The Millenium

Sometimes when I hear people refer to the Second Coming of Christ--usually because of a natural disaster, or simply because of the general state of wickedness in the world--I feel afraid. I know that I should really feel hopeful and optimistic, but it is so easy to think that I am not doing enough or that I'm not trying hard enough. I should feel prepared, yet it is still so easy to feel scared. I needlessly worry that it will just happen, and that I won't be ready. The following quote by Neal A. Maxwell is comforting, motivating, and encouraging to me. What I understand from this quote is, if I'm trying hard to "establish" righteousness, and if I'm helping to build the kingdom, I will not know exactly when Christ will come again, but I will be in the right place at the right time. I found this in Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward.

"Thus that millenarian moment will not spring out of senates, will not be propelled by mortal proclamations, and will not be traceable to treaties. Rather, the King, Jesus Christ, will have first established His kingdom and His people, physically and spiritually, and He will then come and judge all societies according to His standards, not secular standards.

It is a prophetic promise as specific as it is dramatic--a much different thing than just sloshing around in sentiment, hoping vaguely that the peace spoken of will come in spite of everything.

So far as widespread peace is concerned, it will come not by a never-never gradualism, but by a gradual preparation of a particular people, followed by a sudden--but unannounced--coming of the King of Peace. No wonder His disciples should seek to establish His righteousness and kingdom! We must be willing to let go of the world in order to save it!"