marineland

Was Billy Graham one of his manifestations?

Are there any stories which attribute these good deeds to John instead?

I know how single people feel sometimes 🙂

Christ's fearful words "I know you not" also applies to the foolish virgins who don't enter the kingdom of God for the marriage supper of the Lamb. They had sought to enter in but did not endure to the end. They did not strive to enter in at the strait gate.

The knocking and subsequent "I don't know you" is similar to another parable where their fate is described. "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out".

Elder Oaks said "The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ’s Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came" (Ensign, May 2004, "Preparation for the Second Coming"). What is the fate of the foolish ones after Christ says to them "Verily I say unto you, I know you not"?

Yes. I agree that it primarily refers to Christians who had some sort of belief or commitment. The "wedding feast" is symbolic of the joyful and celebratory gathering with the Lord, as a representation of the ultimate reunion with Jesus Christ at His Second Coming, being part of His kingdom in the eternities. The foolish virgins are not part of his kingdom when he returns. They had not endured to the end. They hear him say to them: "Verily I say unto you, I know you not". The principles of readiness, vigilance, and preparation can be broadly applied as a reminder to everyone about the importance of spiritual preparedness and living in a way that aligns with divine teachings.

I saw another teaching by Elder Oaks mentioned in the Religion 250 institute manual. Page 111 "Of [the parable of the ten virgins], the Lord said, 'And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins' (D&C 45:56). "Given in the 25th chapter of Matthew, this parable contrasts the circumstances of the five foolish and the five wise virgins. All ten were invited to the wedding feast, but only half of them were prepared with oil in their lamps when the bridegroom came. The five who were prepared went into the marriage feast, and the door was shut. The five who had delayed their preparations came late. The door had been closed, and the Lord denied them entrance, saying, 'I know you not' [Matthew 25:12]. 'Watch therefore,' the Savior concluded, 'for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh' [Matthew 25:13]. "The arithmetic of this parable is chilling. The ten virgins obviously represent members of Christ's Church, for all were invited to the wedding feast and all knew what was required to be admitted when the bridegroom came. But only half were ready when he came" (Dallin H. Oaks, "Preparation for the Second Coming," Ensign or Liahona, May 2004, 8). This does not bode well if the Marriage Supper occurs in the highest division of the Celestial Kingdom for only exalted members of the Church of the Firstborn (D&C 76:54). "But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh".