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
Come Unto Christ image designed and created by Shayla Olson (https://www.etsy.com/listing/178621614/come-unto-christ-poster-2014-theme-for)

Disciples and Rewards

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?  There are several parables and accounts in the Old Testament that illuminate meaningful principles that can help us understand how to become a better disciple of Him.  In Luke 10:38-42, the story of Martha and Mary is recounted.  Christ comes to visit Martha, who has a sister named Mary.  Mary “[sits] at Jesus’ feet, and [hears] his word,” while Martha is “cumbered about much serving.”  Martha expresses her feelings to the Savior when she says, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”  Then Jesus answers, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  There are many ways that this account can be viewed and dissected, but I’ll just focus on one: Mary recognized that the Savior’s teachings were more important than other tasks that may have needed attending to at that moment.  How does this translate into being a disciple of Christ? Disciples of Christ listen to His word, and place Him and His teachings above anything and everything else.

In Luke 11:1-13 our Savior teaches man how to pray, and shares these well known words: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”  Disciples of Christ pray to Heavenly Father, seek forgiveness, search for truth, and listen for answers from Heavenly Father.

According to Christ’s teachings in Luke 12:13-40, disciples of Christ give no thought for themselves, but seek to serve others.  Disciples of Christ fear not, give all that they have, lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth, and trust in Heavenly Father.  Luke 14:33 says, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”  Ultimately we must be willing to give up anything and everything we have in order to be a disciple of Christ.  We must take up our cross and follow Him, no matter what sacrifices we may be required to make.

In the Book of Mormon it says, “And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved” (Omni 1:26).  Each day I will continually work to improve my dedication to my Savior, and to becoming more like a disciple of Him.  I know that is what He wants me do.

 

Earthly and Heavenly Rewards

Recall the parable Christ teaches to his disciples in Mathew 19:16-30, regarding a young man who comes to Christ and asks what he should do in order to have eternal life.  Christ first shares the Ten Commandments with the young man, to which the young man replies, “All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”  Then Christ says, “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”  Unfortunately, we know the ending to this parable.  The young man turns away, feeling sorrowful, because he had many great possessions.  Christ used this parable to teach His disciples that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Obviously, the word rich here holds a deeper meaning than what we may initially think; Christ is referring to riches of this world that keep us from following Him.  This could be any number of things, including actual money, homes, cars, vacations, hobbies, and so forth.  In Mathew 6:19-20 it says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  I have a testimony that all the wealth in the world can never make up for what we gain when we put Christ first in our lives.  If we are willing to give up everything for Him, we will be blessed.  “…seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Mathew 6:33).

I know that as we seek to be disciples of Christ, and put Him first in our lives by "laying up" our heavenly rewards, we will be happy and blessed.

~Tanisha