Good morning and aloha. I would like to thank Sister Olson for her introduction and let her know how much I love and appreciate her. She is a wonderful lady and a great companion. It is a very humbling and frightening experience for me to stand before such a great student body and address you this morning. I pray that the spirit of the Lord will be with us today and that the words that I speak will be given by the spirit and that you will receive them by that same spirit.
Sister Olson and I were excited to put in our mission papers and we were delighted when we opened our call and saw the words, "You have been called to serve in the Honolulu, Hawaii mission." We received our call while visiting with our daughter, her husband, and family in Indiana. They had some good neighbors that were not members of the church. One of the neighbor's young sons went home and told his mother that Brad's grandparents were going on a mission for their church. His mother asked him where they were going. He replied, "They're going to the hallelujah Hawaii mission." That really is about how we feel. We are really blessed and honored to be here.
As some of you know, I was raised on a cattle ranch in Utah. President Brigham Young sent my ancestors to the little town of Vernon, Utah about 150 years ago to help settle the area. Our house sits 3 miles west of our town of about 200 people and was home to me for many years. It is a lonely, windy, and quiet place that is too hot and dry in the summer and too cold and dry in the winter but it is a place that I love. Our kitchen faces the low Vernon Mountains that are about 4 miles directly west of us. The evenings are often very quiet and very dark. When you go outside at night, the Milky Way galaxy is spectacular in the heavens above. One evening when I was about 15 or 16 years old, my family was eating dinner around our big kitchen table. While enjoying one of my mother's wonderful dinners, the darkness on the other side of the kitchen window suddenly disappeared as a very bright light lit the Western sky. Within the light was another even brighter object that slowly ascended above the mountains. Obviously, the entire family sat riveted as we watched this bright light permeate the darkness and rise into the heavens. I'm not sure what the other members of my family were thinking, but I had two thoughts that immediately came into my mind. Number one: This is the Second Coming of Christ, and the second thought was, "I'm not ready, and I'm in trouble." I will never forget the feeling and the thoughts that went through my mind at that time as I quickly examined my life and found myself lacking in too many areas. Fortunately, it was not the Second Coming of the Savior, but a rocket that was launched into the sky from the Nevada testing site.
I've always been intrigued about the Second Coming of Christ and all that pertains to that great and dreadful day. Elder Sterling W. Sill said, "There are many important gospel doctrines mentioned in the Bible only briefly, and some not at all. The new birth is mentioned in the Bible nine times; baptism is mentioned 52 times, repentance is mentioned 89 times, but the second coming of Christ is mentioned over 1500 times in the Old Testament and 300 times in the New Testament. If God thought this subject is that important, he must have wanted us to do something about it" (Conference report April 1966 Ensign). These numbers reflect what is in the Bible, and do not include what is in other scriptures.
For most of us, the most important day of our lives has been or will be the day that we get married in the temple. That will be the day that we have prepared, prayed, lived, and qualified for and the day that we want to look our very best for our new spouse. You beautiful sisters will probably spend more time preparing for how you look on that day than we brethren will, and you will always succeed in looking spectacular and absolutely beautiful. I know my wife looked gorgeous on our wedding day. She was dressed in a beautiful white dress that her mother had made for that occasion. Her hair was all fixed up, fingernails were painted, lipstick and makeup were perfect-and to think she did all that for me. (Well maybe not just for me.)
The Scriptures often talk about the future marriage of the Lamb of God, or the time when the Savior comes and joins together with his people in a covenant relationship. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John talks about this future marriage between the Savior (the bridegroom) and his covenant people (the bride). In chapter 19:7-8 we read, "Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife (covenant Israel or the church) hath made herself ready. And to her (that is us) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." At the Second Coming of Christ, those that will be invited to the wedding feast will have to be dressed symbolically in clean and white clothing that represents our worthiness, purity, obedience, integrity and righteousness. How are you dressed? Are your clothes clean and white? Have you put on the fine linen of righteousness?
In Matthew 22 the Savior gives a parable called the parable of the marriage of the king's son. In this parable, the kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who is our Heavenly Father, and He prepares a wedding celebration for his Son, Jesus Christ. He sent forth his servants to call those that were invited to come to the wedding, but they did not want to come. He sent forth other servants saying, "Tell them which are bidden, behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise." Not only did the people not come to the wedding, but in this parable they took his servants and entreated them spitefully and slew them. Then the king said to his servants, "The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways and as many as ye shall find, bid (or invite) to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways... and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment." (In other words he did not have on his robes of righteousness. He was not dressed in clean and white linen.) "And he saith unto him, friend, how camest thou hither not having a wedding garment?" Notice the next words: "And he was speechless." He was an individual who had been invited, like we have, to the wedding feast. This wedding feast is symbolic of the Second Coming of Christ, where the Savior will be joined with his prepared, covenant people who have put on the robes of righteousness. Each person that is called to the marriage feast will be examined separately and individually. If we, who have been taught and have been given much, are not prepared, what can we say when that time comes? What excuse will we give Him? How do we tell the Father and the Son that other things were more important to us than living His gospel? Where much is given, much is required.
When I sat around the dinner table that evening many years ago and saw that missile light up the night sky, I felt that I was not ready for the Savior's coming and I would have been left without excuse just like the man in this parable.
The parable continues in verses 13 and 14, where the King said to the servants, "Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; and there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen, wherefore all do not have on the wedding garment." Again the questions: How are you dressed? Are you ready? Are there things in your life that need to be taken care of? When He comes again will you run to Him or shy away from Him? Have we procrastinated the day of our repentance? It has been said that people who count on repenting at 11 o'clock usually die at 10:30. Robert H. Smith wrote,
"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power,
To tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.
The present only is our own so, live, love, toil with a will,
Place no faith in tomorrow for the clock may then be still."
In Doctrine and Covenants, section 38: 30, we are told, "But if ye are prepared ye shall not fear." In that same section the Lord says in verses eight and nine,"But the day soon cometh that ye shall seek me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day. Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared. Behold, the kingdom is yours, and the enemy shall not overcome." What must we do to be dressed appropriately for His coming? How can we be prepared? The Scriptures are full of suggestions. I shall mention just a few.
Number one: Treasure up his word. In Joseph Smith-Matthew verse 37 we read, "And whosoever treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his Angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet and they shall gather together the remainder of his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." It is absolutely essential that we pay attention to our modern-day prophets and what the scriptures teach us. The Lord has not left us alone to get through these trying times. He called the prophet Joseph Smith, knowing the "Calamity which should come upon the inhabitants of the earth and spake unto him from heaven and gave him commandments."(D&C 1:17) We have a living prophet today who speaks with God, and what He tells us is scripture that we need to pay attention to and follow. The scriptures tell us that, "The day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people."(D&C 1:14) The prophet's counsel and advice is essential to our preparation.
Our youngest son, Zachary, and his family came to visit us during spring break in March of this year. We had a wonderful time together and did a lot of fun things during their visit. On the night before they were to return to their home in Arizona, Zach wanted to go swimming one last time in the ocean, so we headed out to the beach. It was late in the afternoon, with a very strong wind blowing from the East, so we decided to go to Pounders Beach, a place that we had not previously gone to. Because it was so late in the afternoon, and also because I'm basically a coward when it comes to big waves, I decided to stay on the shore and take pictures of Zach as he was enjoying the waves. I now understand why you call it Pounders Beach. The waves were frequent, very large, and very powerful. There were 15 or 20 other young people that were also in the waves that day. Zachary loves the ocean but he had a very difficult time getting out far enough where he could boogie board back to the beach. This picture shows him just coming up after being pounded into the sand by a big wave. I quickly took the picture and at the same time I pointed to the wave that was immediately behind him and was again going to pound him into the beach. I was concerned for his safety because he was not paying attention to the danger that was behind him. He talked to one of the locals and asked him how he was able to get through these large waves without constantly getting pounded into the sand. He looked at Zach somewhat quizzically and said that you always get pounded, but there are some things you can do to make it through the experience and have a wonderful time. He said that the trick is you have to do it right and you have to pay attention to what's going on. Just as Zach learned-how to surf at Pounders, we need to learn and be taught by someone with experience and authority.
Our spiritual and temporal lives depend upon our adherence to the words of the living prophets and the scriptures. We need to feast upon the words of Christ as He speaks to His prophets. In Doctrine and Covenant section 21, the Lord says, "Wherefore, meaning the church (that's us), thou shall give heed unto all his words and Commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from my own mouth, in all patience and faith." Did you notice that we are supposed to give heed unto all of His words and Commandments? It may take some patience and some faith to follow the living prophet, but if we want to be dressed appropriately for the Second Coming, that is exactly what we need to do. He will not lead us astray. I bear testimony of that.
Number two: We need to be watching. It is important that we know what the signs of his coming are and we must be looking for their fulfillment. In Joseph Smith Matthew 39 and 40, it says, "So likewise, mine elect, when they shall see all these things, they shall know that he is near, even at the doors; but of that day, and hour, no one knoweth; no, not the angels of God in heaven, but my Father only." In verse 46 the Lord says, "I say unto all men; watch, therefore, for ye know not at what hour your Lord doth come." I jokingly tell my students that I don't know the hour but I know the day of his coming. That day will be super bowl Sunday.
The Lord tells us in section 106:4-5 that, "The coming of the Lord draweth nigh and it overtaketh the world as a thief in the night." I do not believe that His coming will be as a thief in the night if we are watching and preparing. The Lord continues, "Therefore gird up your loins that you may be the children of light, and that day shall not overtake you as a thief." Notice that His coming overtakes the world as a thief in the night, but not to those who are watching. If we are watching, looking, and listening to the right sources, I don't believe that the timing of His coming will be a big surprise to us. I don't know if our prophet, when that time comes, will be as specific as Samuel the Lamanite was when he told of the Savior's First Coming, but I do know that if we are prepared, we shall not fear.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said, "One of the great incentives which encourages and entices men to live lives of personal righteousness is the doctrine of the Second Coming of the Messiah. Many revelations speak of the signs which shall precede our Lord's return; others tell of the tragic yet glorious events which shall attend and accompany his return to Earth; and still others recite the good and ill which shall befall the living and the dead at that time. All this is preserved in holy writ so that men will be led to prepare themselves for the day of the Lord.... Deliberately and advisedly the actual time of his coming has been left uncertain and unspecified, so that men of each succeeding age shall be led to prepare for it as though it would be in their mortal lives. And for those who pass on before the promised day, none of their preparation will be wasted, for both the living and the dead, speaking in the eternal sense, must prepare to abide the day."(End Quote)(DNTC 1:74-77)
What are we to be looking and watching for? What are the signs of the times that would give us some indication that His coming is nigh at hand? Why would we watch if we don't know what we're looking for? The signs are set, and they are remarkably clear. Here are a few of the signs that will precede His coming.
The coming forth of the Book of Mormon
The restoration of the gospel and growth of the church
Opposition to the Restoration
Elijah returning with the sealing power
Building of latter-day temples
Peace taken from the earth
The elements in commotion
Disease, plagues and pestilence to sweep the earth
Latter-day wickedness
Disaster and calamities to abound
Wars and rumors of war
Famine, depressions and economic turmoil
Signs in the heavens and on earth
The gathering at Adam-ondi-Ahman, etc...
Did you notice that most of these signs have been or are being fulfilled with just a few of them pending? In a thorough study of the scriptures, you will find additional signs of the Second Coming of Christ. Also, as we study the Book of Mormon and, in particular, the coming of the Savior to the Nephites, we will see many parallels to the Second Coming of Christ. Watching for the signs of the Second Coming is like putting together a large puzzle. When we begin, we do not know the exact place for each piece of the puzzle, but as we get more pieces in place, it is easier to see where the remaining pieces belong. We do not know the exact sequence of all the events that will lead up to the Savior's Second Coming, but as they occur, we know his coming is nearing.
Our Heavenly Father gives us markers or signs showing us where we are relative to the Second Coming of Christ. Every sign that God gives to us are given to all of his children. There will be many, perhaps most, of Father's children that will pay little or no attention other than perhaps an idle curiosity as the signs come to pass. When we see wars and rumors of wars, the sun darkened, the great hailstorms, the continuing growth of God's kingdom on earth, etc., we will know that, "Lo He is coming", "The bride groom cometh" . Search the scriptures. Know what the signs are. Watch and be ready.
Number three. Stand in holy places. The Lord tells us that his disciples shall stand in holy places and shall not be moved until the day of the Lord comes. We must stand on solid and firm ground that the Gospel provides and we must not move off of it! There is safety there and there only. Build your foundation on the rock of your Redeemer, who is Christ, the son of God and if we do that, then we will not fall. (Hel. 5:12)
As I mentioned in the beginning, I grew up on a ranch in a dry part of Utah. I did not see the ocean until I flew over it on my way to my mission in Australia. I could not believe how much water was underneath that airplane and I was very grateful that I was in the air and not on the water. In 1970, I met Sister Olson at the Latter-day Saint Student Association International Conference that was held at BYU Provo. After we dated for a short while and things were getting more serious in our relationship, Sister Olson's family wanted to see how this cowboy would fit into their family who happened to be a family of surfers from California. Once, when we were dating, I took a trip to California to visit Sister Olson. Her family suggested that we go surfing. Being the strong and courageous young man that I was, I agreed because I was eager to fit in. Little did they know how absolutely terrified I was to go surfing in the ocean. Swimming to me at that time was a matter of survival and I knew that if I fell off the surfboard I would be in big trouble.
When we got to the beach and they pulled their surfboards out, the first thing I noticed was that there were no lifejackets. I couldn't understand how you could go swim in the ocean and have the water below you 10,000 feet deep and not have a life jacket on. I didn't say what I was thinking because this cowboy from Utah had to be tough. My father-in-law to be gave me some instructions on the beach as I listened intently. Finally he said, "Let's go. Just come and follow me."
We paddled out what I thought seemed to be a mile. The shaking and shivering that I was experiencing was not just because the water was cold. My arms and shoulders ached, my chest was rubbed raw and I was scared to death. I had noticed that the surfboards did not have a leash attached to them like I see on today's surfboards, so obviously there was nothing attached to me. As I paddled out, I thought to myself that when I fell off the surfboard I would just grab the board and hold on for dear life. Judy's father caught a few waves and kept instructing me on what I needed to do. Finally he said that it was time for me to try to catch a wave. I did notice that we were not out a mile from the beach; We were just several hundred yards out, but that didn't make any difference to me because if I didn't fall ON the surfboard, I knew I was going to drown in that 10,000 feet of water that was below me. I did catch a little wave and actually did begin to stand up when the surfboard shot out from under me, faster than I thought was possible and way too fast for me to grab hold of it. I thought to myself, "Well my life was a pretty good life. Now I'm going to die." As I fell into the water, all of a sudden I hit the bottom. I stood up and the water was only neck deep. You don't know how relieved and grateful I was. I had a wonderful time the rest of the day because I knew there was a firm and solid foundation underneath me. Wherever we go, whatever we are doing, whatever circumstances that this life deals us, we must stand on solid ground and be not moved.
An example of people leaving solid and holy ground is found in John chapter 6. The Savior feeds 5000 people by miraculous means and He is constantly followed by multitudes of people. He teaches them that He is the living manna sent from God and that salvation is gained by eating living bread, of which He is. Most of the multitude did not understand His doctrine. Verse 66 tells us that, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the son of the living God."
As the world tosses us to and fro and carries us about by every wind of doctrine where else would we go to find solid holy ground? Where else is the priesthood authority of God? Where else could we find the principles, doctrines, and ordinances of the gospel? Where else can you receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the words of eternal life. This is the only true and living church. Again, whatever you do and wherever you go don't leave the holy places that you now stand on. You have the ability and the responsibility to create holy places that you and others can stand on, such as the temple, sacrament meetings, your homes, your apartments, your family home evening groups, your room, or any place where the spirit of the Lord is present.
At the very beginning of my talk, I mentioned an evening around the dinner table when we saw that missile shoot up into the sky and I thought that perhaps it was the Second Coming. I knew at that moment, that whether or not I was ready to meet the Savior was entirely up to me. As much as my parents, brothers, and sisters would have wanted to help me rise up to meet the Savior it would have been impossible for them to do so. I had been taught the gospel. I could not plead ignorance and I felt that in some ways I had procrastinated the day of my repentance. I understood, perhaps for the first time, the parable of the 10 virgins. I always wondered why the five who were prepared would not share their oil with the five that were not prepared. It sounded kind of selfish to me. I understand now that preparedness is an individual opportunity that we cannot share. We alone are responsible for our spiritual well-being. President Spencer W. Kimball explained this principle when he said, "The foolish virgins asked the others to share their oil, but spiritual preparedness cannot be shared in an instant.... This was not selfishness or unkindness. The kind of oil that is needed to illuminate the way and light up the darkness is not shareable. How can one share their obedience to the principle of tithing? A mind at peace for righteous living? An accumulation of knowledge? How can one share faith or testimony? How can one share attitudes or chastity? Share the experience of a mission? How can one share Temple privileges? Each must obtain that kind of oil for himself....
The oil of preparedness is accumulated drop by drop in righteous living. Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop, over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the Scriptures-each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store." (Faith Precedes the Miracle, pp.255-56) How much oil is in your lamp? Do you need more? Are you ready for the bridegroom?
When I was in primary a long time ago, I remember Sister Eva Yates introducing a brand-new song to us that had just been written. The song seemed to touch my soul and so impressed me, even as a child, that I went up to Sister Yates and asked her if she would write down the words to the song so that I could have them. It is and has been one of my favorite songs. I am not musically inclined at all but this is the song that I would sing to our children as we put them to bed. It is entitled- I Wonder When He Comes Again, written by Mirla Greenwood Thayne,
"I wonder when he comes again, will herald angels sing?
Will Earth be white with drifted snow, or will the world know spring?
I wonder if one star will shine far brighter than the rest?
Will daylight stay the whole night through? Will song- birds leave their nest?
I'm sure he'll call his little ones, together round his knee.
Because he said in days gone by, "Suffer them to come to me."
I wonder when he comes again, will I be ready there
To look upon his loving face and join with him in prayer?
Each day I'll try to do his will and let my light so shine
That others seeing me may seek, for greater light divine.
Then when that blessed day is here, he'll love me and he'll say,
You've served me well, my little child; come into my arms to stay."
As I ponder how I felt that evening so long ago it continually reminds and impels me to remember that "This life is the time to prepare to meet God." (Alma 34:32)
We do not know when the Savior will come again. I know that it is closer today than it was yesterday. When President Wilford Woodruff was asked about when the Savior was going to come he replied, "I'll live as though it were tomorrow but I'm still planting cherry trees." Elder Neil L Andersen, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, in our last general conference, bore his apostolic testimony of the Second Coming by saying, "I testify of the majesty, but most of all, of the certainty of this magnificent event. The Savior lives. He will return to the Earth."
I would remind you of the three ways that we can prepare and dress appropriately, in the robes of righteousness, for the Second Coming of Christ. One: We need to treasure up his word. Two: We need to be watching for the signs of His coming. Three: We need to stand in holy places. I pray for his coming. We need him to come. I want him to come soon, for me, for our children and grandchildren, and for you.
I bear you my witness of the reality of the First Coming of Christ, but perhaps more importantly I bear my testimony of the Second Coming of Christ. I know that He will come again and I know that we need to be ready. In Revelation 22:20 Jesus says, "Surely I come quickly." John the Beloved replies and this would be my prayer also for us, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." I bear witness of these things. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.