Elder Christofferson’s address

While I was at the conference in Buenos Aires that I mentioned earlier, the Spirit made clear to me that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is uniquely empowered and commissioned to accomplish the necessary preparations for the Lord’s Second Coming; indeed, it was restored for that purpose. 

In what ways is the Church uniquely empowered and commissioned to accomplish the necessary preparations for the Lord’s Second Coming?

Why is it important that we do this?

What should we be doing to prepare for the Second Coming?

Elder Christofferson suggested three things:

We can prepare ourselves as a people;

we can gather the Lord’s covenant people;

and we can help redeem the promise of salvation “made to the fathers,” our ancestors. All of this must occur in some substantial measure before the Lord comes again.

Do you recognise the three things that Elder Christofferson suggests? They are not new but they are still vital. We sometimes refer to them as the ‘three-fold mission of the  Church’ – perfect the Saints, missionary work, redeem the dead.

Here in the Europe Area, we have essentially the same three imperatives in our Area Plan:

• Follow the Prophet
• Invite a Friend to Sacrament meeting
• Take an ancestor to the temple.

Preparing ourselves as a people

First, and crucial for the Lord’s return, is the presence on the earth of a people prepared to receive Him at His coming. 

What do you think Elder Christofferson is trying to teach us here?

Do you have any ideas for practical things we can do to  prepare as a people for the Second Coming ?

Elder Christoffersen mentions:

• partaking of the sacrament
•  increasing our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and in His Atonement
• making and keeping covenants with God
•  strengthening and sealing families
• hallowing the Sabbath
• a daily feasting upon the gospel

Consider this list – which could you do better on?

In ancient times, God took the righteous city of Zion to Himself. By contrast, in the last days a new Zion will receive the Lord at His return.

What is this new Zion that will receive the Lord at his return?

Gathering the Lord’s covenant people

President Nelson has repeatedly emphasized that the “gathering [of Israel] is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, … you can be a big part of it.

What do we mean by the gathering of Israel?

Why is the gathering of Israel the most important thing taking place on the earth today?

What are some practical ways that we can be part of the gathering of Israel?

What have you tried successfully?

Redeem the promise of salvation made to the fathers

Also vital to the preparation for the Second Coming is the great redemptive effort on behalf of our ancestors. 

It has never been easier to be involved in this work of redeeming the dead. What are some of the practical ways we can be involved?

Let us be about building up Zion to hasten that day. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

(Excerpts from Elder Christofferson’s address are in italics)