“Believing in Christ before He Comes Again,” For the Strength of Youth, Apr. 2024.
Come, Follow Me
Believing in Christ before He Comes Again
The Nephites had faith before the Savior came, and we can have faith before He comes again.
Have you ever thought what it would be like to believe in the Savior before He came to earth? The ancient Nephites had to do just that—“look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was” (Jarom 1:11).
Nowadays, we have scriptural and historical records that testify that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again. We believe in a Savior who already came. But we also believe in a Savior who will come again.
Before Jesus Christ Came, the Nephites Had Faith To:
Be forgiven of their sins.
“Whosoever should believe that Christ should come, the same might receive remission of their sins, and rejoice with exceedingly great joy, even as though he had already come among them” (Mosiah 3:13; emphasis added).
Forgive themselves.
“And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee. … Wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; … thy faith hath made thee whole” (Enos 1:5–8; emphasis added).
Perform miracles.
“We knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming. … Insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea” (Jacob 4:4, 6; emphasis added).
Receive revelation.
“There were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes” (Ether 12:19; emphasis added).
Before Jesus Christ Comes Again, We Can Have Faith To:
Be forgiven, forgive ourselves, perform miracles, and receive revelation (like the Nephites).
Prepare ourselves for His coming.
As we strive to keep our covenants, we are preparing to live in the celestial kingdom. “For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32).
Prepare the world for His coming.
We have been invited by President Russell M. Nelson to be part of “the greatest work on earth”—the gathering of Israel. “Our Heavenly Father has reserved many of His most noble spirits—perhaps, I might say, His finest team—for this final phase. Those noble spirits—those finest players, those heroes—are you!”1
Have hope during hard times.
When the Savior comes again, the righteous will live in peace. The Savior will reign, and unfairness will be made right. “For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:59).
Trust in the Resurrection.
All mankind will be resurrected. We will have perfect, immortal bodies. We can again see loved ones who have passed away. “The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time” (Alma 11:43).
The ancient Nephites had faith in the Savior before He came. We can have faith that the Savior will come again—when “[we] shall see [Him] in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:44; see also Acts 1:11). How does knowing that He will come again change what you will do today?