Joseph Smith–Matthew
The Pearl of Great Price Student Manual, (2000), 42–51
What Is Joseph Smith—Matthew?
Joseph Smith—Matthew is the Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 23:39–24:51.
“For
December 1, 1831, Joseph Smith wrote the following note in his journal:
‘I resumed the translation of the Scriptures, and continued to labor in
this branch of my calling with Elder Sidney Rigdon as my scribe’ [see History of the Church,
1:238, italics added]. This is a most important comment because it
reveals how the Prophet himself viewed his work of translating the
Bible—it was part of his divine calling as a prophet of God. … In
December 1831 the Prophet had been at the translation some eighteen
months and would continue working with it for another eighteen months.
After that he would refine and prepare it for publication for the
remaining eleven years of his life. Although he did not live to publish
the entire work, it was the most unusual translation of the Bible ever
attempted and stands as one of the witnesses to the world of Joseph
Smith’s mission as a prophet of God in the last days” (Robert J.
Matthews, “A Plainer Translation”: Joseph Smith’s Translation of the Bible, a History and Commentary [1975], 3–4).
When Did the Prophet Joseph Smith Translate This Portion of the Bible?
“The
exact date on which the Prophet started to translate the Bible has been
lost to history, but the translation was probably under way as early as
the summer of 1830” (Matthews, “A Plainer Translation,”
26). On 7 December 1830, the Lord commanded Sidney Rigdon to become the
scribe for the Prophet Joseph Smith in the work of making the inspired
changes to the Bible (see D&C 35:20).
Prior to His Crucifixion and Resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ
answered His disciples’ questions about His glorious Second Coming (see Matthew 24:3–25:46; see also Luke 21:7–36). On 7 March 1831 the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith portions of what He told His disciples (see D&C 45:16–75). In that revelation, speaking to the Prophet Joseph Smith, He said:
“And now, behold, I say unto you, it shall not be given unto you to know any further concerning this chapter [Matthew 24], until the New Testament be translated, and in it [the Joseph Smith Translation] all these things shall be made known;
“Wherefore I give unto you that ye may now translate it [the New Testament], that ye may be prepared for the things to come.
“For verily I say unto you, that great things await you” (D&C 45:60–62).
With that direction, the Prophet began the next day, 8 March 1831, the work of translating the New Testament, beginning with Matthew 1.
A
date written on one of the manuscripts of the New Testament translation
indicates that on 26 September 1831 the transcription and refinement of
Matthew continued, starting with Matthew 26:1(see Matthews, “A Plainer Translation,” 32). The translation of Matthew 24 may, therefore, have occurred sometime during September 1831.
What Are Some of the Changes the Prophet Made to Matthew 24?
The Prophet Joseph Smith made more changes to Matthew 24 than to any other chapter in the New Testament. Matthew 24 in the King James Version contains 1,050 words, while Joseph Smith—Matthew contains some 1,500.
A major difference between Matthew 24
and Joseph Smith—Matthew is that Joseph Smith—Matthew clearly separates
the statements Jesus made concerning events that would take place in
Jerusalem in the years shortly after His death (see Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:5–21) from the events that would take place in the last days, prior to His Second Coming (see vv. 21–55).
Three statements are each repeated twice in Joseph Smith—Matthew (see vv. 10, 12, 23, 28, 30, 32), but only once each in the King James Version (see Matthew 24:6, 12, 15). Also, verses
6–8 of Matthew 24 became Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23, 29, 19,
respectively. The Joseph Smith Translation of Matthew 24:55 is the only
verse for which there is no correlating verse in the King James
Version.
How Did Joseph Smith—Matthew Become a Part of the Pearl of Great Price?
The
first edition of the Pearl of Great Price was printed in Liverpool,
England, in July 1851. It was compiled as a pamphlet for use in the
British Mission by Elder Franklin D. Richards, a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles and president of the mission. In the preface to the
pamphlet, Elder Richards explained that nearly all of its contents
(which included Joseph Smith—Matthew) had appeared earlier in various
Church publications in the United States, but with limited circulation.
It is presumed that Elder Richards had access to these publications;
however, he did not identify any of his source documents.
Why, among the Many Parts of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, Did the Translation of Matthew 24 Become a Part of Our Standard Works?
In Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:5–55,
the Savior answered questions His disciples asked concerning the
destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the scattering of the Jews, and
events that would occur prior to His Second Coming. It is a chapter of
scripture that should be of intense interest to every Latter-day Saint.
It tells of the latter-day dispensation, including the gathering of
Israel prior to the Second Coming of Christ. The text of Matthew 24
in the King James Version has many unclear passages and its
organization is confusing. The Prophet Joseph Smith’s work makes both
the historical chronology of this prophecy and the doctrinal
significance of its teachings plain and inspiring.
Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:1–21
Jesus Christ Prophesied about the Destruction of Jerusalem
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:1. “I Am He”
Jesus said, “I am he of whom it is written by the prophets” (see also JST, Matthew 4:18).
With those words, He proclaimed to His disciples that He was the
Messiah, the Anointed One, of whom all the prophets had prophesied (see Helaman 8:16–23).
Their prophecies concerning the Messiah foretold not only His suffering
for the sins of the world, but also His glorious Second Coming at the
end of the world.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:1. “And All the Holy Angels with Him”
Many
angels will appear with Jesus at His Second Coming. The scriptures
describe these angels as having power to prepare the earth for the
coming of Christ and as those who will sound trumps at strategic times
(see Revelation 7:1; 8:2; 14–16; see also D&C 77:8, 12). In addition, the righteous Saints who have died will accompany Him at His Second Coming (see D&C 45:44–45; 76:50, 63; 88:96–98).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:1. “He Should Come Again on the Earth”
The
Second Coming of Christ is an event spoken of repeatedly, with great
fervency and hope, throughout the scriptures. For example, in Old
Testament times the Lord showed Adam “whatsoever should befall his
posterity unto the latest generation” (D&C 107:56), including the Second Coming of Christ. Adam made all these things known unto his children (see Moses 5:12).
Enoch was shown in vision not only the coming of Christ in the meridian
of time, but also “the day of the coming of the Son of Man, in the last
days, to dwell on the earth in righteousness for the space of a
thousand years” (Moses 7:65). Other Old Testament prophets prophesied of these wondrous latter days (see Job 19:25; Psalm 102:16; Isaiah 40:1–11; Daniel 7:13; Micah 1:3; Zechariah 13:6; Malachi 3:2). In the Book of Mormon, Jaredite prophets testified of the glorious coming of Christ (see Ether 3:16–25; 9:22; 13:1–12), as did the Nephite and Lamanite prophets (see Helaman 8:16–23). Furthermore, New Testament prophets and modern prophets have made many inspired pronouncements on this subject (see Acts 3:20–24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 19–22; D&C 29; 45; 133).
Of all of the prophecies in the scriptures concerning the latter days,
the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is by far the most highly anticipated.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:2–3. The Destruction of the Temple
See also Mark 13:1–2 and Luke 21:5–6.
Because of the nature of the temple’s construction, the prophecy of its
destruction may have seemed nearly impossible to the Jews. Elder
Bruce R. McConkie, then a member of the Seventy, wrote: “Some single
stones were about 67½ feet long, 7½ feet high, and 9 feet broad; the
pillars supporting the porches, all one stone, were some 37½ feet tall.
It is said that when the Romans destroyed and ploughed Jerusalem, six
days battering of the walls failed to dislodge these mighty stones. The
temple was, of course, finally leveled to the ground, and … the stones
were rooted out and scattered elsewhere” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1966–73], 1:637).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4. The Mount of Olives
Known to some as Olivet,
the Mount of Olives is a limestone ridge, a little more than one mile
(1.6 kilometers) in length, east of the city of Jerusalem. It rises
about two hundred feet (65 meters) above the city, with the Kidron
Valley lying between it and the city. On its western side is the Garden
of Gethsemane, and on the east, the villages of Bethany and Bethphage.
This mount was the site of many events during biblical times (see 2 Samuel 15:30; Matthew 21:1–9; 26:30–56; Luke 21:37; John 8:1; Acts 1:12) and will be the site of prominent events associated with the latter days and the Messiah’s Second Coming (see Zechariah 14:4–5; D&C 45:48; 133:20).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4. “Tell Us When Shall These Things Be”
The Prophet Joseph Smith’s inspired revision of Matthew 24:3
makes it clear that the disciples wanted to know about two events. The
first event was “the destruction of the temple, and the Jews.” This
event occurred about A.D.
70, when the Romans subdued a Jewish revolt, slaughtered the
people, destroyed the city of Jerusalem, and scattered the Jews to many
nations.
The
second event the disciples asked about was “the end of the world, or
the destruction of the wicked.” This will happen at the Second Coming of
Christ in the last days. Elder Bruce R. McConkie, who was a member of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, clarified what is meant by “the end
of the world,” saying that it is “not the end of the earth but the end
of the world, that is of the social conditions prevailing among worldly
people. ‘The end of the world is the end of unrighteousness or of
worldliness as we know it, and this will be brought about by “the
destruction of the wicked.” (Jos. Smith 1:4 [Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4].) When our world ends and the millennial era begins, there will be a new heaven and a new earth. (Isa. 65:17–25; D&C 101:23–24.) Lust, carnality, and sensuousness of every sort will cease, for it will be the end of the world.’ (Mormon Doctrine, pp. 767–768.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:640).
The Savior’s answer to His disciples’ inquiry concerning these two events provides an outline for understanding Matthew 24. Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:5–21(compare with Matthew 24:4–22) is His response about the destruction of the temple and the Jews, while Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:21–55(compare with Matthew 24:23–51) contains His statements about the sign of His coming and the end of the world.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:6, 9. Many False Prophets Tried to Deceive
Elder
James E. Talmage, who was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles, commented on the historical evidence of the fulfillment of
this prophecy: “Among the false prophets, and men who claimed to be the
duly accredited ministers of Christ, were Simon Magus who drew many
people after him (Acts 8:9, 13, 18–24; see also The Great Apostasy, 7:1, 2), Menander, Dositheus, and Theudas, and the false apostles referred to by Paul (2 Cor. 11:13) and others, such as Hymeneus and Philetus (2 Tim. 2:17, 18). Dummelow’s Commentary
applies here the record by Josephus concerning ‘a body of wicked men,
who deceived and deluded the people under pretense of divine
inspiration, who prevailed with the multitude to act like madmen, and
went before them into the wilderness, pretending that God would there
show them the signals of victory’” (Jesus the Christ, 587).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:7. The Disciples Were Afflicted and Killed
Most
of the original Apostles spread throughout the world to teach the
gospel, but were eventually martyred. For example, history suggests that
Peter suffered death in Rome (as did Paul), and James was slain by a
sword in Jerusalem. But the Apostles were not the only martyrs. Many of
the early Christians suffered great persecutions and were killed because
of their faith. Some accounts of the persecution and martyrdom of early
Saints are found in the New Testament (for example, see Acts 4:1–3, 17–18, 29; 5:17–19, 40; 7:54–60; 8:1–3; 11:19; 12:1–5; 13:50; 14:1–7, 19–20; 16:19–24; 17:1–9; 21–26; 2 Corinthians 11:23–29).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:8. What Does “Offended” Mean?
The Greek word for “offended” (scandalizo ) means “to make to stumble.” From the same root comes the word skandalon, which is translated as “stumbling block.” In Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:8 the Savior was saying that many would fall away or turn away from the faith.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:10. What Does it Mean That Love Will “Wax Cold”?
To
“wax” means to increase in intensity. Violence and corruption are signs
that people have ceased to love or care about themselves and others.
Coarseness and cruelty infect a society and spread like a disease. A
cruel society exists when people are “without affection” and “hate their
own blood” (Moses 7:33).
As abuses by humans against other humans increase, men’s hearts turn
cold and the spirit of Satan takes control of their actions.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:12. “The Abomination of Desolation”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:
“Daniel spoke prophetically of a day when there would be ‘the abomination that maketh desolate’ (Dan. 11:31; 12:11), and the phrase was recoined in New Testament times to say, ‘the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet.’ (Matt. 24:15.)
… Relying solely on the plain meaning of words, we can conclude that
this phrase (abomination of desolation) would have reference to some
great act or status of corruption and befoulment, of contamination and
filthiness, which would bring to pass destruction, ruination,
devastation, desolation.
“Such is the case. These conditions of desolation, born of abomination and wickedness, were to occur twice in fulfilment of Daniel’s words. The first was to be when the Roman legions under Titus, in 70
A.D., laid siege to Jerusalem,
destroying and scattering the people, leaving not one stone upon another
in the desecrated temple, and spreading such terror and devastation as
has seldom if ever been equalled on earth” (Mormon Doctrine, 12).
The second occurrence of the abomination of desolation, prophesied by the Savior in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:32, refers to a latter-day destruction.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:13–17. The Saints Were Told to Flee for Safety
Concerning
those who heeded the warning to flee, Elder James E. Talmage wrote:
“The warning to all to flee from Jerusalem and Judea to the mountains
when the armies would begin to surround the city was so generally heeded
by members of the Church, that according to the early Church writers
not one Christian perished in the awful siege (see Eusebius, Eccles. Hist.,
book iii, ch. 5). … All Jews who had faith in the warning given by
Christ to the apostles, and by these to the people, fled beyond Jordan,
and congregated mostly at Pella” (Jesus the Christ, 588).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:18. The Tribulation on the Jews
The
wickedness of the Jews at Jerusalem persisted and increased after the
Resurrection of the Savior, setting the scene for the destruction that
Jesus prophesied. Elder Ezra Taft Benson, then a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, referring to a history written by Will Durant,
said: “The siege of Jerusalem under Titus [lasted] for 134 days, during
which 1,110,000 Jews perished and 97,000 were taken captive; … the
Romans destroyed 987 towns in Palestine and slew 580,000 men, and a
still larger number, we are told, perished through starvation, disease,
and fire” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1950, 74).
“Thousands
[of Jews] were carried off to Egypt to work in the quarries and mines
as lifelong slaves. Boys and women were sold to slave traders, and
thousands of others died of starvation in the prison camps. A remnant of
this conquered people was scattered to the ends of the earth” (H. Donl
Peterson, “The Fall of Jerusalem,” Ensign, May 1972, 42).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:19. “Only the Beginning of the Sorrows”
The
suffering of the Jews following the death and Resurrection of Christ
was clearly prophesied by Nephi and Jacob in the Book of Mormon (see 1 Nephi 19:14; 2 Nephi 6:9–11; 10:3–6; 25:9–16). Historical events, such as the Crusades, the Inquisition, and the Holocaust, are other times since A.D.
70 when the Jews have been persecuted and destroyed.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:21. “These Things I Have Spoken”
By
saying “and again, after the tribulation of those days which shall come
upon Jerusalem,” Jesus gave a clear indication that He had finished
prophesying about the “destruction of the temple, and the Jews,” and
would next prophesy concerning the “end of the world, or the destruction
of the wicked” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:4).
Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:22–37
Jesus Christ Prophesied about the End of the World
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22. “In Those Days”
Beginning with the latter part of Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:21,
Jesus Christ answered the question His disciples asked in verse 4 about
the signs of the end of the world and His Second Coming.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22. False Christs
Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained:
“False
Christs! False Redeemers, false Saviors! Will there actually be men who
will claim to fulfill the Messianic prophecies and who will step forth
to offer their blood for the sins of the world? Is it possible that some
will say, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; come unto me and be
ye saved’? Or that others will profess to return in glory bearing the
wounds with which the true Christ was wounded in the house of his
friends?
“True,
there may be those deranged persons who suppose they are God, or
Christ, or the Holy Ghost, or almost anything. None but the lunatic
fringe among men, however, will give them a second serious thought. The
promise of false Christs who will deceive, if it were possible, even the
very elect, who will lead astray those who have made eternal covenant
with the Lord, is a far more subtle and insidious evil.
“A
false Christ is not a person. It is a false system of worship, a false
church, a false cult that says: ‘Lo, here is salvation; here is the
doctrine of Christ. Come and believe thus and so, and ye shall be
saved.’ It is any concept or philosophy that says that redemption,
salvation, sanctification, justification, and all of the promised
rewards can be gained in any way except that set forth by the apostles
and prophets” (The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 47–48).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22. False Prophets
The
Prophet Joseph Smith warned: “When a man goes about prophesying, and
commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false
prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and
they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost
the very chosen ones” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 365).
He
also taught: “The world always mistook false prophets for true ones,
and those that were sent of God, they considered to be false prophets,
and hence they killed, stoned, punished and imprisoned the true
prophets, and these had to hide themselves ‘in deserts and dens, and
caves of the earth,’ and though the most honorable men of the earth,
they banished them from their society as vagabonds, whilst they
cherished, honored and supported knaves, vagabonds, hypocrites,
impostors, and the basest of men” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 206).
Elder M. Russell Ballard, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, warned about false prophets and false teachers:
“Jesus cautioned several times that prior to His Second Coming, ‘many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many’ (Matthew 24:11).
As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is our duty to be watchmen on
the tower, warning Church members to beware of false prophets and false
teachers who lie in wait to ensnare and destroy faith and testimony.
Today we warn you that there are false prophets and false teachers
arising; and if we are not careful, even those who are among the
faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will
fall victim to their deception. …
“When
we think of false prophets and false teachers, we tend to think of
those who espouse an obviously false doctrine or presume to have
authority to teach the true gospel of Christ according to their own
interpretation. We often assume that such individuals are associated
with small radical groups on the fringes of society. However, I
reiterate: there are false prophets and false teachers who have or at
least claim to have membership in the Church. There are those who,
without authority, claim Church endorsement to their products and
practices. Beware of such. …
“Therefore,
let us beware of false prophets and false teachers, both men and women,
who are self-appointed declarers of the doctrines of the Church and who
seek to spread their false gospel and attract followers by sponsoring
symposia, books, and journals whose contents challenge fundamental
doctrines of the Church. Beware of those who speak and publish in
opposition to God’s true prophets and who actively proselyte others with
reckless disregard for the eternal well-being of those whom they
seduce. Like Nehor and Korihor in the Book of Mormon, they rely on
sophistry to deceive and entice others to their views. They ‘set
themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and
praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion’ (2 Nephi 26:29).
“Of such President Joseph F. Smith warned when he spoke of the
‘proud self-vaunting ones, who read by the lamps of their own conceit;
who interpret by rules of their own contriving; who have become a law
unto themselves, and so pose as the sole judges of their own doings’ (Gospel Doctrine, 381)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1999, 77–78; or Ensign, Nov. 1999, 62–63).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22. Great Signs and Wonders
Elder
James E. Talmage cautioned Latter-day Saints not to be deceived by
miracles that are performed by false prophets. After quoting Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22,
Elder Talmage said: “The invalidity of miracles as proof of divinely
appointed ministry is declared in an utterance of Jesus Christ regarding
the events of the great judgment: ‘Many will say to me in that day,
Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then
will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work
iniquity.’ The Jews to whom these teachings were addressed knew that
wonders could be wrought by evil powers, for they charged Christ with
working miracles by the authority of Beelzebub the prince of devils” (The Articles of Faith, 231).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22. “If Possible, They Shall Deceive the Very Elect”
After quoting Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:22, President Harold B. Lee defined the elect as “members of this Church” (Stand Ye in Holy Places,
384). Similarly, Elder Marion G. Romney, then a member of the Quorum of
the Twelve Apostles, said: “Now, those ‘who are the elect according to
the covenant’ are members of the Church, so we ourselves are on notice
to beware” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1956, 70; see also D&C 29:7–9).
President
Joseph F. Smith warned: “Let it not be forgotten that the evil one has
great power in the earth, and that by every possible means he seeks to
darken the minds of men, and then offers them falsehood and deception in
the guise of truth. Satan is a skilful imitator, and as genuine gospel
truth is given the world in ever-increasing abundance, so he spreads the
counterfeit coin of false doctrine. Beware of his spurious currency, it
will purchase for you nothing but disappointment, misery and spiritual
death. The ‘father of lies’ he has been called, and such an adept has he
become, through the ages of practice in his nefarious work, that were
it possible he would deceive the very elect” (Gospel Doctrine, 376).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23, 29. “For the Elect’s Sake”
Concerning the prophecies of the last days, President Wilford Woodruff said:
“These
things are about to come to pass upon the heads of the present
generation, notwithstanding they are not looking for it, neither do they
believe it. Yet their unbelief will not make the truth of God of none
effect. The signs are appearing in the heavens and on the earth, and all
things indicate the fulfillment of the Prophets. …
“… Why
should not God reveal His secrets unto His servants the Prophets, that
the Saints might be led in paths of safety, and escape those evils which
are about to engulf a whole generation in ruin?” (in History of the Church, 6:27).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:23. “Be Not Troubled”
The word troubled here is taken from the Greek throeo,
meaning “to clamor” or “to be frightened.” The Prophet Joseph Smith
taught that gospel knowledge “does away with darkness, suspense and
doubt” and that “there is no pain so awful as that of suspense” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 288).
Elder M. Russell Ballard taught:
“Living
in these difficult times, brothers and sisters, requires each one of us
to maintain a positive, hopeful perspective about the future. …
“… More
and more people are expressing great alarm at what appears to be an
acceleration of worldwide calamity. As members of the Church, we must
not forget the Savior’s admonition: ‘Be not troubled: for all these
things must come to pass.’ …
“My
message to you today, my brothers and sisters, is simply this: the Lord
is in control. He knows the end from the beginning” (in Conference
Report, Oct. 1992, 41–42; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31–32; see also 1 Nephi 22:17–19).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:25. If They Say He Is in the Desert
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie wrote: “‘If these false religious systems with their
false teachers invite you to the desert to find Christ in a life of
asceticism [strict self-denial], go not forth, he is not there; if they
call you to the secret chambers of monastic seclusion [withdrawal from
the world] to find him, believe them not, he is not there” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:648).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:26. “As the Light of the Morning”
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught: “All people shall see it
together! It shall spread over all the earth as the morning light! …
Surely this is that of which Isaiah said: ‘And the glory of the Lord
shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of
the Lord hath spoken it.’ (Isa. 40:5.)
Surely this is that of which our revelation speaks: ‘Prepare for the
revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple,
in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all
flesh shall see me together.’ (D&C 101:23.)
Surely this is that day of which Zechariah prophesied: ‘The Lord my God
shall come, and all the saints with thee. And it shall come to pass in
that day, that the light shall not be clear, nor dark: But it shall be
one day which shall be known to the Lord, not day, nor night: but it
shall come to pass, that at evening time it shall be light. … And the
Lord shall be king over all the earth.’ (Zech. 14:5–9.)” (The Millennial Messiah, 419–20).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:27. A Parable about the Gathering of Israel
“The
manner of the gathering, we are told, will be in the same miraculous
and mysterious way as the gathering of eagles to a carcass lying in the
desert—they appear suddenly and inexplicably in the four quarters of the
sky and come together from vast distances to that single spot” (Hugh
Nibley, The Prophetic Book of Mormon [1989], 472).
The use of the word carcass makes one think of a dead and worthless body, but it may also refer to a structure or framework, which better fits its use in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:27. This is supported by the language in the Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 17:37,
“Wheresoever the body is gathered; or, in other words, whithersoever
the saints are gathered, thither will the eagles be gathered together;
or, thither will the remainder be gathered together.” Today, the
framework, or body, of the Church is found throughout the world in
stakes, wards, and branches, while the eagles symbolize the Saints and
the continuing stream of converts who embrace the restored gospel and
gather into the Church.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:28–29. Wars and Famines
See also Doctrine and Covenants 45:26, 63 and 63:33–34.
In accordance with these revelations, the Prophet Joseph Smith
declared: “I will prophesy that the signs of the coming of the Son of
Man are already commenced. One pestilence will desolate after another.
We shall soon have war and bloodshed. The moon will be turned into
blood. I testify of these things, and that the coming of the Son of Man
is nigh, even at your doors” (History of the Church, 3:390).
President Harold B. Lee affirmed that the signs are now upon us:
“We are seeing the signs of our times as foretold by the prophets and by the Master himself. …
“Brothers
and sisters, this is the day the Lord is speaking of. You see the signs
are here” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1973, 168, 170; or Ensign, Jan. 1974, 128–29).
In
1992, concerning earthquakes increasing in number, Elder M. Russell
Ballard said: “Recently I read a newspaper article that cited statistics
from the U.S. Geological Survey indicating that earthquakes around the
world are increasing in frequency and intensity. According to the
article, only two major earthquakes (earthquakes measuring at least six
on the Richter scale) occurred during the 1920s. In the 1930s the number
increased to five, and then it decreased to four during the 1940s. But
in the 1950s, nine major earthquakes occurred, followed by fifteen
during the 1960s, forty-six during the 1970s, and fifty-two during the
1980s. Already almost as many major earthquakes have occurred during the
1990s as during the entire decade of the 1980s” (in Conference Report,
Oct. 1992, 41–42; or Ensign, Nov. 1992, 31).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:30. “The Love of Men Shall Wax Cold”
The
Prophet Joseph Smith told of a vision he had of the future: “I saw men
hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother,
women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of
their mothers. I saw armies arrayed against armies. I saw blood,
desolation, fires. The Son of Man has said that the mother shall be
against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother. These things
are at our doors. They will follow the Saints of God from city to city.
Satan will rage, and the spirit of the devil is now enraged” (History of the Church, 3:391).
He
later said: “I prophesy, in the name of the Lord God of Israel, anguish
and wrath and tribulation and the withdrawing of the Spirit of God from
the earth await this generation, until they are visited with utter
desolation. This generation is as corrupt as the generation of the Jews
that crucified Christ; and if He were here to-day, and should preach the
same doctrine He did then, they would put Him to death” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 328).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:31. “This Gospel of the Kingdom Shall Be Preached in All the World, … and Then Shall the End Come”
The
Prophet Joseph Smith prophesied the following about missionary work:
“Our missionaries are going forth to different nations, and … the
Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work
from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may
assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly,
nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited
every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the
purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say
the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).
President Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles, explained that when the gospel is taken to all the
earth, we can know the end is near: “This commission to take the gospel
to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people is one of the signs by
which believers will recognize the nearness of the Savior’s return to
earth” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1984, 63; or Ensign,
May 1984, 43). Elder James E. Talmage wrote: “When such witness among
the nations is made complete, ‘then shall the end come’; and the nations
‘shall see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power
and great glory’” (Jesus the Christ, 777).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:36. “Then Shall All the Tribes of the Earth Mourn”
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie taught: “When our Lord returns, there shall be—among
the wicked and ungodly—such wailing and mourning as has never before
been known on earth, for the summer will be over, the harvest past, and
their souls not saved” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:439).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:36. “They Shall See the Son of Man Coming”
This
is the great event that will wind up the latter days. Christ will come
to establish an earthly kingdom over the earth for a thousand years (see
Articles of Faith 1:10). “So great shall be the glory of his presence that the sun shall hide his face in shame” (D&C 133:49). “The presence of the Lord shall be as the melting fire that burneth, and as the fire which causeth the waters to boil” (v. 41); “element shall melt with fervent heat” (D&C 101:25) and “the mountains [shall] flow down at [Christ’s] presence” (D&C 133:44).
At
this time, the righteous Saints will be “quickened” and will join those
“who have slept in their graves,” who will also be caught up to meet
Christ “in the midst of the pillar of heaven” (see D&C 88:96–98). Christ will descend to earth “in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).
With the coming of Christ, the millennial era of peace, harmony, and
righteousness will begin. Satan will have “no power over the hearts of
the people, for they dwell in righteousness, and the Holy One of Israel
reigneth” (1 Nephi 22:26).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37. Treasuring Up God’s Word
President
Joseph Fielding Smith said: “Treasuring up his word is far more than
merely reading it. To treasure it one must not only read and study, but
seek in humility and obedience to do the commandments given, and gain
the inspiration which the Holy Spirit will impart” (Doctrines of Salvation, 1:305).
Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:38–55
Jesus Christ Taught us to Prepare for His Second Coming
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:38. The Parable of the Fig Tree
Figs
are an important food in the Middle East. The failure of fig trees is a
national calamity, while their productivity is a token of peace and
divine favor. The fig tree is one of the earliest to show its fruit
buds, which appear before the leaves; thus a fig tree with leaves would
be expected also to have fruit. The time when the leaves appear
indicates that summer is near. The fig tree differs from most other
fruit trees in that its fruit is green and inconspicuous, concealed
among leaves until near the time of ripening. (See Bible Dictionary, “fig tree,” 674.)
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:40. “No One Knoweth”
Concerning
the Savior’s coming, the Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Jesus Christ never
did reveal to any man the precise time that He would come. Go and read
the Scriptures, and you cannot find anything that specifies the exact
hour He would come; and all that say so are false teachers” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 341; see also D&C 49:7).
Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote:
“The
time for the Second Coming of Christ is as fixed and certain as was the
hour of his birth. It will not vary as much as a single second from the
divine decree. He will come at the appointed time. The Millennium will
not be ushered in prematurely because men turn to righteousness, nor
will it be delayed because iniquity abounds. …
“… [Jesus Christ] knows the set time and so does his Father” (The Millennial Messiah, 26–27).
Occasionally,
publications circulate among members of the Church that specify or
speculate on the time of the Second Coming. President Harold B. Lee
warned members of the Church about these kinds of publications. After
listing several passages in the scriptures that teach about the signs of
the Second Coming of Christ, President Lee said: “These [scriptures]
are some of the writings with which you should concern yourselves,
rather than commentaries that may come from those whose information may
not be the most reliable and whose motives may be subject to question”
(in Conference Report, Oct. 1972, 128; or Ensign, Jan. 1973, 106).
Joseph—Matthew 1:41–43. “As it Was in the Days of Noah”
Concerning
the last days, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, a member of the Quorum of the
Twelve Apostles, wrote: “As in the days of Noah, people will also be
preoccupied with the cares and the pleasures of the world (see Matthew 24:37). Ironically, most therefore will even miss such signs as God gives pertaining to Jesus’ glorious second coming” (Sermons Not Spoken
[1985], 62). He also said: “It is no accident that the scriptures have
preserved for us certain precious insights about the times in which Noah
lived. Those were times, we read, that were ‘filled with violence’ (Genesis 6:11), and corruption abounded. There was apparently a sense of self-sufficiency, a condition to which Jesus called attention. (Matthew 24:36–41.)
Jesus said this condition would be repeated in the last days. The
people of Noah’s time were desensitized to real dangers. So we may
become in our time. Noah and those with him had to let go of their world
or perish with it!” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward, 13).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:44–45. “One Shall Be Taken, and the Other Left”
Concerning the parables in Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:44–45,
President Heber C. Kimball, who was a counselor in the First
Presidency, said: “The servants of God are angels in one sense, sent
forth to gather the house of Israel from the four corners of the earth;
and the Elders of this Church in their labors have fulfilled, partly,
the sayings of the Savior, when they have found two working in the
field, one has received the Gospel and been gathered, and the other
left; two working in a mill, one has been taken and the other left; two
lying in a bed, the one has been taken and the other left. But no doubt
these sayings will have their final and complete fulfilment about the
time of the second coming of the Savior” (inJournal of Discourses, 10:103).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:46–47. As a Thief in the Night
Elder
Bruce R. McConkie added further insight to the meaning of this passage
when he said: “Those who treasure up his word will not be deceived as to
the time of that glorious day, nor as to the events to precede and to
attend it. (Jos. Smith 1:37.) The righteous will be able to read the
signs of the times. To those in darkness he will come suddenly,
unexpectedly, ‘as a thief in the night,’ but to ‘the children of light’
who ‘are not of the night, nor of darkness,’ as Paul expressed it, that
day will not overtake them ‘as a thief.’ They will recognize the signs
as certainly as a woman in travail foreknows the approximate time of her
child’s birth. (1 Thess. 5:1–6.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 688).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:48. “Therefore Be Ye Also Ready”
Concerning
the need to be prepared for the Second Coming but not to fear it, in a
1927 Christmas message the First Presidency stated: “Each passing year
brings us nearer the date of the Lord’s coming in power and glory. True,
the hour and the day when this great event is to take place, no man
knoweth; but all the promised signs indicate that it is not far distant.
Meanwhile the duty of the Saints is to watch and work and pray, being
valiant for truth, and abounding in good works. Despite the uneasiness
and discontent in many parts of the earth, the suspicions and jealousies
among the nations, the mounting wave of lawlessness and crime, and the
seeming spread of the elements of destruction … those who continue to
stand in holy places can discern through it all the handworking of the
Almighty in consummation of His purposes and in furtherance of His will.
That which, viewed with the natural eye, is portentous and dreadful,
causes no apprehension to those who have faith that whatever happens,
the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (in Clark, Messages of the First Presidency, 5:256).
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:49–54. A Parable of the Lord and His Servants
In Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:49
the Lord asked a piercing question: “Who, then, is a faithful and wise
servant … ?” It is a question similar to the ones asked in Psalm 24:3, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?” and in Malachi 3:2,
“But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he
appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.”
These are questions we should each ask ourself.
Faithful
and wise servants can always be found doing what they have been
commanded to do, such as giving “meat in due season” (food at the proper
time) to the households over which they have been made “rulers.” Such
servants will be given responsibility over all of their master’s
possessions. The evil servant will rationalize that he will do what he
has been commanded later, and instead of feeding his household as he
should, he will begin to abuse his fellow servants and feed himself,
along with other drunkards. And the Lord will come to the evil servant
at a time he least expects and is least prepared. The evil servant will
not be made a ruler, but will be cut asunder and appointed his portion
with the hypocrites.
Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:55. “The End of the Earth”
The
end of the world is the end of wickedness. But the end of the earth
occurs when this earth is transformed into a celestial kingdom.
President Brigham Young said: “When the Savior has completed the work,
when the faithful Saints have preached the Gospel to the last of the
spirits who have lived here and who are designed to come to this earth;
when the thousand years of rest shall come and thousands and thousands
of Temples shall be built, and the servants and handmaids of the Lord
shall have entered therein and officiated for themselves, and for their
dead friends back to the days of Adam; when the last of the spirits in
prison who will receive the Gospel has received it; when the Savior
comes and receives his ready bride, and all who can be are saved in the
various kingdoms of God—celestial, terrestrial and telestial, according
to their several capacities and opportunities; when sin and iniquity are
driven from the earth, and the spirits that now float in this
atmosphere are driven into the place prepared for them; and when the
earth is sanctified from the effects of the fall, and baptized,
cleansed, and purified by fire, and returns to its paradisiacal state,
and has become like a sea of glass, a urim and thummim; when all this is
done, and the Savior has presented the earth to his Father, and it is
placed in the cluster of the celestial kingdoms, and the Son and all his
faithful brethren and sisters have received the welcome plaudit—‘Enter
ye into the joy of your Lord,’ and the Savior is crowned, then and not
till then, will the Saints receive their everlasting inheritances” (in Journal of Discourses, 17:117).
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