Christ's Atonement and Preparing for His Second Coming

The Last Days of Jesus’ Mortal Mission

Important events led up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  On the sixth day before He was crucified, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, riding through the town on a donkey.  A great multitude greeted him, shouting hosanna and praising Him.  Christ goes directly to the temple.  On the fifth day, Jesus goes to the temple again, and challenges the Jewish religious leadership.  As Christ goes to leave, He explains that the House of the Lord is to be a place of prayer, not of personal gain.  On the fourth day before His crucifixion, Jesus’ wrath the previous day in the temple raises an issue of authority, which causes priests to challenge Him.  Jesus explains to the scribes and Pharisees that they are hypocrites.  Only the Twelve Disciples of Christ teach in public from this day forward.  Jewish leaders conspire even more to discover ways that they can end Jesus’ life.  On the third day, Jesus explains his knowledge of the plot to kill him.  This day he spends outside of the city.  The next day, the day before his crucifixion, Christ arranges the Passover meal.  He introduces the sacrament, and prophesies of His death and betrayal.  Jesus takes his Apostles to Gethsemane, and then takes Peter, James, and John further into the garden.  He asks them to stand watch.  Christ offers a prayer to Heavenly Father, asking Him to “let this cup pass from me,” and proceeds to bleed from every pore.  He is then betrayed by Judas, and taken into the city for an illegal and unjust trial.  On the day before He is crucified, the Jewish leaders discredit Jesus in front of His followers.  Jesus is convicted of blasphemy, taken to Pilate, and the death sentence pronounced.  The Romans then crucify Christ.  The day was a Friday.  He is buried in a sealed tomb by two of His disciples.  On the following Sunday, Christ is resurrected.  He appears to Mary after emerging alive in the flesh from the tomb.  Many testimonies are recorded as many saw and witnessed Christ after His resurrection.

I have a testimony that because Christ died for each one of us, we will have the opportunity to live again.  While life can be hard and days will be dark sometimes, we can find hope and peace through Christ’s Atonement.  One of my favorite Mormon Messages is by Joseph B. Wirthlin, titled “Sunday Will Come.”

Here is the video:

 


How can we prepare for when Christ comes again?  What do we need to do?  There has been much revealed doctrine on this topic, particularly in the Doctrine and Covenants.  

In Mark chapter 13, we learn some of the signs we can look for in order to recognize the nearness of the second coming.  In verses 6-8 we learn that people will arise claiming to be Christ, there will be rumors of wars, nations will rise against nations, and there will be "earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles."  

In Doctrine and Covenant chapter 87 verse 8 it reads: "Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord..."  Because we don't know exactly when He will come again, we need to be preparing each day for the time when He will come.  "Wherefore, be faithful, praying always, having your lamps trimmed and burning, and oil with you, that you may be ready at the coming of the Bridegroom."  We cannot suppose that if we've wasted our time "eating, drinking, and being merry," that suddenly when Christ does come, we'll be prepared to receive Him and to be judged according to our works.  We must have our lamps filled, meaning we must have a personal testimony and witness that Christ lives, that He atoned for us, and that His gospel is true.

I have a testimony that if we continually strive to come unto Christ, we will be blessed at that last day, and we will be prepared that amazing day when He comes again.

~Tanisha






Mormon Message retrieved from: http://www.mormonchannel.org/video/mormon-messages
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