THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST - WHEN?

Many of the early top leaders of the Mormon Church, including Joseph Smith, expected the second coming of Jesus Christ to be right around the corner, so to speak. It was going to occur very soon. Some of them were very clear in saying this and set specific time periods, within their life time, for our Lord's return. What follows is a brief history of what was said.

When Our Lord Was Here

Since Jesus Christ was on the earth people have been deeply interested in the signs of the end of the world and the time for the Lord's second coming. The Lord's disciples must have been among the earliest ones to ask:

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (Matthew 24:3)

Joseph Smith's version of this verse says:

And Jesus left them, and went upon the Mount of Olives. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying: Tell us when shall these things be which thou hast said concerning the destruction of the temple, and the Jews; and what is the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world, or the destruction of the wicked, which is the end of the world? (Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:4)

This question fascinated the Lord's disciples and it has continued to interest Christians in modern times. Some, however, have gone beyond the Lord's admonition to "watch and pray" by indulging in prophetic speculation, thus assuming the role of the "false prophets" Jesus warned against (Mark 13:22, 33). Mormons may be surprised by the part their church has played.

The Millerites

Contemporary with early Mormonism a strong second Adventist movement was started by William Miller, a Baptist living in Low Hampton, New York (1 - this is an end note number). Miller first expressed his teachings and beliefs in 1823 and gave his first public address August 1831, in nearby Dresden, New York (2). He drew a following which spawned a movement that eventually spread throughout the United States. Millerites published their own newspapers, and their activity was covered by many secular papers. In January 1844 Miller stated: "I have preached about 4,500 lectures in about twelve years, to at least 500,000 people." Some estimated the Millerite movement at 30,000-40,000 adherents, but one observer said it peaked at about 100,000 (3) in the United States. It was also estimated the movement had as many as 1,500 lecturers spreading the message. This at a time when the early Mormon Church had worldwide membership of 17,000 in 1840 and 26,000 in 1844 (4).

The first date selected by Miller for the second coming of Jesus Christ was in the spring of 1843. When this prediction failed, March 1844 and later October 1844 became the new target dates. After the third date proved false the movement disintegrated (5). Diehards went on to start several Adventist denominations, the largest of which is now known as the Seventh-day Adventists (6). Miller died December 20, 1849, but Millerite offshoots and other groups (7) continued setting dates for the coming of the Lord.

The Millerite movement was closely observed by the LDS press and members. In February 1843 Joseph Smith said "I showed them the fallacy of Mr. Miller's data..." and he felt comfortable enough with the subject to give "a long exposition on Millerism." (History of the Church, 5: 271-272, 277). The Times and Seasons, a Mormon newspaper had 17 references to this subject in the February 1843 to February 1845 period. During the same two year span this paper made 66 references to the "second advent" and the "second coming." The LDS community used at least 11 terms to describe the second coming of the Lord and events associated with it. The table in Figure 1, at the end of this text, provides a list of these terms and the number of times they were used in various early Mormon writings.

The Mormon "Restoration" Period

Joseph Smith's interest in the Lord's second coming must have started prior to the organization of the Church. Writing several years later, he claimed to have received a visit from the angel Moroni in 1823, with the angel announcing the imminent fulfillment of biblical prophecies:

In addition to these, he [the angel Moroni] quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah, saying that it was about to be fulfilled (8). He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty­second and twenty­third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. He said that that prophet was Christ; but the day had not yet come when `they who would not hear his voice should be cut off from among the people, (7) but soon would come. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel (9), from the twenty­eighth verse to the last. He also said that this was not yet fulfilled, but was soon to be. And he further stated that the fulness of the Gentiles (10) was soon to come in. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here....He commenced, and again related the very same things which he had done at his first visit, without the least variation (11); which having done, he informed me of great judgments which were coming upon the earth, with great desolations by famine, sword, and pestilence; and that these grievous judgments would come on the earth in this generation. Having related these things, he again ascended as he had done before. (Joseph Smith-History 1:40-41, 45; this allegedly took place in 1823 but did not appear in this final printed form until 1838)

Joseph Smith's alleged subsequent visits to Hill Cumorah for instruction reinforced the prophetic elements:

Accordingly, as I had been commanded, I went at the end of each year, and at each time I found the same messenger there, and received instruction and intelligence from him at each of our interviews, respecting what the Lord was going to do, and how and in what manner his kingdom was to be conducted in the last days. (Joseph Smith-History 1:54; this allegedly took place in 1824-1827 but did not appear in its final printed form until 1838)

After The Mormon Church's Organization

Additional alleged revelations to Joseph Smith likewise indicated that he and his followers were living in the last days. What follows is but a small sampling (12):

The rise of the Church of Christ in these last days, being one thousand eight hundred and thirty years since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in the flesh... (April 1830, D&C 20:1)

And also with Elias, to whom I have committed the keys of bringing to pass the restoration of all things spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets since the world began, concerning the last days; (Aug. 1830, D&C 27:6)

LDS Newspapers

The signs of the times and the last days were frequently discussed in the early LDS newspapers. The materials below are a small sampling from such papers:

SIGNS OF THE TIMES. Signs and appearances are such, that even the most unbelieving dread coming events; and no wonder, for when the Lord comes out of his place to rebuke the nations, all hearts are faint, and all knees do tremble. (Evening and Morning Star, William Phelps Ed, Jan. 1833, page 62)

No one can be mistaken, if he looks at the signs of the times as they are: The harvest is nearly ripe. The hour of the Lord is nigh, even at the doors, and who are ready? not the rebellious, for they are not the blood of Ephraim. The meek only shall inherit the earth. (Evening and Morning Star, William Phelps, March 1833, page 77)

THE GREAT DAY APPROACHES. No one can hide from the signs of the times, who has made himself acquainted with the holy scriptures. No one can hesitate, or even doubt, but that the crisis is near at hand that will try men's souls, who has searched faithfully the sacred record that was given by inspiration. Every thing [sic] seems to whisper: The great day approaches. ("Great Day Approaches," Evening and Morning Star, William Phelps, June 1833, page 101)

Joseph Smith's Prophecy

Early in 1835 Joseph Smith gave a clear and bold statement about the Lord's second coming. The following was recorded at an official Mormon Church meeting which took place on February 14 and 15, 1835:

President Smith then stated that the meeting had been called, because God had commanded it;....and it was the will of God that those who went to Zion, with a determination to lay down their lives, if necessary, should be ordained to the ministry, and go forth to prune the vineyard for the last time, or the coming of the Lord, which was nigh ­ even fifty­six years should wind up the scene. (History of the Church 2:182, i.e. the Lord should arrive by February 16, 1891)

Subsequent activity at this meeting reinforced this statement by Joseph. At this same meeting on February 14-15, 1835 twelve apostles (13) were named and nine (14) were ordained and given blessings. Heber C. Kimball, one of the nine men ordained by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and Martin Harris (three of the witnesses that allegedly saw the gold plates), relates how those ordained then had hands laid upon them by the First Presidency (Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon and Frederick Williams) to confirm the blessings (15) and ordinations they had previously received (16). Three of these blessings indicated that Christ would return during their lifetime:

The blessing of Lyman E. Johnson was, in the name of Jesus Christ,....and that no power of the enemy shall prevent him from going forth and doing the work of the Lord; and that he shall live until the gathering is accomplished, according to the holy prophets; and he shall be like unto Enoch; and his faith shall be like unto his; and he shall be called great among all the living; and Satan shall tremble before him; and he shall see the Savior come and stand upon the earth with power and great glory. (History of the Church 2:188)

As matters turned out, Lyman E. Johnson was excommunicated from the Mormon Church April 13, 1838 and he died December 1856 at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin at age 45.

John F. Boynton's Blessing:....Thou shalt lead the elect triumphantly to the places of refuge; thou shalt be like the brethren who have been blessed before thee. Thou shalt stand in that day of calamity when the wicked shall be consumed, and present unto the Father, spotless, the fruits of thy labor. Thou shalt overcome all the evils that are in the world; thou shalt have wisdom to put to silence all the wisdom of the wise; and thou shalt see the face of thy Redeemer in the flesh. These blessings are pronounced and sealed upon thee. Even so. Amen. (History of the Church 2:191)

John F. Boynton was excommunicated 1837 and died in 1890 at the age of 79 in Syracuse, New York.

William Smith's [the Prophet Joseph Smith's brother] Blessing:..He shall be mighty in the hands of God, in bringing about the restoration of Israel. The nations shall rejoice at the greatness of the gifts which God has bestowed upon him: that his tongue shall be loosed; he shall have power to do great things in the name of Jesus. He shall be preserved and remain on the earth, until Christ shall come to take vengeance on the wicked. (History of the Church 2:191)

William Smith became involved with some of the off-shoots of Mormonism after his brother was killed and as a result was excommunicated October 19, 1845. He died in 1893 at the age of 82 at Osterdock, Iowa.

In all three cases the prophetic element of these blessings proved false. The Lord did not return during the lifetime of these men.

At the Church's general conference in 1840 Joseph Smith made another clear and bold statement.

At the April conference, 1840, the Prophet Joseph, while speaking to some of the elders on this matter said they were mistaken; the Lord would not come in ten years; no, nor in twenty years; no, nor in thirty years; no, nor in forty years, and it will be almost fifty years before the Lord will come [ie. the Lord will come about 1890]. (Luman Shurtliff Autobiography, 1807-1847, typescript, Brigham Young University - special Collections Library, page 44; LDS Historical Library, 1992 ©, by Infobases, Inc.)

This journal entry is consistent with the blessings bestowed on the apostles on February 14-15, 1835. The meeting minutes of the April 1840 general conference in the History of the Church and Times and Seasons have nothing on this subject. But another source speaks of the 1890 date:

I. near the end of the year A.D. 1890. 45:42-44. 49:6,7. See prophecy of Joseph, uttered 14th of March, 1835. (Published in Mil.Star, NO. 13, Vol 15) `even 56 years should wind up the scene.' Whether this had reference to the coming of Christ or to the fulfillment of the `times of the Gentiles' is unknown. (Footnote I on page 461 on "Covenants and Commandments" 130:15 in the 1891 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants)

At the April 1843 general conference Joseph Smith continued to fuel the idea that the Lord's second coming would occur within his younger listener's lifetime:

Were I going to prophesy, I would say the end (of the world) would not come in 1844, 5, or 6, or in forty years. There are those of the rising generation (17) who shall not taste death till Christ comes.

I was once praying earnestly upon this subject, and a voice said unto me, `My son, if thou livest until thou art eighty­five years of age, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man.' I was left to draw my own conclusions concerning this; and I took the liberty to conclude that if I did live to that time, He would make His appearance. But I do not say whether He will make His appearance or I shall go where He is. I prophesy in the name of the Lord God, and let it be written ­­ the Son of Man will not come in the clouds of heaven till I am eighty­five years old. Then read the 14th chapter of Revelation, 6th and 7th verses ­­ `And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment is come.' And Hosea, 6th chapter, After two days, etc., ­­ 2,520 years; which brings it to 1890. The coming of the Son of Man never will be ­­ never can be till the judgments spoken of for this hour are poured out: which judgments are commenced. Paul says, `Ye are the children of the light, and not of the darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief in the night.' It is not the design of the Almighty to come upon the earth and crush it and grind it to powder, but he will reveal it to His servants the prophets.

(History of the Church 5:336­337, April 6, 1843; Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 286; Joseph Smith was born Dec. 23, 1805, which means the Lord would come after Dec. 23 1890)

An undated narrative of events similar to those in this conference report was recorded in the autobiography of Martha Thomas.

...also concerning the Millerites. They were preparing a place for the Savior to come and meet with them, on a certain day, in that month in Illinois. They were making great preparations by cleaning a certain piece of ground and spreading carpets, etc. Brother Joseph was speaking on the `Resurrection' and the `Second Coming of the Son of God.' `You can go and tell Brother Miller he won't come on that day nor the next, nor the next year. In the name of Jesus Christ I prophesy he won't come in forty years.'....He was enquiring of the Lord concerning his second coming; the answer was, `If you live to be (I think it was eighty) years old you will see the face of the Son of God (19).' (Martha Thomas autobiography, in Daniel Thomas Family History, 1927, pages 32­33; LDS Historical Library, 1992 ©, by Infobases, Inc.)

Accepting Smith's prophetic timetable, an LDS periodical in 1845 featured a story illustrating how writers a hundred years later (1945) would look back on apocalyptic events which would have occurred in the 1900 time frame.

One Hundred Years Hence, 1945, From the Nauvoo Neighbor....Now the eyes of our understanding began to be quickened, and we learned that we were one hundred years ahead of `common life' and we glorified....In digging for the foundation of our new Temple in the 124th city of Joseph, near where it is supposed the city of New York once stood....It will be recollected that all the inhabitants of this city, which were spared from calamity , were `slung out when the earth was turned upside down,' some forty or fifty years ago [1895-1905] for their wickedness' ("One Hundred Years Ago", from the Nauvoo Neighbor, as quoted in Millennial Star, Oct. 15, 1845, 6:140-141)

After The Move West

After the move west Mormon leadership was still optimistic and hopeful about the second coming of the Lord. Keeping in mind that the second coming was predicted for the 1891 time frame puts in perspective President Wilford Woodruff's remarks during the 1880's.

WE ARE LIVING AT THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM.' We are living at the commencement of the Millennium, and near the close of the 6,000th year of the world's history. Tremendous events await this generation....JD 25:10, January 6, 1884...

THE SECOND COMING AT HAND. The signs of heaven and earth all indicate the near coming of the Son of Man. You read the 9th, 10th and 11th chapters of the last Book of Nephi, and see what the Lord has said will take place in this generation, when the gospel of Christ has again been offered to the inhabitants of the earth. The Lord did not reveal the day of the coming of the Son of Man, but he revealed the generation. That generation is upon us. The signs of heaven and earth predict the fulfillment of these things, and they will come to pass. ­­ JD 21:195, July 3, 1880....

WE ARE LIVING IN THE GENERATION OF CHRIST'S COMING. We are living in the dispensation and generation to which Jesus referred ­­ the time appointed by God for the last six thousand years, through the mouths of all the prophets and inspired men who have lived and left their sayings on record, in which his Zion should be built up and continue upon the earth.

A PROPHETIC OPINION IN 1889. Many of these young men and maidens that are here today will, in my opinion, if they are faithful, stand in the flesh when Christ comes in the clouds of heaven. These young people from the Sabbath schools and from the Mutual Improvement Associations, will stand in the flesh while the judgments of the Almighty sweep the nations of the earth as with a besom [a kind of broom, as said in a footnote](20) of destruction, in fulfillment of the revelations of God, and they will be the very people whom God will bless and sustain. Therefore, I say, our young men cannot begin too quickly to qualify themselves by treasuring up wisdom and calling upon God and getting the Holy Priesthood; for they have got to stand in holy places while these judgments are poured out upon the earth. ­­ MS 51:595­596 (1889). (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, published 1946, 1990, page 252-256) (21)

These statements are but a small sample of the material available.

Recent History

While the LDS Standard Works still carry the message of Jesus Christ's second coming, the LDS General Authorities in recent years have not appeared to give the subject the same emphasis as in the past. This is evidenced by articles in the Mormon magazine Ensign. A review of thirteen years of Ensign magazines (22) going back to 1981 identified only two articles on the Lord's second coming. The following by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1986 is an example of how the subject was addressed:

Not many years hence Christ will come again. He will come in power and might as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And ultimately "every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ" (Romans 14:11; D&C 88:104; Mosiah 27:31). ("Joy in Christ," Ensign 16 [March 1986] (23) : 5.) (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988, page 20)

The change in emphasis is significant as can be seen from Figure 1, at the end of this article. In a little over 6 years of the Times and Seasons (1839-1846) it had over 600 usages of phrases and terms that describe the second coming. The Evening and Morning Star (1832-1834) in a little over two years had 393 usages and the Messenger and Advocate (1834-1837) in three years had 250 usages. While the comparison is word/phrase usage compared to articles and references, the point is obvious. There appears to be, with only a few exceptions, a significant silence on the subject today. Why have the teachings about the "second coming" essentially been dropped? Could it be the LDS leaders realize their predecessors were guilty of being false prophets, and they don't want this to be obvious to their present day followers? (24)

RECOMMENDED READING:
1) The Millenarian World of Early Mormonism, by Grant Underwood, Univeristy of Illinois, 1993
2) As a Thief In The Night, The Mormon Quest For Millennial Deliverance, by Dan Erickson, Signature Books, 1998

NOTE: The end notes are on the last page, after Table 1, which is on the next page.

Table 1 -- Frequency of Phrases Used In Early LDS Writings
Phrases UsedE&MSM&AEJT&SBibleBofMD&CPGPHCJDTPJSLonFWofECM
William Miller0000000010001
Millerism00011000020001
Millerites0006000006003
Second advent3200170010321007
Second coming2613049001011783045
Last days1631531533285284200700554168
Signs of the times15403710101643009
Millennium11914153002013965020
End of the world91001972331827805
New earth, New heaven20071120223000
Latter days101202811510124833128
New Jerusalem16802528821991404
Times of gentiles52061030556001
Day of the Lord25140312361623282904
Key: E&MS=Evening & Morning Star (June 1832-Sept 1834); M&A=Messenger & Advocate (Oct 1834-Sept 1837); EJ=Elders Journal (Oct 1837-Aug 1838); T&S=Times & Seasons (Nov 1839-Feb 1846); Bible=KJV; BofM=Book of Mormon; D&C=Doctrine & Covenants; PGP=Pearl of Great Price; HC=History of the Church; JD=Journal of Discourses (1855-1886); TPJS=Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith; LonF=Lectures on Faith; WofECM=Writings of Early Church Members

END NOTES

1) On the Vermont-New York border, a little west and south of Rutland, VT, near present day Hampton, N.Y. and Poultney, VT. Oliver Cowdery, Joseph Smith's scribe, had lived in Poultney.

2) This community is described as being located between Lake George and the south extremity of Lake Champlain (Gazetteer of the State of New York, J. H. French, 1860, page 680). It is estimated that Dresden was about 15-20 miles west of Low Hampton.

3) "The Millerite Movement, 1830-1845", by Everett N. Dick, pages 8 and 34; Adventism In America, A History, edited by Gary Land, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986.

4) 1993-1994 Church Almanac, Deseret News, Salt Lake City, 1992, page 396.

5) Adventism in America, pages 13, 25-29.

6) Ibid, page 35; History of the Church, 5:272 footnotes; Handbook of Denominations - In the United States, Frank S. Mead, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1980, fifth printing, page 20.

7) The Jehovah's Witnesses since the early part of this century have set and reset several dates for Armageddon, the most recent being 1975. More recently a booklet 88 Reasons Why The Rapture Will Be In 1988, Edgar C. Whisenant, received wide circulation in the Christian community. Radio evangelist Harold Camping predicted the end for September 1994. In the meantime less prominent groups and individuals have called attention to other dates. Bill Alnor in his book Soothsayers Of The Second Advent (Power Books, 1989) provides a detailed review of this subject.

8) Bold face type, underlinging and items in brackets are by this author, John Farkas.

9) For information on the LDS thinking about Joel see Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, page 716.

10) For more on "The fulness of the Gentiles" see Mormon Doctrine, pages 721, 722.

11) The angel's visit and message were allegedly repeated a total of three times.

12) The same ideas are expressed in Doctrine and Covenants 29:9-11, 22-23, Sept. 1830; 64:30, 34, 37, Sept. 1831; 1:4, Nov. 1831; 133:1-2, 17, Nov. 1831; 84:2, 117, Sept. 1832; 86:4, Dec. 1832; 89:2, Feb. 1833; 110:16, April 1836; 112:30, July 1837; 115:4, April 1838 and in Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:36-37, 1831.

13) As covered in Doctrine and Covenants 18:27

14) The remaining three apostles were ordained later, Parley P. Pratt on Feb. 21, 1835, and Orson Pratt and Thomas B. Marsh on April 26, 1835, History of the Church, 2:187-191, Comprehensive History of the Church 1:374-375.

15) A sample of 560 LDS blessings in the 1839-1899 period showed that 6 of the individuals blessed were told they would not taste death and 57 were told they would remain until the Second Coming ("Patriarchal Blessings and the Routinization of Charisma", Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought, by Irene M. Bates; Vol. 26, No. 3, Fall 1993, pages 9-11, 20, 21).

16) Comprehensive History of the Church 1:375; Times and Seasons 6:868

17) Apostle Bruce R. McConkie quotes Joseph Smith in describing the "rising generation" and makes a ridiculous attempt to explain away his obvious prophetic failure:

`I was once praying very earnestly to know the time of the coming of the Son of Man," the Prophet Joseph Smith recorded on April 2, 1843, `when I heard a voice repeat the following: Joseph, my son, if thou livest until thou art eighty­five years old, thou shalt see the face of the Son of Man; therefore let this suffice, and trouble me no more on this matter.

`I was left thus, without being able to decide whether this coming referred to the beginning of the millennium or to some previous appearing, or whether I should die and thus see his face. I believe the coming of the Son of Man will not be any sooner than that time.' (D. & C. 130:14­17.)

Four days later, April 6, 1843, at the General Conference of the Church, while the Spirit rested upon him, the Prophet said: `Were I going to prophesy, I would say the end would not come in 1844, 5, or 6, or in forty years. There are those of the rising generation who shall not taste death till Christ comes.'

The rising generation is the one that has just begun. Thus, technically, children born on April 6, 1843, would be the first members of the rising generation, and all children born, however many years later, to the same parents would still be members of that same rising generation. It is not unreasonable to suppose that many young men had babies at the time of this prophecy and also had other children as much as 50 or 75 years later, assuming for instance that they were married again to younger women. This very probable assumption would bring the date up to, say, the 2nd decade in the 20th century ­­ and the children so born would be members of that same rising generation of which the Prophet spoke. Now if these children lived to the normal age of men generally they would be alive well past the year 2000 A.D. (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie, 1979, page 692-693)

19) Note that this statement is similar to the promise given to the three apostles in their 1835 blessing.

20) The brackets are in the quote.

21) It seems that when the Lord did not come in the 1891 period LDS leaders continued a positive outlook. A small sampling of examples of these are found in: Gospel Standards, Heber J. Grant, 1941, pages 18 and 81; Harold B. Lee, Conference Report, April 1966, page 64; N. Eldon Tanner, Conference Report, October 1968, page 46; Joseph Fielding Smith, Conference Report, April 1969, page 121; Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988, pages 19-20.

22) This review covered the years of 1981 through 1993.

23) These brackets are in the quote.

24) The Book of Mormon claims that after his ascension to heaven in Israel our Lord Jesus Christ made a bodily visit to the New World, it says:

And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them­­ Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings. (3 Nephi 10:18-19)

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words the whole multitude fell to the earth; for they remembered that it had been prophesied among them that Christ should show himself unto them after his ascension into heaven. And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto them saying: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world. (3 Nephi 11:12-14)

There are problems with this idea. The Mormon and Christian communities have been expecting the Lord's second coming. Based on the Book of Mormon the Mormons should be looking for the Lord's third coming, not the second coming. Secondly, Jesus sent his apostles and disciples to "all the world" and "among all nations" (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16: 15; Luke 24:47-48). What kind of leader would give his people a responsibility and then take it away without telling them. And to be fair and consistent, would he not also have to visit all the other major continents, like Asia, Europe, Australia and Japan?

John Farkas

Berean Christian Ministries; P.O. Box 1091; Webster, NY 14580

E-mail: bcmmin@frontiernet.net