Jesus Christ will come again to the earth “clothed with power and great glory” to fulfill the promises that He has made (Doctrine and Covenants 45:44; see also verse 16). In Doctrine and Covenants 45, the Savior lovingly teaches how we can prepare for His Second Coming. The purpose of this lesson is to help students prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Possible Learning Activities
Preparing for important events
Consider writing on the board (or displaying pictures of) several events that require preparation that your students are or will be participating in. Examples could include school exams, graduation, a full-time mission, or a sporting event. Ask students what these events have in common.
Think of events, tasks, or responsibilities in your life that require preparation. As you do, think of an experience when you were not prepared and an experience when you were prepared.
How did your level of preparation affect how you felt as the activity approached? How did it affect the outcome?
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ will be an event unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. Our preparation for that event can determine how we feel as we anticipate His return, and it will determine the experience we will have when He returns.
Consider inviting students to discuss the following two questions in pairs or small groups. (You might remind them of the signs they studied in “Doctrine and Covenants 45:9–75, Part 1.”)
What do you know about the events that will precede the Savior’s Second Coming?
From what you know about His Second Coming, why would you want to be prepared for it?
While you or a volunteer reads the following verse and statement, have students close their eyes and envision what the Savior’s return will be like.
Read Doctrine and Covenants 45:44 and the following statement by Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, looking for what the Savior’s Second Coming will be like.
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Elder Neil L. Andersen
Nothing lifts my desire to speak of Christ more than visualizing His return. While we do not know when He will come, the events of His return will be breathtaking! He will come in the clouds of heaven in majesty and glory with all His holy angels. Not just a few angels but all His holy angels. (Neil L. Andersen, “We Talk of Christ,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 91)
How can understanding what the Savior’s Second Coming will be like help motivate you to prepare for it?
You may want to draw the following scale on the board and invite students to write in their study journals any thoughts or feelings that come to their minds as they silently ponder how they would rate themselves.
For variety, consider replacing the numbers on the scale with emojis or other pictures depicting emotions.
Using this scale, where would you rate your confidence level for the following statements?
I know how to prepare for the Savior’s Second Coming.
I feel well prepared for the Savior’s Second Coming.
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1 to 5 scale
Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ
It may be helpful to share with students that Doctrine and Covenants 38:30 teaches “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” Today’s lesson can help us overcome our fears by focusing on two ways we can prepare ourselves for the Second Coming. Consider writing “We can prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by ” on the board. As students study the following verses, invite them to write phrases that finish the statement on the board.
It may be helpful to point out the importance of keeping our covenants with the Savior in preparing for His return (see verse 9).
While section 45 includes many ways the Savior invites us to prepare for His coming, the remainder of this lesson will focus on the truth that we can prepare for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ by standing in holy places and taking the Holy Spirit for our guide. Feel free to focus on other ways to prepare according to students’ interests and needs.
Standing in holy places and taking the Holy Spirit for our guide
Consider dividing students into groups and providing each group with the accompanying handout. Groups could study one or both sections of the handout. As groups are working, consider asking a few of them to prepare to share what they found with the class when everyone has finished.
Preparing for the Second Coming
Stand in holy places
Read the following scripture references and statement, looking for ways we can choose to stand in holy places.
Sister Ann M. Dibb of the Young Women General Presidency explained:
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Sister Ann M. Dibb
President Ezra Taft Benson counseled, “Holy places include our temples, our chapels, our homes, and the stakes of Zion, which are … ‘for a defense, and for a refuge’ [Doctrine and Covenants 115:6]” [“Prepare Yourself for the Great Day of the Lord,” New Era, May 1982, 50]. In addition to these, I believe we can each find many more places. We might first consider the word place as a physical environment or a geographic location. However, a place can be “a distinct condition, position, or state of mind” [Merriam-Webster Online, “place,” merriam-webster.com/dictionary/place]. This means holy places can also include moments in time—moments when the Holy Ghost testifies to us, moments when we feel Heavenly Father’s love, or moments when we receive an answer to our prayers. Even more, I believe any time you have the courage to stand for what is right, especially in situations where no one else is willing to do so, you are creating a holy place. (Ann M. Dibb, “Your Holy Places,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 115)
Take the Holy Spirit for our guide
Read the following scripture references and statement, looking for ways we can take the Holy Spirit for our guide.
President Dallin H. Oaks of the First Presidency taught:
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President Dallin H. Oaks
How do we take the Holy Spirit for our guide? We must repent of our sins each week and renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament with clean hands and a pure heart, as we are commanded to do [see Doctrine and Covenants 59:8–9, 12]. Only in this way can we have the divine promise that we will “always have his Spirit to be with [us]” [Doctrine and Covenants 20:77]. …
… We must always do the things necessary to retain that Spirit. We must keep the commandments, pray for guidance, and attend church and partake of the sacrament each Sunday. And we must never do anything to drive away that Spirit. Specifically, we should avoid pornography, alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and always, always avoid violations of the law of chastity. (Dallin H. Oaks, “Be Not Deceived,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2004, 46)
What thoughts or impressions stood out to you as you studied?
How would doing these things prepare us for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?
Pick one of the two sections from the handout. On the back of the handout, write down two or three specific ways youth could apply the teachings in this section in their lives.
Consider asking groups to place their handouts throughout the classroom with the backs of the handouts facing out. Invite students to walk around the classroom reading the different application ideas. Alternatively, groups could exchange papers with each other.
Select one action you feel would be beneficial for you to apply in your life.
What could you do to apply this action in your life?
How will doing this help you prepare for the Savior’s Second Coming?
Invite students to share what they learned and felt during the lesson. Invite them to act on their thoughts and feelings. To conclude, consider showing the assessment scale from earlier in the lesson again. Invite students to reassess their confidence in preparing for the Savior’s Second Coming.