Preparing for the Savior's Second Coming

Mark 13:5 "...Take heed lest any man deceive you."

This week in my New Testament class we have been reading more about the Second Coming of our Savior. We read what the Savior warns his disciples (and us) about his coming and what we need to watch for and do in order to be ready.

This week a huge earthquake hit Japan measuring a 8.9 on the Ric-tor scale and being the largest earthquake to date. A large Tsunami followed destroying much of Japan and sending waves to Hawaii and other Pacific islands where they were ordered to get on higher ground or evacuate. We have also had some scary things happen over in the middle-east with Egypt and we have our own battles going on with Unions and such in our own country. What a world our children will grow up in!!

"For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginning of sorrows." Mark 13:8

"And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be;" Mark 13:7

Christ also warns that: "there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Matt 24:24) President Harold B. Lee stated that, "Unless every member of this Church gains for himself an unshakable testimony of the divinity of this Church, he will be among those who will be deceived in this day when the ‘elect according to the covenant’ are going to be tried and tested. Only those will survive who have gained for themselves that testimony.” (Harold B. Lee in CR, Oct. 1950, p. 129.)

So what can we do as believers of Christ to be ready when he comes again?
One scriptures tells us that we need to watch and pray for no man knows when the time is.

How can we gain this "unshakable testimony?" We can obtain and maintain this testimony by looking at our testimonies and seeing what needs to be strengthened. We can study the scriptures and read of the stories and warnings the Lord has given us to know what will come. We can seek knowledge and answers by studying the scriptures. We can pray to the Lord and ask for help and understanding. We can also bear our testimonies more. Saying what we know to be true to those around us will strengthen our knowledge of it and the spirit will testify to us and those around us that it is true. Living the standards the Lord has set for us will make us happy (Mosiah 2:41), and that also will strengthen our testimony and faith in him.

I myself, have been more motivated to try and do better everyday to read my scriptures, pray, and just keep the spirit with me. I know that Christ's words are true, and that we can be saved at the last day.

"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."
D&C 33:17

Being a Disciple of Jesus Christ

What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus Christ?

After reading about Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42), I belive being a disciple of Christ is putting the Lord first and foremost in your life.

In this story, Martha is trying to do all the serving while her sister Mary sat at Jesus' feet hearing his word, and Martha asks Christ, " ...dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?" And his reply to her is, "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." I know that I get caught up in what I need to do for the day, and I often don't take the time to do what is needful for myself. Dishes and laundry will never be done, and will always be there, but the time that I need for myself in reading the scriptures and studying the Lord's word will be lost if I don't take advantage of it. I know that I need the gospel in my life, and things like conference talks, and the scriptures help to keep my focus on what is really important and gives me that extra boost I know that I need for the day.

Other ways of being a disciple of Christ:

1-You seek to be taught. You seek the Lord and ask for help when you need it.

I wanted to share an interesting insight on asking:

Luke 11:5–13 . The Parable of the Friend at Midnight

“The parable is regarded by some as a difficult one to apply, since it deals with the selfish and comfort-loving element of human nature, and apparently uses this to symbolize God’s deliberate delay. The explanation, however, is clear when the context is duly considered. The Lord’s lesson was, that if man, with all his selfishness and disinclination to give, will nevertheless grant what his neighbor with proper purpose asks and continues to ask in spite of objection and temporary refusal, with assured certainty will God grant what is persistently asked in faith and with righteous intent. No parallelism lies between man’s selfish refusal and God’s wise and beneficent waiting. There must be a consciousness of real need for prayer, and real trust in God, to make prayer effective; and in mercy the Father sometimes delays the granting that the asking may be more fervent. But in the words of Jesus: ‘If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?’”

2. You enrich your spiritual life more than your worldly life.

3.You seek after the kingdom of God first and let your heart be there also.

4.You seek to be ready and watch for the Lord's coming.

5. You strive to enter the straight and narrow gate. You are willing to lay down your life for the Lord's sake. "for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (Luke 13:24)

Time and time again, the Savior tells the disciples that he will die, and leave them for a time only to return again. When I look at this picture I think of how it was so hard for them to understand. How could one overcome death? These are men that followed Christ throughout his ministry seeing him heal the blind, lame, sick, and dead. They saw miracles happen right before their eyes! They knew that he was the Son of God, yet it was still hard for them to really understand and believe all that Christ taught them. How many times in our lives do we have confirmation knowing that the church is true, yet at times it is still hard to understand the things yet to come? I struggle daily to keep the Savior first and foremost in my life. It is so easy to get caught up in the world. After reading more about become a disciple, I realize, I have a long way to go! But-I know that by putting the Lord first in my life, I can get a a little bit closer to becoming a disciple of him.

Walking on the Sea

Matthew 14:22-33

Christ bids his disciples to go and get into a ship and to go before him unto the other side of the sea. When he had sent them away, he went up into a mountain to pray. By that evening, he was there alone. The disciples and the ship were now in the middle of the sea. Early in the morning, Christ goes forth unto them walking on the sea. When his apostles first see him, they think he is a spirit and cry out for fear. Christ spoke to them telling them to be not afraid, “it is I.” Peter answers the Savior and asks him “if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” His response shows how much faith he had in the Savior. He knew that if this was Christ, he knew that all things were possible. Christ tells him to come and Peter goes down out of the ship and starts walking toward him. As soon as Peter sees the wind and waves, he begins to fear and began to sink. ‘Lord save me!’ he calls out. Immediately, the Savior stretches forth his hand and catches him. “Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Many times in our life we start out strong and with great faith that we can achieve something. Sometimes along the way we start to doubt or fear what is happening. I think that is when we really lose sight of our goal. There is a scripture in D&C 88:68 that reads: “And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.”

I testify that if we call for the Savior to help us with our lack of faith, he will “catch” us and bring us back up.

Miracles are evidence of Faith and God’s Power

Here are some of the many Miracles that Christ performed during his ministry:

Reference	Miracles of the Lord	Who Demonstrated Faith
Matt 8:1-4	Healed a Leper	The Leper
Matt 8:5-13	Healing of a servant sick of the palsy or paralysis	The Centurion
Matt 8:14-15	Healing of Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with fever	Peter, the mother-in-law
Matt 8:16	Many who were possessed with devils were healed and the spirits cast out	All those to came to Christ that were sick
Matt 8:23-27	Christ calms the Sea	Christ’s disciples by waking and coming to Christ
Matt 8:28-34	Christ casts out evil spirits of two men and they went into a herd of swine	The Devils sort of did. They recognized Christ and his power
Matt 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34	A woman diseased with an issue of blood is healed by merely touching Christ’s garment.	The woman
Matt 9:27-31	Two blind men are healed	The two men
Mark 2:1-12	A man sick with palsy is healed and his sins are also forgiven him	The man with palsy, & the men who carried him

After reading through many of the miracles that Christ performs, it sometimes amazes me with how much compassion, patience, and love he had for those that came to him in need. I know that he treats me in the same way when I go to him with my trials and I know that he welcomes me with open arms even if it seems I don’t deserve it. People came to him a lot even when he was “busy” doing something else, but he always took the time for others. It also gives me faith to know that with Christ’s help, we are able to overcome anything. I don’t know if I would have as great of faith as some of those who were healed had, but I do have faith enough to know that Christ can help me in my weaknesses because he understands what I am going though. He loves me and is there to strengthen me and lift me up.