The Second Coming
in Glory

Surely the most magnificent event in Book of Mormon history is the appearance and ministration of Jesus Christ to those ancient people. We look forward with earnestness to the time when this will be repeated on a grand scale in our day. Although the Savior will first appear to the Saints in the New Jerusalem and to the Jews in Jerusalem, his appearance to the whole world will be the apex.⁽¹⁾ Surely all previous parallels have only pointed to this glorious event and what follows it. The gospel was restored to prepare a people for his reign; wars have been waged to defend against evil forces that thwart his purposes; and nations will be chastened and purged to produce a sanctified people, ready for his return.

When the Savior comes in the clouds of heaven, "every eye shall see him...." (Rev. 1:7) Similarly, when he appeared to the Nephites, "the eyes of the whole multitude were turned upon him..." (3 Ne. 11:8). While the Nephites beheld the Savior descending, they "wist not what it meant, for they thought it was an angel that had appeared unto them." (Ibid.) In the latter days as well, when "one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven" is manifest, Joseph Smith remarked that people will say, "...It is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east."⁽²⁾

The marveling Nephites were soon enlightened as the Savior announced, "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world." (3 Ne. 11:10.) And "when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth...." (3 Ne. 11:12.) So also in the latter days, apparently after one of the trumps is sounded, "every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess..., saying: Fear God, and give glory to him who sitteth upon the throne forever and ever...." (D&C 88:104; Rev. 14:7.)

The Nephites fell to the earth, "for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven." (3 Ne. 11:12.) Apparently, a similar recollection will take place during the Second Coming. That recollection will be possible because the gospel will have been "preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations...." (JS-M 1:31 = Matt. 24:14). Moroni, who presented the gospel to Joseph Smith via the Book of Mormon, will likely blow the reminding trump that will bring men to bow the knee. (D&C 88:103; Rev. 14:6.)

When Jesus revealed his identity to the Nephites, he said, "...^a.I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in ^b.taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which ^c.I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning." (3 Ne. 11:11.) Compare that ancient declaration with this one that will be sounded by a latter-day trump: "^c.It is finished; it is finished! The ^a.Lamb of God hath overcome and trodden the wine-press alone, even ^b.the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God." (D&C 88:106.)