The Savior

How close are we to the Second Coming?  (By Joseph Fielding McConkie)

 

"The question cannot be answered by turning to a calendar.  It can only be answered in terms of the events that have been prophesied to take place before Christ's return.  After the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the gospel, the most important event to precede the Second Coming is the declaration of the restored gospel throughout the nations of the earth. (Joseph Smith Matthew 1:31; Moses 7:62)…

John the Revelator tells us that before that day, there will be those among 'every kindred and tongue and people and nation' who have found redemption through Christ and have been ordained 'kings and priests' (Revelation 5:9-10), meaning they had received the fulness of temple blessings.

This chain of thought suggests not only that the restored gospel must be freely taught among the Arab nations, for example, but that it must be taught in their native tongues by Arabs who are legal administrators of the gospel.  It further requires that there be Latter-day Saint congregations throughout all Arab nations and that there be those in their congregations who have received the fulness of temple blessings.  Some considerable time will be necessary for such promises to be fulfilled.  It also suggests that we have a considerable labor ahead of us and that missionary work is still in its infancy."