Current Lessons
Principles of Good Government No. Twelve

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the Second Coming

Kyiv Ukraine Temple

Freedom and the future of Ukraine – During the build up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine my son John wrote an excellent article for ETF Strategist Channel.  In 1991 John was one of the first missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be assigned to Ukraine.  He was there when Ukrainians got their freedom from the Soviet Union.  He still has many friends in Ukraine.  He has inspired insights about freedom and the future of Ukraine.  

My personal thoughts on the invasion of Ukraine – Since the Russian action against Ukraine which began on February 24, 2022 I have been asked several times for my opinion of how this invasion may relate to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  My thoughts include the following:

  1. Signs of the Second Coming – Wars and rumors of wars such as the invasion of Ukraine, and other things like Covid, unprecedented fires, storms, and other natural disasters, are all signs that the coming of the Lord is getting closer. 

  2.  The Lord is hastening His work and He expects us to hasten ours also – I do not think the Second Coming will happen this year, or the next, or the next, because I believe the Lord’s people and His Church need more time to make individual and collective preparations. Collectively, there is more missionary work to do and temples to be built and filled. Individually, there is more repentance, meekness, humility, obedience, and sacrifice needed.  Nevertheless, I believe there are many people living today who will see the Second Coming.  

  3. The Second Coming is at the doors; it will come quickly when we do not expect it – Therefore, we all need to prepare wisely and live righteously.  We all need to strengthen our spiritual foundation by serving others, studying the scriptures, attending the temple, repenting, and doing the other things President Nelson and our Church leaders have asked us to do.  

  4. Have confidence in the Lord and His promises – There is a bright future for all who “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men” (2 Nephi 32:20).  We should all view the future with an “eye of faith” (Alma 5:15; 32:40; Ether 12:19) and act with confidence.  Young people need to get an education, get married, find jobs, raise a family just as all generations before them have done.  Most of all we must trust in the Lord and His promises.

  5. Stay on the covenant path and in the mainstream of the Church – We must give heed to the teachings of latter day apostles and prophets.  A wonderful example of these teachings is The Family - A Proclamation to the World.  This Proclamation was given in 1995 when many of the issues it addresses were not front and center as they now are.  Today the teaching of this Proclamation often separates those who stay on the covenant path and those who do not.  There will be more examples of this in the future.  Next steps toward the Second Coming are happening quickly, and they will be obvious to faithful followers of Christ.    

  6. Occupying Ukraine will be very hard, much more difficult than Putin expects –  Already approximately 3,000 Russian soldiers have been killed. Many ordinary citizens will give armed resistance.  They will be given weapons by NATO and others.  This along with worldwide economic sanctions and condemnation will put the Russians on the defensive and give them pause.  Putin will not soon take another step.  

  7. The horrors of this invasion will unite people of good will worldwide – This happened when the world finally saw Hitler's concentration camps in WWII and the atrocities on both sides during Vietnam.  This will be even more so today.  Social media now touches every part of the world, and the images of the brutality and destruction that is taking place in Ukraine will be seen and remembered by many, many people.  A good example is the video that has gone viral showing a Russian heavy armored vehicle intentionally swerving to crush a small civilian car.  I believe public opinion worldwide, especially in Russia itself, will impact further immediate aggression by Putin.  Hopefully, China and other potential aggressors will take notice.

Evil will fail and righteousness prevail – The Lord is hastening His work, and I believe He will use the Russian invasion of Ukraine for His purposes. There is a beautiful temple in Kiev, and as the history of the Russian invasion of Ukraine is written those who have “eyes to see, and ears to hear, and hearts to understand” will see the arm of the Lord revealed, and they will have great reason to lift up their hearts and rejoice.