Points to Ponder in Doctrine and Covenants 45

To accompany your Come Follow Me study for May 5-11

In addition to reading section 45, you may want to read any or all of the following commentary:

You may also enjoy the following videos:

If you would like a Kahoot game on this section to use with your family or your class, click here: https://create.kahoot.it/share/doctrine-and-covenants-45/0ba8d76e-cf5e-4812-baf0-58615afff7ab. To use it with a group, after clicking on this link, you will need to log into Kahoot, creating a free account if you have not done so previously, then click on the blue “Host Live” button or the gray “Assign” button, depending on how you wish to use the Kahoot. Some of the Kahoot questions may presuppose that the player has read through the suggested answers to the following Points to Ponder and at least has browsed the Institute student manual as well.

Points to Ponder in Doctrine and Covenants 45

1. This section evidently was given while Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were working on their inspired “translation” of what chapter of the Bible?

2. The heading to this section quotes Joseph Smith as saying, “But to the joy of the Saints, … I received the following.” In one sentence, how would you summarize what there is in this section that would produce such joy?

3. What do you consider the most important information the Lord gives in this section about the events which would precede His Second Coming?

4. What do you consider the most important information He gives about conditions accompanying His Second Coming?

5. What do you consider the most important information He gives about conditions during the Millennium, following His coming?

6. What do you consider the most important counsel the Lord gives us in this section?

7. Why do you suppose Church leaders talk very little in conference about building a latter-day New Jerusalem, though they frequently mention preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming?

8. Why do you suppose those who produced the accompanying Come Follow Me material for this week four years ago would have used the following picture to symbolize its content, when it seems at first glance to have nothing to do with D&C 45?

Find the passage which states or implies each of the following points:

9. Malachi 3:1 may not necessarily refer to an individual but to the restored gospel in general.

10. If we want to enjoy the company of ancient prophets, we shouldn’t feel too much “at home” in this world.

11. In one sense, even the righteous will experience a sort of “spirit prison.”

12. Passage reminiscent of the AIDS or COVID plagues.

13. The Lord expects us to be aware of the signs preceding his Second Coming.

14. At the time of the Second Coming, Jesus will show his countrymen incontrovertible evidence of his identity and divinity.

15. The “oil” we are to keep in our lamps is the Holy Ghost.

16. An early hint of the coming Civil War in the US.

17. The day will come when peace will be found only in Zion.

Possible Answers to Points to Ponder in D&C 45

1. This section evidently was given while Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were working on their inspired “translation” of what chapter of the Bible?

Evidently it was Matthew 24, the inspired revision of which is now published in the Pearl of Great Price as Joseph Smith—Matthew.

How about: “Despite the future calamities which would befall the world, the Lord promised His saints need not be troubled, for He would protect them in a latter-day Zion, or New Jerusalem, to which would be gathered the righteous from among all nations, in preparation for His glorious Second Coming.”

3. What do you consider the most important information the Lord gives in this section about the events which would shortly precede His Second Coming?

My list might include:

The “times of the Gentiles” being fulfilled, after which the primary emphasis would be on gathering those literally of the House of Israel. (45:25. See also, 3 Nephi 16:10-11.)
Gathering of Israel (45:25)
Wars, rumors of wars, with the whole earth in commotion (45:26, 33)
Iniquity to abound (45:27)
Desolating sickness to cover the land (45:31)
Earthquakes and many desolations (45:33)
Signs and wonders in both the heavens and in the earth, with the sun being darkened, the moon turned to blood, and the stars falling from heaven (45:40-42)
Gathering of the Jews to their homeland (45:43)
A New Jerusalem will be built and will be a “land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God.” The Lord’s glory will be there, and the wicked will be afraid of it. Those unwilling to fight their neighbors will need to flee to this city of Zion for safety, and it will be the only people on earth not at war one with another. (45:66-70)

4. What do you consider the most important information He gives about conditions accompanying His Second Coming?

My list might include:

He comes in the clouds of heaven, in view of His people, clothed with power and great glory. (45:44)
He is accompanied by all the holy angels—which would include the righteous dead (45:44)
The righteous departed saints will be caught up to meet Jesus in the cloud—and presumably become part of the “holy angels” who descend therefrom with Him. (45:45) At this point they are “redeemed,” which evidently includes being resurrected.
Jesus will set His foot on the Mount of Olives, which will cleave in twain and be accompanied by earthquakes. (45:48)
The Lord’s arm will fall on all the nations and the wicked will be consumed with fire. (45:47, 49-50)
The Jews will see the marks of the wounds in Jesus’ hands and feet and finally recognize Him for who He is. (45:51-53)
The “heathen nations” and those who knew no law, in other words those qualified for at least the terrestrial glory, will be resurrected. (45:54)
Satan will be bound (45:55)

5. What do you consider the most important information He gives about conditions during the Millennium, following His coming?

My list might include:

The return of the city of Enoch (45:12)
The righteous will inherit the earth, multiply and wax strong (45:58)
Children will grow up without sin unto salvation (45:58)
Jesus will be in our midst with visible glory and will be our only king and lawgiver (45:59)

6. What do you consider the most important counsel the Lord gives us in this section?

My list would include:

To stand in holy places and be not moved (45:32)
To “be not troubled,” but to look forward to the glorious Second Coming and Millennium, realizing that the appearance of the predicted calamities is a sure sign of the imminence of the Savior’s return. (45:35)
Take the Holy Spirit for our guide so as not to be deceived. (45:57)

7. Why do you suppose Church leaders talk very little in conference about building a latter-day New Jerusalem, though they frequently mention preparing for Jesus’ Second Coming?

I have no special insight here, but I think it’s very possible that our leaders for now want to emphasize the creation of a Zion people rather than raise speculation and excitement about building a Zion community such as envisioned in D&C 45. In due time, we can expect every prophecy and promise of the Doctrine and Covenants to be fulfilled. But for now, it is important that members view their own stakes as a place of refuge and work to build up the Church in every part of the world. Too much discussion of the future city of Zion, or the New Jerusalem, could lead to a premature gathering of Latter-day Saints to western Missouri, where too many from some parts of the world have already gathered, to the detriment of the Church in their homelands. This is in line with the instruction in 45:72 to “keep these things from going abroad unto the world until it is expedient in me…that [the wicked] may not know your works until ye have accomplished the thing which I have commanded you.” (45:72)

While early Latter-day Saints focused on a geographical gathering to a New Jerusalem for safety, the Church’s current emphasis is on a figurative “gathering” to the stakes of Zion for safety. That includes gathering at temples and living worthy of a temple recommend, which provide a spiritual protection against the evils of the surrounding world.

Find the passage which states or implies each of the following points:

9. Malachi 3:1 may not necessarily refer to an individual but to the restored gospel in general. 45:9

10. If we want to enjoy the company of ancient prophets, we shouldn’t feel too much “at home” in this world. 45:12-14

11. In one sense, even the righteous will experience a sort of “spirit prison.” 45:17

12. Passage reminiscent of the AIDS or COVID plagues.. 45:31

13. The Lord expects us to be aware of the signs preceding his Second Coming. 45:39

14. At the time of the Second Coming, Jesus will show his countrymen incontrovertible evidence of his identity and divinity. 45:52

15. The “oil” we are to keep in our lamps is the Holy Ghost. 45:57

16. Another early hint of the coming Civil War in the U.S. 45:63

17. The day will come when peace will be found only in Zion. 45:69