After calling the descendants of Lehi to repentance and having told them of the consequences which awaited their continuance in the pathways of the natural man, Samuel reveals to them the central event of Good News of Jesus the Christ and the signs which would testify to those in the Americas of there happening.
And behold, he said unto them: Behold, I give unto you a sign; for five years more cometh, and behold, then cometh the Son of God to redeem all those who shall believe on his name.
And behold, this will I give unto you for a sign at the time of his coming; for behold, there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day.
Therefore, there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night; and this shall be unto you for a sign; for ye shall know of the rising of the sun and also of its setting; therefore they shall know of a surety that there shall be two days and a night; nevertheless the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born.
And behold, there shall be a new star arise, such as one as never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you.
And behold, this is not all, there shall be many signs and wonders in heaven. (Helaman 14: 2-6)
Although the scriptures contain an abundance of the signs and events which will precede the second coming of the Son of God to reign as the King of Kings upon the earth, there will be many in the last days just like those who heard the specifics contained in Samuel’s sermon who will find reasons to continue to ignore and rationalize away the prophesized events.
The restoration of all things in the fullness of times will be questioned and denied as just the imaginings of a frenzied mind.
The constant news of nations warring with nations will be looked at as just the inhabitants of the world continuing to be as dysfunctional as they have always been.
The building of houses which have no space between them, causing an atmosphere where contention reigns making it impossible to find inner peace, will be looked at as a natural result of overpopulation having nothing to do with ancient prophecies.
The opening of nations so that the restored gospel can be taught to all nations tongues and people will be looked upon as a natural consequence of a sects growth.
Temples being built around the world will likewise be ignored and counted as a natural event which follows the growth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
The list could go on until this Thought is completely about the signs of the Second Coming being ignored, but the following reminder of Samuel’s warning to those who ignore the signs and the call to repentance should be sufficient to cause us to ponder upon the foretold coming events.
And now, my beloved brethren, behold, I declare unto you that except ye shall repent your houses shall be left unto you desolate.
Yea, except ye repent, your women shall have great cause to mourn in the day that they shall give suck; for ye shall attempt to flee and there shall be no place for refuge; yea, and wo unto them which are with child, for they shall be heavy and cannot flee; therefore, they shall be trodden down and shall be left to perish.
Yea, wo unto this people who are called the people of Nephi except they shall repent, when they shall see all these signs and wonders which shall be showed unto them; for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them. (Helaman 15: 1-3)
It is heart warming that Samuel included his marvelous testimony of the Atonement of Jesus the Christ as part of his powerful call to repentance. But then again is it not faith in the Lord Jesus the Christ which brings us to repent and become obedient to the principles of the Good News.
That ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.
And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits.
And behold, again, another sign I give unto you, yea, a sign of his death.
For behold, he surely must die that salvation may come; yea, it behooveth him and becometh expedient that he dieth, to bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, that thereby men may be brought into the presence of the Lord.
Yea, behold, this death bringeth to pass the resurrection, and redeemeth all mankind from the first death—that spiritual death; for all mankind, by the fall of Adam being cut off from the presence of the Lord, are considered as dead, both as to things temporal and to things spiritual.
But behold, the resurrection of Christ redeemeth mankind, yea, even all mankind, and bringeth them back into the presence of the Lord.
Yea, and it bringeth to pass the condition of repentance, that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire; but whosoever repenteth not is hewn down and cast into the fire; and there cometh upon them again a spiritual death, yea, a second death, for they are cut off again as to things pertaining to righteousness.
Therefore repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death. (Helaman 14: 12-19)
May the Lord bless us with wisdom and strength that we may be found among those who desired, sought and found faith in Jesus the Christ, which faith sustained them and brought them to a righteous repentance as the signs of His Second Coming unfold.
THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY
EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY
❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞
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