Societal Preparation For The Millennium/second Coming

[JLHPROF]

So something on another thread made me think about what I perceive (possibly incorrectly) as another change in focus of the course of Church History and I would like some feedback (as always).

 

1. In the early days of the Church the general methodology was very much focused on separating from society and building up a Zion society, as a refuge for good people in preparation for the destruction of the wicked and the return of the Savior.  There was no interest in saving the entire world, just pulling out the saints who would come.

2. In the Church today the general methodology seems to be focused on turning society into Zion, through expansion, missionary work and conversion so that when the Savior comes the saints are prepared and the world is a more righteous place.  The interest today seems to be on saving the world.

 

Now obviously they aren't mutually exclusive and the change of the "Law of the Gathering" impacted this, but I want to talk about our "pre-millennial" goals and methodology.

BUT

Leaving aside our charitable feelings towards our fellow men for the sake of this discussion, has the focus of the Church changed from becoming a separate Zion from the wicked world towards turning and preparing the world to become Zion?

And are both notions scriptural/doctrinal?

[strappinglad]

World population circa 1830... about 1 billion

World population circa 2012... about 7 billion

That reality may have influenced a change. Yes there has been a shift in vision to the larger world view. I think it also has something to do with the idea shift from Christ is coming TOMORROW , to Christ is coming in the future albeit a fairly near future .

[The Nehor]

I think we will go back to the good old days of building Zion up in isolated communities in a couple of decades or so. We aren't going to convert the world. It's gonna burn.

[mormonnewb]

World population circa 1830... about 1 billion

World population circa 2012... about 7 billion

That reality may have influenced a change. Yes there has been a shift in vision to the larger world view. I think it also has something to do with the idea shift from Christ is coming TOMORROW , to Christ is coming in the future albeit a fairly near future .

I think you nailed it. When you're pretty sure that the world when end soon (ie, in these "latter days"), then you have a much different objective than when you're pretty sure that your children and grandchildren will live full lives (as I believe Pres. Packer prophesied a few years back).

We see this in Paul's second epistle to the church in Thessalonica, when he seems to basically say to them, "Hello, McFly? Anybody home? Christ isn't coming back next Tuesday, so you might want to plant a few crops and put some drachma in your 401(kappa)!"

In much the same way, the early LDS Church seemed to think they had just enough time to go out and get a few recruits and then hightail it back to Zion to wait for the end of the world. However, now that it appears that we have some time still left to wait, we realize we might want to do a little "sprucing up" before the Master's return.

It seems like a reasonable shift in focus to me.

Edited April 14, 2014 by mormonnewb

[BookofMormonLuvr]

The Messiah awaits our obedience in order for His return to be facilitated. If we built ZIon His return would be hastened. If we continue in disobedience, His return is delayed and we suffer all the calamities foretold in scripture. It is our choice. We can choose obedience or we can learn through the things we suffer. Read Moses.

[Nofear]

The Messiah awaits our obedience in order for His return to be facilitated. If we built ZIon His return would be hastened. If we continue in disobedience, His return is delayed and we suffer all the calamities foretold in scripture. It is our choice. We can choose obedience or we can learn through the things we suffer. Read Moses.

 

Theory 1: Second Coming is contingent upon our preparation

Theory 2: Ready or not, here He comes

 

I haven't yet seen a persuasive case that says which theory is correct.

[Kenngo1969]

Theory 1: Second Coming is contingent upon our preparation

Theory 2: Ready or not, here He comes

 

I haven't yet seen a persuasive case that says which theory is correct.

If one were to diagram those theories, would the circles in the Venn Diagram not overlap at all?  I wonder.  I don't necessarily think, given those two choices, that it's necessarily either/or.  I think there can be elements of both (albeit with one or the other predominating).  If it's true that the account of what happened to Noah is a parallel to the Second Coming, then people will be "eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage," right up until the Second Coming.  That sounds like your "Theory 2," but I don't think that completely rules out elements of "Theory 1" coming into the picture.  (Typical lawyer response ... )

[Nofear]

I don't disagree at all. We also know that not only will people still be eating, drinking, and being merry but it will also try the hearts of men so that some will be tempted to say that "Christ delayeth his coming" (D&C 45:26).

[JLHPROF]

Theory 1: Second Coming is contingent upon our preparation

Theory 2: Ready or not, here He comes

 

I haven't yet seen a persuasive case that says which theory is correct.

 

This is pretty accurate.  I think we used to be a bit more focused on theory 2 (Run to ZIon, He's coming) and now we are a bit more focused on theory 1 (Build Zion so He can come).

 

I don't disagree at all. We also know that not only will people still be eating, drinking, and being merry but it will also try the hearts of men so that some will be tempted to say that "Christ delayeth his coming" (D&C 45:26).

 

Isn't what we do now, all the time.  Even Elder Packer's prophecy could fall into this (although without the eating/drinking/being merry part).  Although if we don't know WHEN Christ is supposed to come, how can we say He delays.  We've simply got our time wrong.

[The Nehor]

Theory 1: Second Coming is contingent upon our preparation

Theory 2: Ready or not, here He comes

 

I haven't yet seen a persuasive case that says which theory is correct.

I go with Theory 2. Mostly because he did not wait for people to be ready the first time, why do it this time?

[mormonnewb]

I go with Theory 2. Mostly because he did not wait for people to be ready the first time, why do it this time?

Ditto! Also, the idea that we will ever be ready for His return seems optimistic even by our standards.

[janderich]

I go with Theory 2. Mostly because he did not wait for people to be ready the first time, why do it this time?

Because this time, if they are wicked, they will be burned to ash. This perhaps presents a third theory:

 

Theory 3: The Second Coming is contingent on the wickedness of the world

 

FWIW I believe in option 1.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

The difference?

Prophecy says that certain things have to be in place before the Second Coming.