On the road to Emmaus, the resurrected Lord walked with two disciples as they discussed His life and crucifixion. They did not recognize Him of whom they spoke. Realizing they did not understand what the prophets had said concerning Him, the Lord told them, "O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken." (Luke 24:25.) He then expounded to them the words of the prophets concerning His life and mission — even to the minutest details.

Photo by Shaun D. Stahle

In the early 1830s, Joseph and Emma Smith lived in this home that is part of the Newel K. Whitney store in Kirtland. Here the Prophet received many revelations concerning doctrine and how to lead the Church.

Relating this biblical account during his April 1978 general conference address, Elder LeGrand Richards of the Quorum of the Twelve observed: " . . . I think that if Jesus pronounced such judgment upon those who failed to understand the scriptures relating to His first coming, how would He feel toward us and the world if we fail to recognize the value of the words of the holy prophets relating to His second coming?"

Elder Richards then spoke of what prophets have foretold concerning the second coming. First, he quoted Acts 3:19-21, in which a "restitution of all things" was spoken. "This is the only Church, I am sure, that believes in such a restitution of all the things that the holy prophets have spoken. Other churches believe in a reformation, but that is only man's wisdom. Restitution comes from God the Eternal Father. And so we can't look forward to the second coming of the Savior without there being a restitution of all things, and that's the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Speaking of the signs preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ, Elder Richards used as his text the words of Malachi, the last prophet recorded in the Old Testament. "The Lord, speaking through Malachi, said that He would send His messenger to prepare the way for His coming, and He would come swiftly to His temple. But who could abide the day of His coming, because He would be as refiner's fire and fullers' soap? (Malachi 3:1-2.) Now obviously that had no reference to His first coming. But we are told that when He comes in power and great glory, with all the holy angels, the wicked shall cry out to the rocks: 'Fall on us, and hide us [from His presence].' (Revelation 6:16.)

"Malachi saw the messenger that was to be sent — and incidentally, when the Lord sends a messenger, that messenger can be none other than a prophet. and that prophet was none other than Joseph Smith, who, under the direction, divine guidance and authority of the Father and the Son, organized this great Church — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints."

Elder Richards spoke of other things Malachi prophesied of in relation to preparing for the Second Coming, including the payment of tithes and offerings and the coming of Elijah, without whom "the whole earth would be utterly wasted. (Doctrine and Covenants 2:3.) Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in the Kirtland Temple in April 1836. "As a result of that, and of the keys of the dispensation that Elijah brought, we have built all these holy temples. We understand the value of genealogical research. . . .

"We are advised to study the scriptures, the older scriptures and the modern scriptures, to see what the prophets have said. Remember the words of Peter, that we have a more sure word of prophecy and that we do well to take heed."