Sunday, July 06, 2025
Confidence Before God
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| President Nelson and his great-granddaughter - LDS Photo |
President Nelson’s Invitation to Charity and Virtue to Prepare for the Second Coming
By John Fisher (assisted by AI)
In his April 2025 General Conference address, President Russell M. Nelson delivered a powerful and personal message titled “Confidence in the Presence of God.” With clarity and love, he reminded members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that true confidence—especially in approaching our Heavenly Father—comes not from worldly accomplishments, but through charity, virtue, temple worship, and covenant keeping. In a world shaken by hostility, fear, and confusion, President Nelson offered a Christ-centered path to spiritual confidence and peace.
Summary:
President Nelson acknowledged the ongoing progress and strength of today’s rising generation, sharing a tender experience with his great-granddaughter that prompted deep reflection on faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasized that confidence before God is available to all who earnestly live the gospel and seek the Savior. Drawing upon the Lord’s counsel in Doctrine and Covenants 121, President Nelson taught that charity and virtue are the spiritual keys to confidence before God.
He reiterated his previous call to be peacemakers, denouncing contention in public and private dialogue. Charity, he declared, is the “foundation of a godly character.” Virtue, likewise, transforms our thoughts and uplifts our minds. Time spent in the temple increases our spiritual strength, enhances both charity and virtue, and prepares us for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.
Five Powerful Quotes:
1. “When we make and keep covenants with God, we can have confidence that is born of the Spirit.”
2. “Charity and virtue open the way to having confidence before God.”
3. “Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion.”
4. “Virtue will drive away those thoughts. Virtue will free you from anxious, troublesome thoughts.”
5. “As we diligently seek to have charity and virtue fill our lives, our confidence in approaching God will increase.”
Conclusion:
President Nelson’s message is a clarion call to discipleship rooted in the Savior’s love and purity. In a time when moral clarity and spiritual peace are under siege, we are invited to intentionally cultivate charity and virtue. By doing so, we increase our confidence before God, prepare for the Savior’s return, and serve as instruments of peace in a turbulent world. His promise is both personal and universal: with spiritual preparation, our joy, faith, and divine power will grow beyond our greatest hopes.
Suggestions for Follow-Up:
1. Reflect on your personal level of confidence in approaching God. What might be hindering it?
2. Study Doctrine and Covenants 121:45–46 and journal ways to apply it in daily life.
3. Choose one way each week to demonstrate charity in your home, church, or online interactions.
4. Commit to weekly temple attendance or temple preparation efforts.
5. Pray specifically for the gift of charity and increased virtue in your thoughts and actions.
Reference:
Nelson, R. M. (2025, April). Confidence in the presence of God. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/57nelson?lang=eng
Keywords:
charity, virtue, confidence, temple worship, Second Coming
Hashtags:
#PresidentNelson #ConfidenceInGod #CharityAndVirtue #GeneralConference2025 #FollowTheProphet
Labels: charity, confidence, Second Coming, temple worship, virtue
Friday, June 06, 2025
Second Coming of Jesus
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| Image of Jesus surrounded by the hosts of Heaven. |
Preparing to Meet the Savior:
A Joyful Journey of Faith and Service
Based on Elder Dale G. Renlund’s April 2025 General Conference Address
Introduction
In a world filled with uncertainty, talk of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ can often lead to feelings of fear or anxiety—especially among the young. In his April 2025 General Conference talk, Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles addressed these concerns with clarity, hope, and actionable guidance. Drawing from three parables taught by the Savior, Elder Renlund helps us understand what personal preparation truly means and how we can embrace the Second Coming with joyful optimism.
Summary of the Talk
Elder Renlund began with a story of a young girl in Primary who admitted being afraid of the Second Coming. This honest concern set the stage for a powerful message: we do not need to fear the future if we follow the Savior’s teachings, which are simple and direct.
He focused on three parables from Matthew 25:
1. The Ten Virgins – A lesson about spiritual preparedness, receiving truth, and avoiding deception through the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
2. The Talents – A reminder that God expects us to magnify our individual abilities, not to compare ourselves to others.
3. The Sheep and the Goats – A call to serve others, especially the vulnerable, for in doing so, we serve Christ Himself.
These stories reinforce three key actions: accept the gospel and follow Jesus Christ, develop and use your unique gifts, and actively serve others. With these principles, we can face the future with confidence and peace.
Five Notable Quotes
1. “His instructions are neither mysterious nor complex. When we follow them, we do not need to fear or be anxious.”
2. “We are wise when we accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us, and avoid deception.”
3. “God expects us to magnify the abilities we have been given, but He does not want us to compare our abilities to those of others.”
4. “When we serve others, we serve God; when we don’t, we disappoint.”
5. “Rely on those who love you and who love the Savior. Seek God’s guidance to develop your unique abilities, and help others, even when it isn’t easy.”
Conclusion and Suggestions for Follow-Up
Elder Renlund’s message is both a comfort and a call to action. Instead of focusing on fear about the future, we can find strength in following Christ, listening to the Spirit, and helping others.
Here are some ways to apply this message in your life:
• Study Matthew 25 and reflect on how each parable applies to your spiritual journey.
• Set a goal to regularly invite the Holy Ghost through personal prayer, scripture study, and temple attendance.
• Evaluate your talents and ask how you can better magnify them in service to others.
• Look for opportunities to serve those who are struggling—especially the “least of these.”
• Teach your children or youth in simple, joyful terms what it means to prepare to meet the Savior.
As Elder Renlund emphasized, preparation is not about panic—it is about purpose. When we prepare in faith, we are promised peace and joy, both now and in the life to come.
Reference (APA Style)
Renlund, D. G. (2025, April). Personal preparation to meet the Savior. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2025/04/25renlund?lang=eng
Keywords:
Second Coming, preparation, service, parables, Holy Ghost
Hashtags:
#SecondComing #FaithOverFear #ServeOthers #GospelLiving #LDSConference
Labels: Holy Ghost, parables, preparation, Second Coming, service
Saturday, December 07, 2024
Second Coming
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| The Second Coming by Harry Anderson |
Preparing the World for the Savior's Return
by John Fisher
In his October 2024 General Conference address, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again," President Russell M. Nelson emphasizes the urgency of preparing for the Savior's Second Coming. He highlights the accelerated construction of temples worldwide as a divine directive to gather Israel on both sides of the veil and to ready the world for the Lord's return. President Nelson calls upon individuals to prioritize their discipleship, engage in regular temple worship, and deepen their understanding of Jesus Christ's Atonement. He assures that sincere seekers will find the Savior in the temple, receive answers to their deepest questions, and experience profound joy through His gospel.
Summary
President Nelson described the majesty and urgency of the Lord's work in our time, highlighting the unprecedented pace of temple construction. He explained that temples are being built at the Lord's instruction because their blessings are essential for gathering Israel on both sides of the veil. Furthermore, temples prepare a covenant people to help ready the world for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. President Nelson urged saints to recognize the sacred significance of this moment in hastening the Lord's work.
Quotes
Concluding his message, President Nelson testifies of the Savior's imminent return and the joy that awaits the righteous. He invites all to rededicate their lives to Jesus Christ, actively participate in gathering Israel, and prepare the world for the Second Coming. He affirms that as individuals fully turn their hearts to the Savior, they will witness the Lord hastening His work and experience the best that is yet to come.
Promises for Temple Attendance
President Russell M. Nelson has extended several promises to those who engage in temple worship and uphold their covenants:
Miracles in Your Life: "I promise you that the Lord will bring the miracles He knows you need as you make sacrifices to serve and worship in His temples."
Safety Amid Upheaval: "Whenever any kind of upheaval occurs in your life, the safest place to be spiritually is living inside your temple covenants!"
Personal Revelation and Protection: "Nothing will protect you more as you encounter the world’s mists of darkness. Nothing will bolster your testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Atonement or help you understand God’s magnificent plan more. Nothing will soothe your spirit more during times of pain. Nothing will open the heavens more. Nothing!"
Spiritual Strength and Guidance: "As you marry in the temple and return repeatedly, you will be strengthened and guided in your decisions."
Increased Access to Divine Power: "Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and temples—and keeps them—has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ."
These promises underscore the profound spiritual benefits of regular temple attendance and faithful covenant keeping.
Reference:
Nelson, R. M. (2024, October). The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again. General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Retrieved from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/10/57nelson?lang=eng
Hashtags: #SecondComing #TempleWorship #FollowChrist #Atonement #GatherIsrael
Labels: atonement, discipleship, gathering Israel, Russell M. Nelson, Second Coming, temple worship
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