Being prepared for the second coming of Christ

I am not sure if I have mentioned that Dan is the ward mission leader for our ward. As part of his calling, we attend the Gospel Principles class. I actually really enjoy this class- and this past Sunday, we discussed The Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

This lesson made this topic a lot less scary for me. I will tell you the 2 reasons why the second coming terrifies me.
1. There are a lot of knowns, but there are also tons of unknowns, and I hate not knowing. I also think I dream it up in my head to be way different than it will really be. Anyway, scary because I have a lot of I don't knows.
2. I start to worry for the benefit of every soul except my own- I would seriously love to just scoop everyone I care about up and protect them, and keep them safe, and have them choose the right way so no one gets lost.

I am an over thinker. Ya think??

Anyway, to the part that is a lot less scary. These principles are things I knew, but at this point in my life and the way it was presented, a new light was really shed on the whole subject for me.
This lesson really touches my heart.
First, Jesus' first coming was but a small and humble one. There were just two people, and I'm sure God and Angels. He had but a lowly manger to be laid in. Our Savior led a simple and humble life, teaching the gospel, and turning the other cheek. He was persecuted and ridiculed by his own people, and then crucified. When I really ponder what that all means, and how directly this affects my life, I honestly can't fathom what my Savior went through for me. Nor can I ever repay Him.

Second, The first resurrection has already started, and encompasses all who will be celestial and terrestial glory. What a wonderful thought! I realized that this resurrection encompasses everyone I love!!

After Jesus was resurrected, he instructed and counseled his Apostles for 40 days. They then all went to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus "ascended into heaven. While the Apostles looked up into the heavens, two angels stood beside them and said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go” (Acts 1:11)."

The Second Coming of Christ will be glorious- completely opposite His first coming. Everyone will know who He is. 

Jesus will do the following when he comes again:

1. He will cleanse the earth. When Jesus comes again, He will come in power and great glory. At that time the wicked will be destroyed. All things that are corrupt will be burned, and the earth will be cleansed by fire (see D&C 101:24–25).

2. He will judge His people. When Jesus comes again, He will judge the nations and will divide the righteous from the wicked (see Matthew 25:31–46; see also chapter 46 in this book). John the Revelator wrote about this judgment: “I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, … and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.” The wicked he saw “lived not again until the thousand years were finished” (Revelation 20:4–5; see also D&C 88:95–98).

3. He will usher in the Millennium. The Millennium is the thousand-year period when Jesus will reign on the earth. The righteous will be caught up to meet Jesus at His coming (see D&C 88:96). His coming will begin the millennial reign. (See chapter 45 in this book.) President Brigham Young said:
“In the Millennium, when the Kingdom of God is established on the earth in power, glory and perfection, and the reign of wickedness that has so long prevailed is subdued, the Saints of God will have the privilege of building their temples, and of entering into them, becoming, as it were, pillars in the temples of God [see Revelation 3:12], and they will officiate for their dead. Then we will see our friends come up, and perhaps some that we have been acquainted with here. … And we will have revelations to know our forefathers clear back to Father Adam and Mother Eve, and we will enter into the temples of God and officiate for them. Then [children] will be sealed to [parents] until the chain is made perfect back to Adam, so that there will be a perfect chain of Priesthood from Adam to the winding-up scene” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 333–34).

4. He will complete the First Resurrection. Those who have obtained the privilege of coming forth in the resurrection of the just will rise from their graves. They will be caught up to meet the Savior as He comes down from heaven. (See D&C 88:97–98.) After Jesus Christ rose from the dead, other righteous people who had died were also resurrected. They appeared in Jerusalem and also on the American continent. (See Matthew 27:52–53; 3 Nephi 23:9–10.) This was the beginning of the First Resurrection. Some people have been resurrected since then. Those who already have been resurrected and those who will be resurrected at the time of His coming will all inherit the glory of the celestial kingdom (see D&C 76:50–70).
After the resurrection of those who will inherit celestial glory, another group will be resurrected: those who will receive a terrestrial glory. When all these people have been resurrected, the First Resurrection will be completed.
The wicked who are living at the time of the Second Coming of the Lord will be destroyed in the flesh. They, along with the wicked who are already dead, will have to wait until the last resurrection. All of the remaining dead will rise to meet God. They will either inherit the telestial kingdom or be cast into outer darkness with Satan (see D&C 76:32–33, 81–112).

5. He will take His rightful place as King of heaven and earth. When Jesus comes, He will establish His government on the earth. The Church will become part of that kingdom. He will rule all the people of the earth in peace for 1,000 years. When Jesus Christ first came to the earth, He did not come in glory. He was born in a lowly stable and laid in a manger of hay. He did not come with great armies as the Jews had expected of their Savior. Instead, He came saying, “Love your enemies, … do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you” (Matthew 5:44). He was rejected and crucified. But He will not be rejected at His Second Coming, “for every ear shall hear it, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess” that Jesus is the Christ (D&C 88:104). He will be greeted as “Lord of lords, and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14). He will be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Dan, Cameron, and I held FHE tonight and went over this lesson again and had our own discussion. Heavenly Father and Jesus love us so much, that the plan of salvation seriously provides every opportunity available to be worthy and sinless as the time for Jesus to come draws near. 

I have lived my life with out the gospel before. I chose to come back to the gospel and be sealed to my best friend for eternity. I can tell you that I know and believe that life is better, easier, and happier with the gospel. When I am doing what God wants me to do, my life is more simple, and more beautiful. 

I know that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ our Savior. I am so grateful that he established his church long ago, and restored the full gospel through Joseph Smith. I know that President Monson leads us today. I am so grateful for the sure knowledge I have of the truthfulness of these things. I am so excited to share what I know with anyone who is searching and willing to listen and open their heart to the gospel. Having faith in God and His plan completes life and makes living worth while. 

If you would like to read this lesson for yourself, here is the link:

http://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-44-the-second-coming-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng