Relief Society lesson "Signs of the Second Coming"

I was the substitute teacher in Relief Society today in my ward.  Here is the summary of the lesson.

Relief Society Lesson 43, “Signs of the Second Coming”, a little from Lesson 44, “The Second Coming of Jesus Christ.”

Jesus has told us that certain signs and events will warn us when the time of His Second Coming is near.

I gave the analogy of Google Maps. We can print out the list of directions. Some say “go 82 feet” and some say “go 160 miles” before looking for the next signpost or turn. We cannot see by looking at the list of directions because the words show no sense of scale.

Conversely, if we only print out the map, there could be 10 turns at the beginning, and then a long stretch of 160 miles where we look for the signpost of where to turn but there is nothing. Suddenly we get to the next signpost, and we need to make 5 turns quickly.

We could wake up as a passenger in a car, and have no idea where along the 160 mile stretch we are. Unless we see the signposts we have no idea how much farther we have to go.

I said that this is like the signs of the Second Coming. We don't know the scale between the signs, or how long we have to wait before the next one, or if many signs will happen close together soon. We have to be ready spiritually and temporally at all times.

Before the Savior comes, there will be great trials and calamities.

Heavenly Father wants us to be prepare for these troubles.

Heavenly Father expects us to be spiritually ready.

All faithful followers of Christ will know what the signs are and will be watching for them. D&C 45:39. D&C 39:23. If we are obedient and faithful, we will study scriptures and know of the signs.

Not all events preceding the Second Coming are dreadful. Many will bring joy.

For what purpose does the Lord give us these signs? He gives these signs to help us. First, our Heavenly Father wants us to be prepared for these troubles. Second, he also expects us to be spiritually ready when the Savior comes in his glory.

Some signs have already happened:

The restoration of the gospel.

The coming forth of the Book of Mormon.

The coming of Elijah. He appeared in the Kirtland Temple in April 1836.

People of Judah have returned to Jerusalem.

Some signs are occurring already or have started. (We can be certain that these calamities will become more severe before the Lord comes.)

Wickedness, war, and turmoil.

Waves of sea heaving themselves beyond their bounds.

Earthquakes, disease, famines, great storms, lightnings, thunder.

The gospel preached to all the world. (More needs to be done.) The manual says “Before the Second Coming and during the Millenium, the Lord will provide ways to bring the truth to all nations.”

The Lamanites will become a great people.

False prophets.

Some signs are still in the future:

A great hailstorm will destroy the crops of the earth. Hailstones weigh one talent (75.6 lbs) each.

A great burning mountain cast into the sea, a third of the creatures in the sea die

A third of men die..

Jerusalem shall be trodden under foot of men for 3 ½ years.

Two witnesses will serve in Jerusalem for 3 ½ years, then will be killed, then resurrected.

Battle of Armageddon.

Waters will flow out from under the Jerusalem temple, healing the Dead Sea.

Building of the New Jerusalem.

Adam-ondi-Ahman

The return of the Lost Ten Tribes and their records.

144,000 missionaries sent out.

The great and abominable church shall be cast down.

Righteous shall be gathered to Zion, the only people who will not be at war with one another.

Great earthquakes, mountains made low,earth reel to and fro as a drunken man.

Oceans will be driven back into north countries, and the islands shall become one land.

Earth will be like as it was in the days before it was divided.

Missionaries called home.

Sun darkened, moon as blood, stars hurled down.

A great sign shall appear in heaven, and all people shall see it together.

Two points to remember as we watch the signs occuring in our lifetimes:

The Lord keeps his promises. As we see the desolating calamities, we need to remember that he has promised they will happen. We should remember that he will also keep all of his comforting promises.

“Be not troubled, for, when all these things (the signs) shall come to pass, ye may know that the promises which have been made unto you shall be fulfilled.” D&C 45:35.

The Lord is just. He will judge his people. Righteousness will be rewarded. Wickedness will be punished.

How can we remain calm and at peace even when some of the signs are terrifying and dreadful?

We can look to the prophet for guidance and follow his counsel. We can live worthy to have the Holy Ghost guide us. We can look forward to the Savior's coming with happiness and not with fear.

Bruce R. McConkie said:

“We do not know when the calamities and troubles of the last days will fall upon any of us as individuals or upon bodies of the Saints. The Lord deliberately withholds from us the day and hour of his coming and of the tribulations which shall precede it---all as part of the testing and probationary experiences of mortality. He simply tells us to watch and be ready.

We can rest assured that if we have done all in our power to prepare for whatever lies ahead, he will then help us with whatever else we need.

We do not say that all of the Saints will be spared and saved from the coming day of desolation. But we do say there is no promise of safety and no promise of security except for those who love the Lord and who are seeking to do all that he commands..

And so we raise the warning voice and say: Take heed, prepare; watch and be ready. There is no security in any course except the course of obedience and conformity and righteousness.”

Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign May 1979, p. 93 “Stand Independent of all other creatures”

Home visits to my ward members?

I was wondering how I could better magnify my calling of Relief Society emergency preparedness rep.

 Our ward family history representative offers to visit people in their homes to teach them to use New Family Search, so I thought I could also offer to do home visits to teach ward members about food storage.

I know there are people with questions:  How much food storage do I need?  Where can I store it?  Is my food storage too old?  How can I store water safely?  Maybe you would get your questions answered better if you had an hour to ask me,  during a time when it is convenient for you.

If you are in my ward, and want me to come over and help you to organize or plan your food storage, or help you find places to store it, I would be happy to be a resource for you.  Look up my name and number in our ward directory and give me a call or email me for an appointment.

Report on Youth's Emergency Prep Activity- Part 2

This is Part 2:  On October 19, 2010 our ward youth had an Emergency Preparedness drill in three homes, as their joint activity.  (Family #1-Anonymous, Family #2- Blake and Amelia, and Family #3-Mike and Mitzi.)  

The youth split up into teams with their leaders and visited the homes, and gave each family the following tasks.  The groups earned points according to what tasks they could complete.

Example: "The oil on the stove catches fire.  What do you do?

Earn points: 1 pt for finding the baking soda

1 pt for putting a lid on the pan

1 pt for finding the fire extinguisher

1 pt for each child meeting outside at a pre-determined meeting spot

1 pt for each child knowing how to call 911

Family #1- Our kids did NOT know what to do when oil caught fire, so the Young Men explained what to do.  Our kids remembered our family meeting spot, it is the court in front of the house.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia: We have a fire extinguisher.

Family #3-Mike and Mitzi: We got out the baking soda, we need to get a fire extinguisher, and our kids knew to go to the neighbor’s mailbox.

Example:  Your vehicle is stalled on the freeway on a very hot day, or you are stuck in your car somewhere in an ice storm.

Earn points: 1 pt for having a blanket in trunk.

1 pt for having any food in the car.

1 pt for having any water in the car.

1 pt for having flares, or cell phone, or paper/marker to write on in the car (to let passersby know you are in trouble)

Family #2-Blake and Amelia: We had water in the car, and we scrounged all the goldfish that had fallen on the floor.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi:  When I’m pregnant I always keep food in the car, and a case of bottled water.  I keep blankets in there, and crayons and coloring books.

Example:  There is a nuclear disaster at the Shearon-Harris Nuclear Power Plant.

Earn points: 1 pt for knowing which way to evacuate.

5 pts for each 72 hour kit you can grab.

1 pt for having a predetermined way to meet spouse away from home.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia:  We don’t have our 72 hour kits ready, but I have our important papers together.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi:  We didn’t know which direction to go.  We have one 72-hr-kit.  Now we have decided to meet at a relative’s house in Virginia.

Example:  A tornado is reported coming straight for your house.

Earn points: 2 pts for each family member to all huddle in a safe place, interior bathroom or closet, or basement or crawlspace.

5 pts for owning a weather alert radio.

Family #1- We huddled in a safe place, in an interior bathroom.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi: We huddled in our big food storage closet under the stairs.

Example:  The water supply has failed.  There is no running water.

Earn points: 5 pt to  flush a toilet with stored water.

5 pts if you own (and can find) your water filter or water purification tablets or bleach.

5 pts if you own 100 or more paper plates or paper cups.

Family #1- We need to improve our water supply.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia: We have a water filter and purification tablets.  We have lots of drinking water.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi: We have water in the garage.  We have bleach, and paper cups and plates.

Example:  Your child cuts his leg very badly.

Earn points: 1 pt for finding your first aid kit.

1 pt for having a large bandage.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia:  We have a duffle bag full of first aid.  He could do IV’s, he can staple heads or glue heads, and he even has a baby-catching kit.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi: We have a first aid kit.

Example:  Your house catches fire at night while you are sleeping.

Earn points: 5 pts for testing an alarm by holding a match nearby, making the alarm sound.

5 pts for every upstairs bedroom that has an emergency ladder.

1 pt for every person that meets at the predetermined meeting place outside your house.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia:  Our kids knew to meet at our predetermined spot.

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi: The kids loved the alarm, wanted us to do it again.  We don’t have a ladder, the kids knew where to meet.

Good job to everyone.  This was a good emergency drill, and taught the kids and the adults a lot.

Report on Youth's Emergency Prep Activity- Part 1

On October 19, 2010 our ward youth had an Emergency Preparedness drill in three homes, as their joint activity.  (Family #1-Anonymous, Family #2- Blake and Amelia, and Family #3-Mike and Mitzi.)  Sorry it has taken me so long to post this.

The youth split up into teams with their leaders and visited the homes, and gave each family the following tasks.  The groups earned points according to what tasks they could complete.

Example:  “There was a major hurricane 9 days ago.  You are still without power.  

Task #1- Find every working flashlight or lantern or candle.

Earn points:  1 pt for every working flashlight or candle.

10 pts for lighting a lantern that has a mantle.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia: We have lots of candles, more than I realized.

Task #2- Boil water without using electricity.

Earn points: 1 pt for finding matches or a lighter

1 pt for finding a camping grill or camping stove

1 pt for finding a coffepot or pot with a lid.

1 pt for having fuel (propane or charcoal, etc.)

10 pts for boiling water.

Family #1- Our kids knew where to find the candles.  We have a propane grill that we could use to boil water.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia: We have a gas kitchen stove, a camping stove, and propane for a lantern and for our camping stove.

Family #3-Mike and Mitzi: We have plenty of candles, we have a battery-powered lantern and batteries, and we highly recommend buying headlamp flashlights, if you wear one you still have two hands available.  We have a propane gas grill outside.

Task #3- You need to get information, and you need to go places.  There is no electricity, and gas pumps are not working.

EARN POINTS: 1 pt if you can get the news from a battery or solar powered radio or TV.

1 pt if your cell phone has more than 3/4 charge.

1 pt if you have a cord phone which doesn’t use electricity.

1 pt if your car has at least half a tank of gas.  

Family #2- Blake and Amelia:  We have a battery radio, and our cell phones were more than 3/4 charged.

Family #3-Mike and Mitzi: We have a wind-up radio that has a radio, flashlight, and cell phone charger.  We have an old phone that isn’t cordless.  Our car had more than 1/2 tank of gas.

Example:  Because of extreme weather, there are no stores open for several weeks, and no electricity.  All your fridge/freezer food is gone.  Find complete  shelf-stable meals that you could fix.  You must have ALL the ingredients.

Earn points: 5 pts for each shelf-stable main dish you can pull from your cupboards, (up to 5)

5 pts for each shelf-stable dessert you can pull from your cupboards (up to 5)

5 pts for each shelf-stable breakfast you can pull from your cupboards (up to 5)

Family #3- Mike and Mitzi: We have lots of mac and cheese and powdered milk and canned milk.

Example:  You have had no electricity for a week.  Your children have all wet their beds, there are no more clean sheets.  

Earn points: 10 pts to handwash a bedsheet in a bucket or sink.

10 pts if you can use only stored water.

5 pts if you can find a place to hang it to dry.

Family #2- Blake and Amelia: We need to get a lot more water for washing.

H. Burke Peterson, 1975

Ensign » 1975 » November

The Welfare Production-Distribution Department
Bishop H. Burke Peterson
First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric

http://lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?hideNav=1&locale=0&sourceId=4ee8fd758096b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD


Bishop Peterson talked about a survey done in 1975:

....let us look at the results of a recent survey conducted by Utah State University among LDS people in Utah. The four basic food groups were surveyed: meats, fruits and vegetables, grains, and milk products.

The study revealed that only about 5 percent of our Church members had a year’s supply of meat products. Only 3 percent had a year’s supply of dried or canned fruits or vegetables. Approximately 18 percent had a year’s supply of grains. In the milk group, only three families in a hundred had a year’s supply of canned or powdered milk. On the average, about 30 percent of the Church had a two-months supply of food; the remainder had little or none.

These survey statistics indicate that most Church members are not prepared to meet month-to-month problems and future economic trials. Clearly, in this area of home production and storage, it is extremely important that priesthood and Relief Society leaders and all Latter-day Saints place greater emphasis on home storage—on obtaining and carefully storing a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel. In the area of home production, we would hope that members would heed the admonition of the prophets and, where possible, grow a garden, sew their own clothing, make household items, and, in general, become as self-sufficient as possible to prepare against the days to come....

In the blog post of yesterday, I mentioned how there are some members of the Church who are not storing food, using the excuse that the Church will take care of them. Here is an interesting quote by Bishop Peterson:

...We now have 143,000 acres in production. We are following the Savior’s counsel to provide food for our poor and needy brothers and sisters. This acreage is only sufficient to meet the current requirements to care for the poor and the needy in areas served by commodity storehouses. Under more difficult circumstances, at current levels of consumption, our food production projects will not be able to meet the needs of those who require assistance. Therefore, family preparedness, with home production and storage, must be the way the majority of our families take care of themselves.

Need volunteers for YMYW activity

The Teacher's Quorum is in charge of the Joint activity next Tuesday, Oct. 19, and they want to do an emergency preparedness drill.

They want volunteer families to do the following:

Groups of three or four youth and their leader will come to your house shortly after 7 pm on Oct. 19. They will present you with an imaginary scenario (Shearon-Harris Nuclear disaster, hurricane, ice storm, etc.) and a list of all the things you might need, or a list of tasks you need to accomplish. You will get scored on how many of the items you have, or how many of the tasks you can accomplish.

Possible tasks: Light a lantern. Find all your flashlights. Flush a toilet using stored water. Heat water without using electricity. Find a tarp. Hide in a safe place in case of a tornado. (Or anything else we can come up with.)

You may also be asked to report on your experience on a future date at YMYW or at a Relief Society event, or just write it up so others may learn from it.

Anyone want to volunteer your family? We definitely need 4 families, but we may get a 5th family on standby. Please email me.