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The Coming of the Lord
HARDCOVER w/DUST JACKET
242 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1971
24 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Gerald N. Lund
87 books750 followersGerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction and is best known for his historical novels, including The Work and the Glory series, Fire of the Covenant, The Kingdom and the Crown series, and The Undaunted. He and his late wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
May 21, 2008
Gerald N. Lund writes this book regarding the last days by compiling revelations from the prophets. This is not written in the author's opinion, rather using his own words simply to tie together the prophesies into a readable format. My advice: don't stop half way through or you'll be left scared! The peace of the Second Coming is in the second half :)
June 14, 2016
I'm not even sure where to begin! There is so much to be learned within the pages of this book. Truly, life changing! Nothing I say could really do it justice, the depth and breadth of it's contents and concepts really need to be experienced firsthand.
There were many underlined passages, far too many to account for here, so I'll leave just one:
"With a work of such magnitude before them, the Latter-day Saints should be wide awake and should not have their minds engaged in those fooleries in which many indulge at the present time. We should put this things away and our inquiry should be - 'Lord, how can we prepare the way before Thy coming? How ca we prepare ourselves to perform the great work which must be performed in this greatest of dispensations..." ~Elder Orson Pratt
There were many underlined passages, far too many to account for here, so I'll leave just one:
"With a work of such magnitude before them, the Latter-day Saints should be wide awake and should not have their minds engaged in those fooleries in which many indulge at the present time. We should put this things away and our inquiry should be - 'Lord, how can we prepare the way before Thy coming? How ca we prepare ourselves to perform the great work which must be performed in this greatest of dispensations..." ~Elder Orson Pratt
September 10, 2014
It is a little out of date, but it had great quotes we just don't hear anymore.
I just re-read this, My edition is 1971. I see there is a 2005 edition. I will have to check that one out.
I just find a gem that is new to me:
David O. McKay speaking in 1935 on the topic of Zion, "...improve the means of communications until with radio in our pockets we may communicate with friends and loved ones from any point at any given moment." Ponder on that a moment.
I just re-read this, My edition is 1971. I see there is a 2005 edition. I will have to check that one out.
I just find a gem that is new to me:
David O. McKay speaking in 1935 on the topic of Zion, "...improve the means of communications until with radio in our pockets we may communicate with friends and loved ones from any point at any given moment." Ponder on that a moment.
June 5, 2008
My mother and brother and I read the first edition of this book together in 1976 before Mark's mission. It was at that time the finest published discussion of the "signs of the times." My copy is heavily underlined, and I have referred to it many times since then.
Gerald Lund is a LDS household name for his fiction, but he is also a legend in the Church Education system for his scholarship, insight, and amazing skill as a gospel teacher.
Gerald Lund is a LDS household name for his fiction, but he is also a legend in the Church Education system for his scholarship, insight, and amazing skill as a gospel teacher.
November 28, 2013
Synopsis: Elder Gerald N. Lund explores the prophecies of things that must come to pass before the second coming of Jesus Christ. Published in 1971, Elder Lund covers scriptural prophecies and prophecies that have been made by modern-day apostles and prophets up to the book's publication. Most of the prophecies of the second coming that have been made in the latter-days were made during the 19th century, with a smattering of follow-up prophecies here in the last 100 years or so. Everything has been meticulously researched and documented and the text of the book is based on scriptural references and quotes while avoiding additional speculation.
My Review: While the content of the book was interesting and the book itself was well-written and insightful, I had a difficult time reading this book. It never piqued by interest like I thought that it would and it took me nearly 3 months to make it through. My personal viewpoint is that while it is important to know and understand what the prophets have prophesied concerning the last days and the second coming, the fact of the matter is that no man knoweth the timing of the second coming. Another point is that if many of the latter-day prophesies are taken literally, then the prophets of these latter-days were off the mark. For example (and I can't quote exactly who said this, or when it was or what the phrasing was as I don't have the book with me), there were a few times in the 1870's time-range where it was prophesied that there were individuals in attendance that would live to see the great gathering to Missouri and Adam-ondi-Ahman. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that may be a tough one. My suggestion would be to take everything with a grain of salt and use your own judgment and inspiration to determine what you believe to be true. In the end I think that everything will make sense.
My Review: While the content of the book was interesting and the book itself was well-written and insightful, I had a difficult time reading this book. It never piqued by interest like I thought that it would and it took me nearly 3 months to make it through. My personal viewpoint is that while it is important to know and understand what the prophets have prophesied concerning the last days and the second coming, the fact of the matter is that no man knoweth the timing of the second coming. Another point is that if many of the latter-day prophesies are taken literally, then the prophets of these latter-days were off the mark. For example (and I can't quote exactly who said this, or when it was or what the phrasing was as I don't have the book with me), there were a few times in the 1870's time-range where it was prophesied that there were individuals in attendance that would live to see the great gathering to Missouri and Adam-ondi-Ahman. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that may be a tough one. My suggestion would be to take everything with a grain of salt and use your own judgment and inspiration to determine what you believe to be true. In the end I think that everything will make sense.
January 10, 2009
Lund lays out all the events preceding, during, and after the Second Coming of Christ in a straightforward, concise manner, emphasizing his points with scripture and quotes from the Brethren that enrich the entire work. He doesn't deal in speculation, just what has been revealed and how to prepare.
November 11, 2008
I always borrow from Gma and my Dad - need to just buy it. First part a little frightening and then the good stuff comes...so don't put it down too quickly.
April 15, 2016
I'm not one to get caught up in worrying about the signs of the times, but I liked this book and the quotes and scriptures that help put things in perspective and remind us of the importance of keeping the commandments, becoming pure in heart, listening to and following the prophet, studying and knowing the scriptures, doing all we can to build Zion and prepare for the coming of the Lord. What an exciting and wonderful time to be alive! We should be awake and prepared, but look forward with faith and no fear. We have to go on living our lives, but at the same time this book reminded me of the importance of focusing on those things that are eternally important - knowing the Lord and building Zion!
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"'There never was a generation of the inhabitants of the earth in any age of the world who had greater events awaiting them than the present....And an age fraught with greater interest to the children of men than the one in which we live never dawned since the creation of the world (Wilford Woodruff).'"
"'It never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are in broadcasting stories, or dreams, or visions, or purported patriarchal blessings, or quotations, or supposedly from some person's private diary....Brethren, I repeat, don't allow the works of the devil to be paraded in our midst and become the subject of discourses or lesson materials. Speak of the works of righteousness and the power of the devil will begin to cease among you (Harold B. Lee, p. 11).'"
"'I want to call the attention of the Latter-day Saints, and indeed if I had the power, the attention of all the world to the fact that God is speaking through the elements. The earthquakes, the sea heaving itself beyond its bounds, bringing such dire destruction as we have seen are the voice of God crying repentance to this generation (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 43).'"
"A land choice above all others lands requires a people choice above all other peoples (p. 47)."
"'It is said that brother Joseph in his lifetime declared that the Elders of this Church should step forth at a particular time when the Constitution would be in danger, and rescue it, and save it. This may be so; but I do not recollect that he said exactly so. I believe he said something like this--that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he, 'If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of this Church (Orson Hyde, p. 58).''"
"'When the people have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations. This is part of the program, and as long as we do what is right and fear God, he will help us and stand by us under all circumstances (John Taylor, p. 58).'"
"A few months before that revelation [D&C 101:6-7] was given, the Lord had defined Zion as the pure in heart and then he went on to explain what Zion (or the pure in heart) must do if they are to escape the wrath and vengeance of God that is coming upon the wicked.
'Nevertheless, Zion shall escape if she observe to do things whatsoever I have commanded her. But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire' (D&C 97:25-26).
So it is evident that the members of the Church who are not observing the commandments of the Lord in this day will likewise experience the wrath of God. This chastening will serve a valuable purpose in helping the Church prepare the world for the coming of the Lord. Many great tasks await the Lord's people if the world is to be ready for the return of the Savior. These chastening judgments will tend to weed out the wicked and unfaithful membership of the Church so that the Lord will have a people who will carry out his will in all things (p. 71)."
"'Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming....the Saints will be put to tests that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes (Heber C. Kimball, p. 74).'"
"The Savior taught that the very fact that one makes a commitment to the gospel may bring suffering and persecution upon him (p. 78)."
"One must not assume that suffering is necessarily a mark of wickedness, although there seems little question that often it is a result of unrighteous living. 'But,' says one, 'what good then is the righteous life if it is not guarantee of protection in the dark days ahead?' The first obvious answer to such a question is that there is a joy and satisfaction in obedience to gospel principles which would, in and of itself, justify the Christ-like life. Second, as Joseph Smith suggested, even if the righteous should fall prey to the weaknesses of the flesh, they will be saved in the kingdom of God. In the span of eternity, this life is but for a moment and the eternal reward is of much deeper significance than a brief flash of comfort and painlessness in mortality (p. 79)."
"It is very hard for some people to overcome the idea that God's judgments are the expressions of an angry, revengeful deity. They still cannot grasp the principle discussed...by Joseph F. Smith that behind God's judgment lies his deep desire to bring about the redemption of man (p. 81)."
"It is not meant to imply, of course, that one simply has to gather to Zion to be saved....the Lord defines Zion as the pure in heart. If those who gather are not pure in heart, they obviously have not come to Zion....
'We are gathered together expressly to become of one heart and of one mind in all our operations and endeavors to establish Christ's spiritual and temporal kingdom upon the earth, to prepare for the coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory (Brigham Young).'"
"'There will be here and there a Stake (of Zion) for the gathering of the Saints. Some may have cried peace, but the Saints and the world will have little peace from henceforth. Let this not hinder us from going to the Stakes: for God has told us to flee, not dallying, or we shall be scattered, one here, and another there. There your children shall be blessed, and you in the midst of friends where you may be blessed. The Gospel net gathers of every kind....We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste (Joseph Smith, p. 87).'"
"Brigham Young often spoke of the mountains as being a place of refuge, but he also said: 'The time is nigh when every man that will not take up his sword against his neighbor must needs flee to Zion. Where is Zion? Where the organization of the Church of God is. And may it dwell spiritually in every heart; and may we so live as to always enjoy the Spirit of Zion!'"
"'The only safety we can expect in this or any other calamitous time lies in our conformity to gospel requirements (John A. Widtsoe, p. 93).'"
"The important thing is for a person to so live that when the instructions come from the Lord through his servants, he will be ready to heed them and to gather to the designated places, be it Salt Lake City, the outlying stakes, or wherever (p. 95)."
"The primary task of each member of the Church today is to make sure that he has placed his own hand in the hand of God. Only thus will a person be guided into those places of safe harbor. Zion is the place of refuge, and Zion is the pure in heart. For those who can truly qualify as 'living in Zion' there will be no terror in the days to come (p. 98)."
"'Just as soon as the Latter-day Saints are ready and prepared to return to Independence, Jackson County, in the State of Missouri, North America, just so soon will the voice of the Lord be heard, 'Arise now, Israel, and make your way to the centre stake of Zion.'....We must be pure to be prepared to build up Zion. To all appearance, the Lord is preparing that end of the route faster than we are preparing ourselves to go there (Brigham Young, p. 114).'"
"Obviously, the city thus described by the various prophets will not be standing waiting for the saints to inhabit it, nor will such a city build itself. This is to be one of the great tasks of the saints who are privileged to return to the land of Zion. A city of such marvelous construction cannot be built after earthly patterns and the prophets have made it most evident that the Lord's servants will complete this work through revelation which he gives to them (p. 122)."
"'The architectural designs of those splendid edifices, cities, walls, gardens, bowers, streets, etc., will be under the direction of the Lord, who will control and manage all these matters; and the people, from the Priesthood down, will all be under the guidance and direction of the Lord in all the pursuits of human life, until eventually they will be enabled to erect cities that will be fit to be caught up--that when Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath, and be prepared to associate with those from above (John Taylor, p. 123).'"
"'He has called upon us to do this work; and if we will let Him work by, through, and with us, He can accomplish it; otherwise we shall fall short, and shall never have the honor of building up Zion on earth (Brigham Young, p. 125).'"
"'That true light which is of God will be rendered visible to the eyes of all the inhabitants of that city. And shall I limit it there? No. The light will shine so conspicuously from that city, extending to the very heavens, that it will in reality be like unto a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid, and it will have quite a tendency to strike terror to all the nations of the earth (Orson Pratt, p. 128).'"
"'Many of you will be living in Jackson County and there you will be assisting in building the Temple; and if you will not have seen the Lord Jesus at that time you may expect Him very soon, and to see Him, to eat and drink with Him, to shake hands with Him and to invite Him to your houses as He was invited when He was here before. I am saying things to you now, which I know something of the truth of them (p. Lorenzo Snow, p. 139).'"
"'This government which embraces all the peoples of the earth, both in and out of the Church, is also sometimes spoken of as the kingdom of God, because the people are subject to the kingdom of God which Christ will set up; but they have their agency and thousands will not be members of the Church until they are converted; yet at the same time they will be subject to the theocratic rule (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 146).'"
"Thus, what Daniel foresaw was a great meeting of all the righteous holders of priesthood keys in the various dispensations. At this great meeting they each in turn stand before Adam to report their labors to him. Not only were the purposes and participators in this great event shown to Joseph Smith, but also he was given the location of that great council (p. 168)."
"'All the various quorums and councils of the Priesthood in every dispensation that has transpired since the days of Adam until the present time will find their places, according to the callings, gifts, blessings, ordinations, and keys of Priesthood which the Lord Almighty has conferred upon them in their several generations. This, then, will be one of the grandest meetings that has ever transpired upon the face of our globe (p. Orson Pratt, p. 169).'"
"'When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the Church at large will not know of it, yet it shall be preparatory to the coming in the clouds of glory of our Savior Jesus Christ as the Prophet Joseph Smith has said. The world cannot know of it. The Saints cannot know of it--except those who officially shall be called into this council--for it shall proceed the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 170).'"
"We know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored specifically to prepare the world for the great millennial day (p. 197)."
"'In our own day messengers have come from the presence of the Lord declaring that it is even now at our doors, and yet many even among the Latter-day Saints, go about their affairs as though this coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the ushering in of this reign of peace had been indefinitely postponed for many generations. I say this to you that it is at our doors (LeGrand Richards, p. 199).'"
"'It is our duty to go to the temple and take our records and work for the dead of our own lineage as far back as we can go....The great work of the millennium, of 1,000 years, will be for the salvation of these souls. Those who will be living here then will be in daily communication with those who have passed through the resurrection, and they will come with this information, this knowledge that we do not have, and will give it to those who are in mortality....And in that way every soul who is entitled to a place in the celestial kingdom of God will be ferreted out, and not one soul shall be overlooked (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 211).'"
"'While the world is in a state of commotion and there is perplexity among the nations, the Latter-day Saints have no fears for the future. The signs of the times indicate the near approach of the coming of the Lord, and the work that we are engaged in is a preparatory one for that great event (Heber J. Grant, p. 220).'"
"The Lord will watch over and protect those willing to follow his counsel (p. 220)."
"For those so qualified, the opportunity to live through the last days preceding the return of the Savior shall be a blessing the likes of which few generations have enjoyed (p. 233)."
"'These are the last days spoken of by the prophets of old. These are the signs. Oh, Latter-day Saints, let us, though we be in Zion, be not asleep, for this is the day when no man can be at peace, nor shall we remain at peace in sin or in transgression; for everything will be shaken that is not built upon righteousness, and every man, whether in Zion or elsewhere, who does not keep the commandments of God, shall be shaken and shall fall, and shall feel the chastening hand of the Almighty (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 226).'"
"'For they that are wise and received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day (D&C 45:56-57, p. 228).'"
"'How shall we set about to prepare a people to receive the coming of the Lord?....This preparation demands first that a people, to receive the coming of the Lord, must be taught the personality and the nature of God and his Son, Jesus Christ....[and] that the people be taught to accept the divinity of the mission of Jesus as the Savior of the world....We must be cleansed and purified and sanctified to be made worthy to receive and abide that holy presence....We must accept the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as the instrumentality through which the restoration of the gospel and the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ was accomplished (Harold B. Lee, p. 229).'"
"'You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory' (D&C 21:6) (Harold B. Lee, p. 230).'"
"'Fear is a chief weapon of Satan in making mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life, for the fight against evil (John A. Widtsoe, p. 231).'"
"'With a work of such magnitude before them, the Latter-day Saints should be wide awake, and should not have their minds engaged in those fooleries in which many indulge at the present time. We should put these things away, and our inquiry should be, 'Lord how can we prepare the way before they coming? How can we prepare ourselves to perform the great work which must be performed in this greatest of dispensations, the dispensation of the fulness of times? How can we be prepared to behold the Saints who lived on the earth in former dispensations, and take them by the hand and fall upon their necks and they fall upon ours, and we embrace each other? How can we be prepared for this?' How can all things that are in Christ Jesus, both which are in heaven and on the earth, be assembled in one grand assembly, without we are wide awake (p. Orson Pratt, p. 232)?'"
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
"'There never was a generation of the inhabitants of the earth in any age of the world who had greater events awaiting them than the present....And an age fraught with greater interest to the children of men than the one in which we live never dawned since the creation of the world (Wilford Woodruff).'"
"'It never ceases to amaze me how gullible some of our Church members are in broadcasting stories, or dreams, or visions, or purported patriarchal blessings, or quotations, or supposedly from some person's private diary....Brethren, I repeat, don't allow the works of the devil to be paraded in our midst and become the subject of discourses or lesson materials. Speak of the works of righteousness and the power of the devil will begin to cease among you (Harold B. Lee, p. 11).'"
"'I want to call the attention of the Latter-day Saints, and indeed if I had the power, the attention of all the world to the fact that God is speaking through the elements. The earthquakes, the sea heaving itself beyond its bounds, bringing such dire destruction as we have seen are the voice of God crying repentance to this generation (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 43).'"
"A land choice above all others lands requires a people choice above all other peoples (p. 47)."
"'It is said that brother Joseph in his lifetime declared that the Elders of this Church should step forth at a particular time when the Constitution would be in danger, and rescue it, and save it. This may be so; but I do not recollect that he said exactly so. I believe he said something like this--that the time would come when the Constitution and the country would be in danger of an overthrow; and said he, 'If the Constitution be saved at all, it will be by the elders of this Church (Orson Hyde, p. 58).''"
"'When the people have torn to shreds the Constitution of the United States the Elders of Israel will be found holding it up to the nations of the earth and proclaiming liberty and equal rights to all men, and extending the hand of fellowship to the oppressed of all nations. This is part of the program, and as long as we do what is right and fear God, he will help us and stand by us under all circumstances (John Taylor, p. 58).'"
"A few months before that revelation [D&C 101:6-7] was given, the Lord had defined Zion as the pure in heart and then he went on to explain what Zion (or the pure in heart) must do if they are to escape the wrath and vengeance of God that is coming upon the wicked.
'Nevertheless, Zion shall escape if she observe to do things whatsoever I have commanded her. But if she observe not to do whatsoever I have commanded her, I will visit her according to all her works, with sore affliction, with pestilence, with plague, with sword, with vengeance, with devouring fire' (D&C 97:25-26).
So it is evident that the members of the Church who are not observing the commandments of the Lord in this day will likewise experience the wrath of God. This chastening will serve a valuable purpose in helping the Church prepare the world for the coming of the Lord. Many great tasks await the Lord's people if the world is to be ready for the return of the Savior. These chastening judgments will tend to weed out the wicked and unfaithful membership of the Church so that the Lord will have a people who will carry out his will in all things (p. 71)."
"'Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming....the Saints will be put to tests that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes (Heber C. Kimball, p. 74).'"
"The Savior taught that the very fact that one makes a commitment to the gospel may bring suffering and persecution upon him (p. 78)."
"One must not assume that suffering is necessarily a mark of wickedness, although there seems little question that often it is a result of unrighteous living. 'But,' says one, 'what good then is the righteous life if it is not guarantee of protection in the dark days ahead?' The first obvious answer to such a question is that there is a joy and satisfaction in obedience to gospel principles which would, in and of itself, justify the Christ-like life. Second, as Joseph Smith suggested, even if the righteous should fall prey to the weaknesses of the flesh, they will be saved in the kingdom of God. In the span of eternity, this life is but for a moment and the eternal reward is of much deeper significance than a brief flash of comfort and painlessness in mortality (p. 79)."
"It is very hard for some people to overcome the idea that God's judgments are the expressions of an angry, revengeful deity. They still cannot grasp the principle discussed...by Joseph F. Smith that behind God's judgment lies his deep desire to bring about the redemption of man (p. 81)."
"It is not meant to imply, of course, that one simply has to gather to Zion to be saved....the Lord defines Zion as the pure in heart. If those who gather are not pure in heart, they obviously have not come to Zion....
'We are gathered together expressly to become of one heart and of one mind in all our operations and endeavors to establish Christ's spiritual and temporal kingdom upon the earth, to prepare for the coming of the Son of Man in power and great glory (Brigham Young).'"
"'There will be here and there a Stake (of Zion) for the gathering of the Saints. Some may have cried peace, but the Saints and the world will have little peace from henceforth. Let this not hinder us from going to the Stakes: for God has told us to flee, not dallying, or we shall be scattered, one here, and another there. There your children shall be blessed, and you in the midst of friends where you may be blessed. The Gospel net gathers of every kind....We ought to have the building up of Zion as our greatest object. When wars come, we shall have to flee to Zion. The cry is to make haste (Joseph Smith, p. 87).'"
"Brigham Young often spoke of the mountains as being a place of refuge, but he also said: 'The time is nigh when every man that will not take up his sword against his neighbor must needs flee to Zion. Where is Zion? Where the organization of the Church of God is. And may it dwell spiritually in every heart; and may we so live as to always enjoy the Spirit of Zion!'"
"'The only safety we can expect in this or any other calamitous time lies in our conformity to gospel requirements (John A. Widtsoe, p. 93).'"
"The important thing is for a person to so live that when the instructions come from the Lord through his servants, he will be ready to heed them and to gather to the designated places, be it Salt Lake City, the outlying stakes, or wherever (p. 95)."
"The primary task of each member of the Church today is to make sure that he has placed his own hand in the hand of God. Only thus will a person be guided into those places of safe harbor. Zion is the place of refuge, and Zion is the pure in heart. For those who can truly qualify as 'living in Zion' there will be no terror in the days to come (p. 98)."
"'Just as soon as the Latter-day Saints are ready and prepared to return to Independence, Jackson County, in the State of Missouri, North America, just so soon will the voice of the Lord be heard, 'Arise now, Israel, and make your way to the centre stake of Zion.'....We must be pure to be prepared to build up Zion. To all appearance, the Lord is preparing that end of the route faster than we are preparing ourselves to go there (Brigham Young, p. 114).'"
"Obviously, the city thus described by the various prophets will not be standing waiting for the saints to inhabit it, nor will such a city build itself. This is to be one of the great tasks of the saints who are privileged to return to the land of Zion. A city of such marvelous construction cannot be built after earthly patterns and the prophets have made it most evident that the Lord's servants will complete this work through revelation which he gives to them (p. 122)."
"'The architectural designs of those splendid edifices, cities, walls, gardens, bowers, streets, etc., will be under the direction of the Lord, who will control and manage all these matters; and the people, from the Priesthood down, will all be under the guidance and direction of the Lord in all the pursuits of human life, until eventually they will be enabled to erect cities that will be fit to be caught up--that when Zion descends from above, Zion will also ascend from beneath, and be prepared to associate with those from above (John Taylor, p. 123).'"
"'He has called upon us to do this work; and if we will let Him work by, through, and with us, He can accomplish it; otherwise we shall fall short, and shall never have the honor of building up Zion on earth (Brigham Young, p. 125).'"
"'That true light which is of God will be rendered visible to the eyes of all the inhabitants of that city. And shall I limit it there? No. The light will shine so conspicuously from that city, extending to the very heavens, that it will in reality be like unto a city set upon a hill that cannot be hid, and it will have quite a tendency to strike terror to all the nations of the earth (Orson Pratt, p. 128).'"
"'Many of you will be living in Jackson County and there you will be assisting in building the Temple; and if you will not have seen the Lord Jesus at that time you may expect Him very soon, and to see Him, to eat and drink with Him, to shake hands with Him and to invite Him to your houses as He was invited when He was here before. I am saying things to you now, which I know something of the truth of them (p. Lorenzo Snow, p. 139).'"
"'This government which embraces all the peoples of the earth, both in and out of the Church, is also sometimes spoken of as the kingdom of God, because the people are subject to the kingdom of God which Christ will set up; but they have their agency and thousands will not be members of the Church until they are converted; yet at the same time they will be subject to the theocratic rule (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 146).'"
"Thus, what Daniel foresaw was a great meeting of all the righteous holders of priesthood keys in the various dispensations. At this great meeting they each in turn stand before Adam to report their labors to him. Not only were the purposes and participators in this great event shown to Joseph Smith, but also he was given the location of that great council (p. 168)."
"'All the various quorums and councils of the Priesthood in every dispensation that has transpired since the days of Adam until the present time will find their places, according to the callings, gifts, blessings, ordinations, and keys of Priesthood which the Lord Almighty has conferred upon them in their several generations. This, then, will be one of the grandest meetings that has ever transpired upon the face of our globe (p. Orson Pratt, p. 169).'"
"'When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the Church at large will not know of it, yet it shall be preparatory to the coming in the clouds of glory of our Savior Jesus Christ as the Prophet Joseph Smith has said. The world cannot know of it. The Saints cannot know of it--except those who officially shall be called into this council--for it shall proceed the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 170).'"
"We know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored specifically to prepare the world for the great millennial day (p. 197)."
"'In our own day messengers have come from the presence of the Lord declaring that it is even now at our doors, and yet many even among the Latter-day Saints, go about their affairs as though this coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the ushering in of this reign of peace had been indefinitely postponed for many generations. I say this to you that it is at our doors (LeGrand Richards, p. 199).'"
"'It is our duty to go to the temple and take our records and work for the dead of our own lineage as far back as we can go....The great work of the millennium, of 1,000 years, will be for the salvation of these souls. Those who will be living here then will be in daily communication with those who have passed through the resurrection, and they will come with this information, this knowledge that we do not have, and will give it to those who are in mortality....And in that way every soul who is entitled to a place in the celestial kingdom of God will be ferreted out, and not one soul shall be overlooked (Joseph Fielding Smith, p. 211).'"
"'While the world is in a state of commotion and there is perplexity among the nations, the Latter-day Saints have no fears for the future. The signs of the times indicate the near approach of the coming of the Lord, and the work that we are engaged in is a preparatory one for that great event (Heber J. Grant, p. 220).'"
"The Lord will watch over and protect those willing to follow his counsel (p. 220)."
"For those so qualified, the opportunity to live through the last days preceding the return of the Savior shall be a blessing the likes of which few generations have enjoyed (p. 233)."
"'These are the last days spoken of by the prophets of old. These are the signs. Oh, Latter-day Saints, let us, though we be in Zion, be not asleep, for this is the day when no man can be at peace, nor shall we remain at peace in sin or in transgression; for everything will be shaken that is not built upon righteousness, and every man, whether in Zion or elsewhere, who does not keep the commandments of God, shall be shaken and shall fall, and shall feel the chastening hand of the Almighty (Melvin J. Ballard, p. 226).'"
"'For they that are wise and received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day (D&C 45:56-57, p. 228).'"
"'How shall we set about to prepare a people to receive the coming of the Lord?....This preparation demands first that a people, to receive the coming of the Lord, must be taught the personality and the nature of God and his Son, Jesus Christ....[and] that the people be taught to accept the divinity of the mission of Jesus as the Savior of the world....We must be cleansed and purified and sanctified to be made worthy to receive and abide that holy presence....We must accept the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as the instrumentality through which the restoration of the gospel and the organization of the Church of Jesus Christ was accomplished (Harold B. Lee, p. 229).'"
"'You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory' (D&C 21:6) (Harold B. Lee, p. 230).'"
"'Fear is a chief weapon of Satan in making mankind unhappy. He who fears loses strength for the combat of life, for the fight against evil (John A. Widtsoe, p. 231).'"
"'With a work of such magnitude before them, the Latter-day Saints should be wide awake, and should not have their minds engaged in those fooleries in which many indulge at the present time. We should put these things away, and our inquiry should be, 'Lord how can we prepare the way before they coming? How can we prepare ourselves to perform the great work which must be performed in this greatest of dispensations, the dispensation of the fulness of times? How can we be prepared to behold the Saints who lived on the earth in former dispensations, and take them by the hand and fall upon their necks and they fall upon ours, and we embrace each other? How can we be prepared for this?' How can all things that are in Christ Jesus, both which are in heaven and on the earth, be assembled in one grand assembly, without we are wide awake (p. Orson Pratt, p. 232)?'"
April 21, 2019
I'm a newcomer to the world of podcasts, and one of the very first ones I heard was a fascinating interview with Elder Gerald N. Lund, well known in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his prolific writing of historical fiction, such as The Work and the Glory series. The podcast series ALL IN was interviewing Elder Lund about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, a subject on which he is very knowledgeable. The Coming of the Lord, Elder Lund's very first book, was referenced several times and, since a 30 minute podcast episode can only cover so much, I sought after the book. The subject is gripping, dramatic, and very interesting. The book is well-researched, using many quotes and prophecies from scriptures and the prophets of old and in the latter days. It is interesting to think that it was written in the early 1970s because many of those prophecies have already been fulfilled. I'm giving the book 4 stars only because the writing was a bit cumbersome. Elder Lund did mention on the podcast that he is in the process of writing a revised version of The Coming of the Lord. I would be curious to compare it with the original.
April 22, 2020
A must read. This book is old, I think from about 1971, yet it is completely relevant to what we are experiencing today. Full of scripture and quotes from general authorities, it weaves together what was prophesied for our time, prophesies already fulfilled, prophesies in process, and prophesies that still need to come to pass prior to the Savior's return. Eye-opening, awe-inspiring, frightening yet hopeful. It left me feeling nothing but gratitude for the Heavens are truly open to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.
November 30, 2018
I love books like this. Written with little commentary just enough to tie ideas and quotes together. I haven't read a book like this for a while and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Most of the quotes I had read before and all the scriptures I had studied before, so not a lot of new information for me. but very interesting. For a book written so long ago, you can even see many of the prophecies quoted fulfilled even if it is just partially.
March 24, 2019
A brief but good book about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the signs of the times, and preparing for that day. The book emphasizes that the righteous need not fear and talks about how we can prepare and live to not be afraid but rather have joy in the blessings of living in this last dispensation.
One great strength of this book was it's extensive quotations of the teachings of modern prophets and apostles. Very helpful.
One great strength of this book was it's extensive quotations of the teachings of modern prophets and apostles. Very helpful.
December 10, 2019
While this book was eye opening about all the quotes regarding the events surrounding the second coming of our Lord, I think I left with more questions than coming into it. It was definitely an interesting read, but I think I will just worry about trying to live a good life and be a good person rather than trying to piece together and memorize all the signs.
April 20, 2020
This book is on the list published by LDS Living a couple of years ago. The list is called: "The Ultimate List of LDS Classics Every Mormon Should Read." Lund describes events which are to precede and accompany the Second Coming. His references are good - quoting from scriptural passages and comments from modern prophets.
September 1, 2020
According to Amazon, this book was originally published in 1971 and was a best seller. I found it fascinating because it was based on well documented revelations in scripture and other reliable sources, without speculations from the author. I'm looking forward to getting my pre-ordered copy of Lund's updated version entitled "The Second Coming of the Lord".
August 28, 2023
I didn't realize until about halfway through that there is an updated edition, I wish I had read that instead. There is useful and interesting information in the book, but for me personally, it was really hard to get through. I just didn't find it as compelling for whatever reason, though I'm obviously in the minority there.
April 13, 2022
This was a long read with a lot of quotes and information I hadn’t read much before. A lot of repetition but I guess that is because we need repetition! The be prepared and you don’t need to fear sentiment was the main idea and I liked that.
June 24, 2017
see "Kaylynn's" review below. It is exactly what I would say.
October 29, 2019
A great look into the second coming, though a bit out dated.
December 28, 2019
A bit dated but still interesting.
May 25, 2009
The author was originally a seminary/institute teacher, later member of Quorum of Seventy [1st, 2nd, I can't remember:] and author of The Work and the Glory series. In this 1971 book, he collects and organizes quotes from the scriptures and Journal of Discourses about the events leading to the Second Coming. He emphasizes the Rocky Mountain fortress view that at some point the Rocky Mountains would be the only place on earth free of mob rule and turmoil. Most of the quotes are of brethren long dead, the most recent ones are J. Ruben Clark and Joseph Fielding Smith.
With the explosive international growth of the church in the almost 4 decades since it was written, I am not sure that their will be a long period of time when the whole earth except the Rocky Mountains will be in chaos.
This is kind of typical of a number of books written pre 2000, where the authors were thinking that things would all wind up about the turn of the century.
Of note, there are no "the end is near", type quotes from any president of the church since Joseph Fielding Smith. There have been a lot of talks about standing in holy places and personal and family worthiness though. So the end may be near, but I don't think that the entire membership of the church is going be called to gather to the Rocky Mountains, only that they try to be worthy wherever they are.
With the explosive international growth of the church in the almost 4 decades since it was written, I am not sure that their will be a long period of time when the whole earth except the Rocky Mountains will be in chaos.
This is kind of typical of a number of books written pre 2000, where the authors were thinking that things would all wind up about the turn of the century.
Of note, there are no "the end is near", type quotes from any president of the church since Joseph Fielding Smith. There have been a lot of talks about standing in holy places and personal and family worthiness though. So the end may be near, but I don't think that the entire membership of the church is going be called to gather to the Rocky Mountains, only that they try to be worthy wherever they are.
September 3, 2019
3.5 stars. This is an interesting book. I didn’t find much that I hadn’t read before, but it is nice to have everything in one place. It is nearly 50 years old, now. I am interested to see what changes will be made in the new edition Lund is currently working on.
For someone who has not studied much about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ this book could be a good choice. However, there are several prophecies that have been fulfilled since publication in 1971. It is also hard to know if every quote was meant to be taken as revelation or not. Some quotes (originally said 110-120 years ago) mention people in the congregation will be participating in certain events. I guess that didn’t mean in their mortal lives. Like I said, I am interested to see how this book is updated, and how perspectives may have changed in the last 50 years.
This is heavy on the Orson Pratt quotes.
Note on the ebook edition:
The OCR is quite spotty. There are wrong words on nearly every page. Some make the sentences quite ridiculous. For example, a group of people were described as “clown-trodden” when it was probably meant to say they were “down-trodden.”
For someone who has not studied much about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ this book could be a good choice. However, there are several prophecies that have been fulfilled since publication in 1971. It is also hard to know if every quote was meant to be taken as revelation or not. Some quotes (originally said 110-120 years ago) mention people in the congregation will be participating in certain events. I guess that didn’t mean in their mortal lives. Like I said, I am interested to see how this book is updated, and how perspectives may have changed in the last 50 years.
This is heavy on the Orson Pratt quotes.
Note on the ebook edition:
The OCR is quite spotty. There are wrong words on nearly every page. Some make the sentences quite ridiculous. For example, a group of people were described as “clown-trodden” when it was probably meant to say they were “down-trodden.”
July 14, 2013
I've read this at least five times. I use it constantly as a reference book to study the signs of the times in the last days. I believe it has been in constant print since first published in the 70's. That shows you that the subject is both interesting and his treatment is fair, although it reads more like a textbook than an informative narrative. There are plenty of references and quotes. I wish there was more about the prophesied cataclysmic catastrophes, but you can learn plenty from the amount he does share. Thank you Gerald Lund for writing this LDS classic.
November 24, 2008
This was a great read. Even though it was written over 30 years ago, it was pretty relavent. I especially appreciate the fact that reading this helped to calm some of my fears about the end of the world, and it actually got me excited for some of the cool things that have been prophesied. Definitely worth a read if you have questions about what will happen, when, and why. And if you're living an honest, good life, then it really gives you reassurance that it will all work out OK.
June 11, 2008
I read this book for the first time in the early 1990s. My branch president in Pennsylvania, Roberto Villafane, loaned us his copy and we went and bought our own. I have loved it ever since.
This book has NO speculation--it is grounded in scriptures and in the words of the prophets. It has given us a great understanding of what will happen before the Savior comes. We need to prepare well so we will have no reason to fear.
Kathy Blose
This book has NO speculation--it is grounded in scriptures and in the words of the prophets. It has given us a great understanding of what will happen before the Savior comes. We need to prepare well so we will have no reason to fear.
Kathy Blose
June 30, 2008
I believe this was Gerald Lund's first book, written back in the early 1970s. It is a doctrinal examination of the signs and times of the last days, grounded in scripture and the writings of prophets and apostles. It walks the reader chronologically through what has happened, what is happening, and what will happen in fulfillment of prophecy, both ancient and modern. Highly recommended for any serious student of the gospel.
December 12, 2012
I loved this book. I have heard bits and pieces of the prophecies of the Second Coming throughout the years, but I have never really studied them in depth. Gerald Lund did a superb job of combining all these prophecies in one work. I learned so much from this book and I'm very grateful that I read it. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about this topic and by so doing, be more prepared for that time.
March 21, 2009
A must-read. I no longer fear/worry about the Second Coming as much as I did before because I am more familiar with the signs and can see where we are on the timeline. Lund puts it all together in this book, and goes strictly from the scriptures and quotes from prophets and apostles. That was important to me.
January 29, 2011
This did have some good information, and I appreciate the fact that everything was referenced by either scripture or GA (though not recent in the slightest), but it was WAY too much information for me. And I felt while reading it that perhaps the earlier generations of the church were a little bit obsessed by the Second Coming. Just my opinion. Maybe I'm being blasphemous!
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