Sign 94. The meeting at Adam-ondi-Ahman
This grand meeting will be the first of three appearances of the Lord in the “second coming.” The other two are his appearance and saving the beleaguered Jews at the culmination of the Battle of Armageddon; and the third will be his general appearance to all mankind at his coming in glory. (Bruce R McConkie, The Millennial Messiah (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982) 578-9)
It is the valley where the Savior appeared to Adam (age 927, died at 930) and his posterity (D&C 107:53-57) 5000 years ago. Adam gathered his people and blessed them and “wanted to bring them into the presence of God.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976] 159). Elder Benson said that the blessings Adam gave his righteous posterity were temple blessings. (Ezra Taft Benson, “What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the Temple,” Ensign, Aug 1985, p 90)
Adam will meet again with his posterity and the Savior prior to the Savior’s grand second coming (D&C 116 & Daniel 7:9-14). Adam will gather his righteous posterity, Christ will come, and those present will turn their keys over to Christ who will use them to usher in the millennium and govern the world. “Adam delivers up his stewardship to Christ, that which was delivered to him as holding the keys of the universe, but retains his standing as head of the human family.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 157). The City of Enoch will be in attendance. (Neal A Maxwell, Even As I Am [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982] 121)
Elder McConkie describes it as a secret meeting to members of the church. Christ will come in private to his prophet and to the apostles then living. Those who have had priesthood keys in all ages will be present including Moroni, Elias, John the Baptist, Elijah, Abraham Isaac, Jacob, Joseph (who was sold into Egypt), Peter, James and John and others. All faithful members of the church then living and all faithful saints from ages past will be present. It will be a sacrament meeting, a grand council at Adam-ondi-Ahman. (Bruce R McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982] 578, 587-88). “All who have held the keys of priesthood will then have to give an account to those from whom they received them.” (John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1943] 217)
“When this gathering is held, the world will not know of it; the members of the church at large will not know of it.” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1970] 289-91)
The Lord told Joseph that his name for Spring Hill was Adam-ondi-Ahman (D&C 116). Orson Pratt said this name means “valley of God, where Adam dwelt” in “the original language spoken by Adam (Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 18:343) and “the place or land of God where Adam dwelt” (Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966] 19.). It is the place where “where Adam shall come to visit his people.” (D&C 116). Ahman is the name of God in the pure language and Son Ahman refers to Jesus Christ (D&C 78:20)
Adam-ondi-Ahman is located in northwest Missouri, in Daviess County, about 70 miles north of Independence. The Grand River runs through the property. In Joseph Smith’s time, it was referred to as “Spring Hill.” Today, 3500+ acres of land are owned by the church and maintained as a historic site and is largely undeveloped farmland, some of which is leased to local farmers to cultivate. Missionaries are called to preserve and improve the site, but not as proselyting missionaries. There was an old Nephite altar on Tower Hill and the altar where Adam offered sacrifice on Spring Hill, both above the valley itself. (John Taylor, Meditation and Atonement (Salt Lake City: Deseret News, 1979) 69-70; and Orson F Whitney, Life of Heber C Kimball [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1973] 209-10)
(author’s notes:
1- Randall Bird wrote a very informative and useful book entitled Adam-ondi-Ahman and the Last Days (Springville, UT: Cedar Fort, 2011) which provides much detail about Adam-ondi-Ahman.)
2- This wonderous event could possibly be similar to a solemn assembly where a new prophet is sustained, voted on by quorums and other groups, which is broadcast to stakes around the world. The meeting is not open to the general public but controlled by individual recommend/invitation.
Sign 95. Two prophets will be killed in Jerusalem
During the last days, before the Savior’s second coming, two latter-day prophets (Rev 11:3; D&C 77:15) will minister to the Jews in Jerusalem for a period of 42 months (3 1/2 years) after which time they will be killed. Their bodies will lay in the streets for 3 1/2 days (Rev 11:9), during which the people in Jerusalem and the throughout the world will celebrate their deaths (Rev 11:10). After the 3 1/2 days, the two prophets will be resurrected (Rev 11:11) and the forces of Satan in the Battle of Armageddon will be defeated by the coming of the Savior to Jerusalem. Revelation refers to them as “witnesses” (Rev 11:3) whereas the Doctrine and Covenants refers to them as “prophets.” (D&C 77:15)
Jerusalem will be protected by two prophets who are members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Bruce R McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:509) who will protect the city with fire like Elijah and plagues like Moses during the 42 month siege but who will eventually be killed and brought back to life. These prophets are “to” the Jewish nation in the last days (D&C 77:15). (Author’s note: “to” and not “of” the Jewish nation).
They will perform miracles in the name of the Lord. As Zechariah prophesied, “And in that day [second coming] shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem,” (Zechariah 12:8). Fire will proceed out of their mouths (Rev 11:5) and they will have power to shut heaven that it rain not and power over waters to turn them to blood and smite the earth with plagues (Rev 11:6).
Sign 96. The Mount of Olives will split in two
In the last days, when the Jews are engaged in an unprecedented battle for survival as many nations of the world lay siege to Jerusalem (Battle of Armageddon), and Jerusalem is about to be over-run and destroyed, the Savior will set foot on the Mount of Olives which is located just outside of Jerusalem. Christ will be attended by a host from heaven (Charles W. Penrose, “The Second Advent,” Millennial Star, 10 Sep 1859, 583)
The Lord will set his foot on the Mount and it shall divide into two, and the earth shall tremble and the heavens shall shake (D&C 45:48; Zechariah 14:4). Numerous Jews will flee into the newly created valley (Zechariah 14:5) to escape the wrath of their persecutors.
The Mount refers to a mile-long ridge located east of the Old City. It parallels the eastern part of Jerusalem. It gets its name from the olive groves that at one time covered the land. It rises to 810 meters, overlooking Jerusalem from the east. It is one kilometer from the old city which has an altitude of 750 meters.
Jesus visited the Mount of Olives three times during his ministry. 1- He went to the Mount early in the morning and then to the temple (John 8:1-2); 2-He came down the Mount of Olives on a donkey and entered Jerusalem for his last week (Luke 19:28-39); 3- He went to the Garden of Gethsemane (on the Mount of Olives) with his disciples and suffered for the sins of mankind. (Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:44)
Sign 97. The sign of the coming of the Son of Man
We do not know what this sign is, but we know clearly of its existence. We’ll have to wait for further prophetic insights to identify it; however it all people will see it together (D&C 88:93)
Matthew describes this sign in Matthew 24: 29-31:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
This event is also referred to in Joseph Smith–Matthew 1:31-36 and D&C 88:90-93 but there is no indication what the sign is. Although we do not know what it is, it will be seen by all people (“all people shall see it together,” D&C 88:93).
Joseph Smith explains “There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of man will come as the sign of the coming of the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east” (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 286–87).
“The devil knows many signs, but does not know the sign of the Son of Man, or Jesus” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4:608)
Sign 44. The righteous wise will have extra oil for their lamps (also being fulfilled)
This is being fulfilled as active, righteous faithful members fulfill their duties in the church, but the ultimate fulfillment will be when the five wise virgins (Matthew 25:3-4) who took oil with them (oil besides that which was already in their lamps) and are “caught up to meet him” (D&C 88:96). All ten virgins who were awaiting his coming, had oil, but half ran out and only half were invited to participate with him in his coming.
What adds “extra oil?” — attending church, accepting and fulfiling callings, personal scripture study, reading conference talks & church magazines, prayer, paying tithes and offerings, temple attendance and honesty and integrity in our personal lives.
Sign 48. Additional scriptures will be published (also already fulfilled)
This is largely fulfilled thru the revealing of the Book of Mormon (Ezekiel 37:15-20 & 2 Nephi 27:6), Doctrine & Covenants (D&C 104:58-9), Pearl of Great Price and the proclamations of the Church. However, eventually other scriptures will also be revealed such as the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon (Elder McConkie said it will be translated during the millennium – Bruce R. McConkie, “The Bible, a Sealed Book,” Supplement, A Symposium on the New Testament, 1984; in Teaching Seminary: Preservice Readings [2004]), the prophetic records the lost 10 tribes will bring back (2 Nephi 29:13) and other things the Lord might see fit to reveal.
Sign 71. Some will fear that Christ’s coming is being delayed too long
“And in that day [gathering of Jerusalem] … they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth” (D&C 45:26) but the promise is clear that the “saints that are upon the earth, who are alive, shall be quickened and be caught up to meet him.” (D&C 88:96). The exact time of his coming is unknown to man, but the time is “fixed and certain… The Millennium will not be ushered in prematurely because men turn to righteousness, nor will it be delayed because iniquity abounds … [Jesus Christ] knows the set time and so does his Father” (Bruce R McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man [1982], 26-27)
Sign 74. New Jerusalem will be built
Before the Second coming, the city of New Jerusalem will be built (at least in part) in Independence, Jackson, Missouri (Moses 7:62). This “Holy City” (“city of Zion” – D&C 57:2) will continue on into the millennium serving as one of two capitals of the Savior during the Millennium. (The other capital is the old Jerusalem.) The New Jerusalem will be the political capital of the Savior, the Old Jerusalem will be the spiritual capital of the Savior. “Out of Zion shall go forth the [political] law and the [spiritual] word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Harold B Lee, Improvement Era, Oct 1945, p 564). Each will be made holy with temples (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol 3, pp 66-72; also D&C 84:4)
The Translated City of Enoch will be there – “Then shalt thou [Enoch] and all thy city meet them there [Zion, the new Jerusalem] (Moses 7:62-4).
The “lost 10 tribes” will go to Zion (the New Jerusalem – Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 18:68) to receive their blessings from Ephraim and eventually they will receive their land inheritance when they go to Jerusalem (Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, 18:68)
It will be a place of safety, glory of the Lord there, those who will not fight against their neighbor, the only people that shall not be at war with one another (D&C 45:66-69)
A magnificent temple is contemplated for the City of New Jerusalem. The Temple Lot site was dedicated Aug 3, 1831 by Joseph Smith with seven other church leaders. It is currently owned by several entities – the 2.5 acre section by the Church of Christ (Temple Lot) and the Community of Christ Church which owns most of the 63 acres (the greater Temple Lot) originally purchased by Bishop Partridge. The plans for the temple were revealed to Joseph Smith in 1833, and featured 24 temples in a complex in the center of the city.
Sign 76. A temple will be built in (old) Jerusalem
Joseph Smith said, “Jerusalem must be rebuilt, and the temple… all this must be done before the Son of Man will make His appearance.” (Ref: Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, by Joseph Fielding Smith (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1976), 286). The first temple was Solomons built on the Temple Mount about 957 BC but destroyed in 586 BC; rebuilt on the Temple Mount by Cyrus/Darius 538-515 BC; expanded under Herod’s reign and known as Herod’s Temple; destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD)
“Temples and temple ordinances are essential… in the latter times… a temple in Jerusalem which will be used for ordinance work after the gathering of Israel from their long dispersion…” (Ref: Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 2:244)
“The temple in Jerusalem will not be built by Jews who have assembled there for political purposes as at present… 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…” (Ref: Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, pp. 279-280.
There is plenty of room on the “Temple Mount” for both the Muslim’s Dome of the Rock and a new/re-built temple. The church has said many times that it will not be the Jerusalem Center which is designated as an education center by the church and the Israeli government.
