Preparation for the Second Coming

Source: Ensign » 2004 » May (local copy)

Let's examine a few things written therein. The quoted passages are in blue.

Section I

1. The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.

Biblical prophecies do not talk about a restored gospel. Even the Book of Mormon does not contain the restored gospel. The gospel would exist in all ages since Jesus was adding to His church daily.

Section II

Another sign of the times is the gathering of the faithful ... the current commandment is not to gather to one place but to gather in stakes in our own homelands.

Religion 430-431 - Doctrines of the Gospel Student Manual says Jesus will make a special and private appearance to the Apostles of the LDS Church first. He will then appear to those Mormons who have gathered in the New Jerusalem (see Article of Faith 10) before God's wrath is poured out on the nations of the earth (chapter 36, page 101).

The Mormon Jesus will not return until Latter-day Saints build this New Jerusalem in Jackson County, Missouri in the United States. Latter-day Saints do not believe that Jesus can return any day because they have not yet started to construct the temple and New Jerusalem in Independence, Missouri.

Section III

A parable that contains an important and challenging teaching on this subject is the parable of the ten virgins. The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came.

If Latter-day Saints believe this teaching, then 50% of all Latter-day Saints will not make it to the marriage supper of the Mormon Jesus.

Section IV

Brothers and sisters, as the Book of Mormon teaches, “this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; … the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32). Are we preparing?

We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation 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. A 72-hour kit of temporal supplies may prove valuable for earthly challenges, but, as the foolish virgins learned to their sorrow, a 24-hour kit of spiritual preparation is of greater and more enduring value.

The Mormon Church teaches you can prepare to meet God after you die. This is evidenced by their proxy ordinances for the dead in their temples. The teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 138 are contrary to those in the Book of Mormon. There is no second chance after death for those who have rejected the gospel.

The Bible does not talk about either a 72-hour kit nor a 24-hour kit. If this Mormon teaching is true, then 50% of today's Latter-day Saints do not have their 24-hour spiritual preparation kit. These Latter-day Saints will be cast out by their Mormon Jesus.