This story appeared in The Daily Universe on Tuesday, August 16.
By Ashley Dickson
Education Week attendees received new ideas about the millennial reign and the three important events that will comprise the Sec-ond Coming in Monday?s lecture by Randall C. Bird.
Bird said some in the church express fear regarding the ?great and dreadful day,? but instead, we should get excited for it.
?Don?t you want to be there for the event that will usher in the millennial reign?? he asked the crowd. ?What a wonderful time to live. We need not fear of Christ?s return ? he stands with open arms to greet us.?
Sandra Holyoak, a second year participant from High Point, N.C., said the lecture was a good reminder of what we should feel to-ward Christ?s coming.
?He did a good job of making it clear that the Second Coming is something to look forward to and not be afraid of,? Holyoak said.
Bird explained the three great events of the Second Coming. First will be the great appearance at Adam-Ondi-Ahman.
?Many people have wondered who would be in attendance,? Bird said. ?All the righteous will have the opportunity to be in this great attendance. If you?re to be there, it will come through priesthood appointment.?
The second event is Christ?s appearance on the Mount of Olives, he said. This is the time when the Jews will weep and know Christ is the Lord.
Sometime later, the third event will occur when Christ appears to the world in general, Bird said. This will be a glorious appearance, and people will converse just as they did during Christ?s first appearance to the Nephites.
?We will come together at some place and go ?That was quite a storm, or that was quite an earthquake,?? he said. ?Then one will say ?Do you think this is it???
Another idea Bird shared was the time of peace when Satan will be bound. He said the righteousness of the people combined with the power of God would be the force behind the binding. Bird said many people don?t realize they have the opportunity to bind Satan now.
?We can ward off evil,? he said. ?When we follow our priesthood leaders? we begin to have a millennial reign in our homes.?
Angela Starley, a nine-year Education Week attendant from Spanish Fork, said she enjoyed knowing she can play a part in binding Satan.
?The reason why he?s not going to be there is because of the righteousness of the people,? Starley said.
Holyoak said Bird?s explanation of binding Satan brought new ideas.
?I liked the part about the things we can do to bind Satan in our lives, and that we have the power to do that,? she said. ?I want to do that in my life and in my family?s lives.?