound his trump…” After everyone has gone back and examined the history of the earth and its people, then there they will declare “that there shall be time no longer; and Satan shall be bound…for the space of a thousand years….”

V’s 111-116: After Satan has been bound for 1000 years, he will be released, and there will be a great battle between the devil and his followers and Michael and his followers. Satan will lose this war, and then he and his armies “shall be cast away into their own place, that they shall not have power over the saints any more at all.” Those who remain with Michael will be sanctified [made holy]; and they shall not any more see death.”

The Prophet Joseph Smith explained that to be “heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” means “to inherit the same power, the same glory and the same exaltation, until [they] arrive at the station of a god, and ascend the throne of eternal power, the same as those who have gone before” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 222). He further explained: “God is thus glorified and exalted in the salvation and exaltation of all his children” (in Manuscript History of the Church, vol. E-1, page 1971, josephsmithpapers.org).