The LDS Church believes that no man shall know the hour of the coming of Christ, however there are signs which have been given which will show that the Second Coming is approaching. Some of the major events, and their believed fulfillment states that have been prophesied, are listed below:
Restitution of all things The
Book of Acts states, "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." It is believed that this means that there must be a restitution of all things before the Second Coming. The
Book of Revelation says, "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". This gospel believed to be the same church that was on the earth when Christ was here initially, and that it must be restored to the earth. It would then be established throughout the world. The Church believes that the true church that was originally formed became corrupted within decades of being established by Jesus Christ. Since God is the same yesterday, today and always, this restoration would need to be done through divine revelation, the same as it has been done in times of old. :
Believed fulfillment state: Majority fulfilled (more yet to come) : The LDS Church believes this was done with
Joseph Smith and that he did receive divine revelation, and was called to be a
prophet in modern times. The LDS Church believes itself to be the true church and that it has all of the signs in scripture about the workings of the true church. They also believe "in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth".
Opposition to the restoration It is believed that if there is truly a God, there must truly be a
Devil. If there was true doctrine taught from God, then there must truly be a force that would do everything in his power to make men believe anything but the truth. That means that if there was a true church established by revelation, that there must be great opposition to the truth, and that those people that followed it would be seen as strange and peculiar by most. :
Believed fulfillment state: Fulfilled : The LDS Church believes this has been fulfilled, both with the persecution of the early Saints, and the way that many view the Church and its people now. There are many rumors that persist which are blatant falsehoods about the people in the church, such as the practice of
polygamy.
Elijah In the
Book of Malachi, it is prophesied that before the Second Coming, "Behold, I will send you
Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers". :
Believed fulfillment state: Fulfilled :It is believed that Elijah appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836, and conferred upon him the keys to the current
dispensation. Although many faiths believe that Elijah will come before the Second Coming, The Church is the only major religious denomination that believes that he already has.
Gathering of Israel The 10th
Article of Faith states: "We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes." The tribe of Ephraim is given the privilege of leading the gathering, with the tribe of Manasseh assisting. :
Believed fulfillment state: Fulfilled and in progress
Gathering of Judah The
Book of Isaiah states: "And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of
Israel, and gather together the dispersed of
Judah from the four corners of the earth." The LDS Church believes in both a literal gathering, and a figurative gathering. The
ensign is believed to be the church, and the figurative gathering is the gathering of members into the church. The literal gathering of the dispersed of Judah is believed to be a gathering back into the
Holy Land. :
Believed fulfillment state: Fulfilled and in progress :In 1841 the LDS Church sent
apostle Orson Hyde to the Holy Land to dedicate the land for the
return of the Jewish people. At the time there were fewer than 5,000 Jewish people in the entire land of
Palestine. , there were millions of Jewish people within
Israel.
Proselytizing in Israel A sign that has yet to take place is the commencement of missionary work within Israel. The LDS Church believes that before the return of Christ, that the gospel must be taught to those who are in Israel, and the church must be legally established within those bounds.
Temple in Jerusalem The LDS Church believes that there will be a temple built within Jerusalem. Concerning the temple in Jerusalem,
Orson Pratt stated, "By and by there will be a Temple built at Jerusalem. Who do you think is going to build it? You may think that it will be the unbelieving Jews who rejected the Savior. I believe that which is contained on the 77th page of the Book of Mormon, as well as in many other places, in that same book, will be literally fulfilled. The Temple at Jerusalem will undoubtedly be built, by those who believe in the true Messiah. Its construction will be, in some respects different from the Temples now being built. It will contain the throne of the Lord, upon which he will, at times, personally sit, and will reign over the house of Israel for ever. It may also contain twelve other thrones, on which the twelve ancient Apostles will sit, and judge the twelve tribes of Israel." More recently,
Bruce R. McConkie stated, "Who are those 'that are far off' who shall come to Jerusalem to build the house of the Lord? Surely they are the Jews who have been scattered afar. By what power and under whose authorization shall the work be done? There is only one place under the whole heavens where the keys of temple building are found. There is only one people who know how to build temples and what to do in them when they are completed. That people is the Latter-day Saints. The temple in Jerusalem will not be built by Jews who have assembled there for political purposes as at present. It will not be built by a people who know nothing whatever about the sealing ordinances and their application to the living and the dead. It will not be built by those who know nothing about Christ and his laws and the mysteries reserved for the saints. But it will be built by Jews who have come unto Christ, who once again are in the true fold of their ancient Shepherd, and who have learned anew about temples because they know that Elijah did come, not to sit in a vacant chair at some Jewish feast of the Passover, but to the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836, to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery. The temple in Jerusalem will be built by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 'They that are far off,' they that come from an American Zion, they who have a temple in Salt Lake City will come to Jerusalem to build there another holy house in the Jerusalem portion of 'the mountains of the Lord's house.'" :
Believed fulfillment state: Pending :A temple has not been built.
Two witnesses in Jerusalem It is believed that two people will be called to preach the gospel in the land of Jerusalem, and that they will have the faith and power to cause miracles as seen in the
Book of Revelation. Since they are given the rights to prophecy, it is believed that they are prophets. These prophets will be called to teach the gospel during a time of great conflict, and will be able to keep the nations gathered against Israel at bay for their ministry. This conflict is believed to be part of the battle of
Armageddon, which is to take place near Megiddo or the Valley of Jezreel. After three and a half years, they will be killed by their enemies, and their bodies will lie in the street for three and a half days. Then a large earthquake will occur and they will rise miraculously and will ascend into heaven. Any of the
twelve apostles could be considered a prophet, as they are accepted by the church as
prophets, seers and revelators. :
Believed fulfillment state: Pending : The Church currently does not proselytize in Israel. ==Other signs preceding==