Gospel Doctrine Commentary
Lesson No. Thirty-Three

A Pattern for Preparing for the Second Coming

“In the Book of Mormon we find a pattern for preparing for the Second Coming.  A major portion of the book centers on the few decades just prior to Christ’s coming to America.  By careful study of that time period, we can determine why some were destroyed in the terrible judgments that preceded His coming and what brought others to stand at the temple in the land of Bountiful and thrust their hands into the wounds of His hands and feet” (Ezra Taft Benson, A Witness and a Warning, p. 20).

The nearer the Nephites got to the Lord’s coming in America the more their society resembles the world of today.  The Book of Helaman begins about 85 years before the Lord’s appearance at the temple in Bountiful.  We see many parallels in Helaman 1 – 6 to our day.  Prominent among these similarities is the rise of secret combinations.

The objective of secret conspiracies is “to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination)” (Helaman 2:8).  Some modern day examples are: 

• Organized crime/gangs who are strong enough to threaten the existence of major nations
• Terrorists like Gadianton, "who was exceedingly expert in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder" (Helaman 2:4), and like Kishkumen "mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found" (Helaman 1:12).
• Government corruption - Bribes are common in many large and small nations worldwide
• White collar and financial crime effects people at all levels of society worldwide
• Purveyors of pornography - This scourge hides in the dark and harms many people.  It gives "the devil power to captivate" his victims "to bring them down to hell" (2 Nephi 2:29).    
• Promoters of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco - the Lord warns us against these "conspiring men in the last days" (D&C 89:4).  These problems caused by these products are epidemic.

Modern secret conspiracies “seek to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries” (Ether 8:25).  The conspiracy to destroy our religious freedom is well under way.  The threat posed by godless conspiracies is stronger and more subtle than ever before, and our Church leaders are asking us to mobilize against this conspiracy.  On September 10, 2016 the Church launched a new web page at religiousfreedom.lds.org.  This web site is “packed with resources for the principle of defending religious liberty” (Deseret News, September 11, 2016, p. B1).

These conspirators come in the form of secularists, agnostics and atheists.  President Boyd K. Packer said:  "Atheists and agnostics make nonbelief their religion and today organize in unprecedented ways to attack faith and belief.  They are now organized, and they pursue political power.  You will be hearing much about them and from them" (Ensign, August 2010, p. 20-25).

Elder Oaks in a landmark sermon entitled Religious Freedom given at BYU-Idaho, 13 Oct 2009 identified the two greatest threats to religious freedom in the United States today:

• Secularists, agnostics, and atheists - First is "the ever growing, relentless attack on the Christian religion by forces who reject the existence or authority of God....This threat rises as proponents grow in numbers and aggressiveness.” 
• Same-gender marriage movement - "A second threat to religious freedom is from those who perceive it to be in conflict with the newly alleged 'civil right' of same-gender couples to enjoy the privileges of marriage."  The Supreme Court has now legalized same-sex marriage.  In response the First Presidency reaffirmed that while we should be compassionate, living in a same-sex marriage is a sin.  Some members disregard this council and choose to be “politically correct” when they should be more concerned about being “morally correct.”

The importance of members of the Church being righteous – If “pride [enters] into the church – not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God” (Helaman 3:33) then there is great reason for concern.  The great destruction experienced by the Nephites would not have happened had it not been for their wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God” (Helaman 4:11).

When the Nephites began to repent “they did begin to prosper” and by the strength of their armies they “regained one-half of their property and one-half of all their lands” (Helaman 4:15-16).  But this was all they accomplish with their armies. (See Helaman 4:18-19)  The strength of the Lord was required to regain the other half of their lands. 

Because of repentance the Lord did show forth his mighty power (see Helaman 5:14-49), and “the more part of the Lamanites were convinced…because of the greatness of the evidences they had received.  And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the traditions of their fathers.  And…they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possessions” (Helaman 5:50-52).  

The key to being prepared for the Second Coming is to be righteous and to stay in the main stream of the Church – “For the Lord hath said:  This is my church and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people” (Mosiah 27:13).  In our dispensation it will be individuals who will fall away.  The main body of the Church will be true and a great blessing to the world.

"The Book of Mormon makes it clear that we never will dominate by numbers. But we have the power of the priesthood.... “While it may be said … that we are but a handful in comparison with … the world, yet we may be compared with the leaven of which the Savior spoke, which will eventually leaven [or lift] the whole world" (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, April 2010; see also 1 Nephi 14:14).

As recorded in Helaman 4:15-19 we are to repent and do everything we can to bring to pass the Lord’s purposes, and then as recorded in Helaman 5:14-52 the Lord will do the rest.  Joseph Smith said it so well:

“You know, brethren, that a very large ship (the world) is benefited very much be a very small helm (the Church) in the time of a storm, by being kept workways with the wind and the waves.

“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed” (D&C 123:16-17).