Is the man who will be the prophet during the second coming already on the earth?

A question sometimes arises among members: Could the Second Coming have already begun in some sense, perhaps with the Restoration through Joseph Smith, and the “great and dreadful day” would be a final climactic event? Scrutiny of scripture and prophetic commentary makes key distinctions:

The Restoration as Prelude, Not Fulfillment: The appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ to Joseph Smith in 1820 ended a long period known as the Great Apostasy, restoring priesthood authority and the fullness of the gospel. This ushered in the “last days” but does not constitute the Second Coming itself. When the Savior returns, it “will not be to the meekness of the manger, it will be as the recognized Redeemer and Lord of the Universe … and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5).

Events Preceding the Second Coming: As described in Doctrine and Covenants 88:95-98, the actual Second Coming will be a global, unmistakable event: “…the curtain of heaven [shall be] unfolded, as a scroll … the face of the Lord shall be unveiled; and the saints that are upon the earth … shall be caught up to meet him. And they who have slept in their graves shall come forth …”.

The First Resurrection and the Millennium: The “first resurrection”—the raising up of the righteous dead—will indeed occur just before the Millennium, as part of this final, world-revealing manifestation. This event marks the beginning of Christ’s thousand-year reign on earth.

The thrust of these teachings is that while preparatory events may unfold gradually—restoration, gathering of Israel, fulfillment of prophecy—the Second Coming is singular and universally manifest. As Paul told the Thessalonians, “the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night,” but the Saints “are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” because, empowered by restored revelation, they can prepare spiritually.

In an era of information overload and trending rumors, it is natural for members to seek concrete signs—perhaps a modern-day counterpart to Samuel the Lamanite, who pronounced specific prophetic warnings to the Nephites. However, the Lord has established a particular pattern for prophetic guidance in our day, and it differs from the more spectacular methods sometimes seen in scripture:

The Appointed Pattern for Revelation: According to Doctrine and Covenants 42:11 and 43:2-7, only those who are ordained and acknowledged by the presiding authorities of the Church are authorized to reveal commandments and lead the people. The Prophet—the President of The Church—is “appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.” Any teaching outside this channel is to be viewed skeptically.

Counsel from Prophets about Prophets: President Joseph F. Smith once stated, “Whenever you see a man rise up claiming to have received direct revelation from the Lord to the Church, independent of the order and channel of the Priesthood, you may set him down as an impostor.” The Lord’s pattern is for revelation to guide the entire Church through His established authorities, not through dramatic outside actors or self-designated visionaries.

Scriptures as the Primary Source of Signs: While longing for additional prophecy is understandable, we are counseled not to “look beyond the mark.” Harold B. Lee softened speculative fears by urging: “Are you priesthood bearers aware of the fact that we need no such publications to be forewarned, if we were only conversant with what the scriptures have already spoken to us in plainness?” The careful study of scriptural prophecy, particularly from sources such as Matthew 24, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Book of Mormon, provides all the guidance necessary for preparation.

Role of Modern Prophets: Members today have 15 Prophets, Seers, and Revelators—the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve Apostles—set apart to lead. These men are sustained as “watchmen on the tower,” providing inspired counsel in both spiritual and practical matters.

Thus, the Lord’s pattern for this dispensation is clearly delineated and designed to protect the Church from deception, speculation, and anxiety.

For many, the world’s instability leads to anxiety about the timing and magnitude of coming events. Two frequent concerns arise among members: Do comments by inspired leaders suggest the end is imminent? And should rumors—such as the “tent cities” theory—be taken seriously?

Jesus said of His return: “But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels … neither the Son, but the Father” (Mark 13:32). President Boyd K. Packer, in his 2011 talk “Counsel to Youth,” addressed youth who feared that they might not achieve life’s milestones before the end: “Not so! You can look forward to doing it right – getting married, having a family, seeing your children and grandchildren, maybe even great-grandchildren.” He repeated this counsel from previous years, emphasizing that “the end cannot come until all of the purposes of the Lord are fulfilled. Everything that I have learned from the revelations and from life convinces me that there is time and to spare for you to carefully prepare for a long life.”

It is common for voices outside of prophetic authority—often political commentators or those with dramatic dreams—to attempt to forecast disasters or call members to specific preparation schemes. The Church has directly addressed ideas like the “tent cities” theory, where some claim the Prophet will call members to refuges in the wilderness before catastrophes. Historical and scriptural precedent exists for the Lord calling His people to safety, such as Lot, Noah, or Lehi. However, the current, consistent counsel from the Church is centered around prudent preparation, not extreme measures: “We encourage members worldwide to prepare for adversity in life by having a basic supply of food and water and some money in savings. We ask that you be wise, and do not go to extremes.”

The Church’s pattern—both ancient and modern—is one of heeding inspired leadership. For example, Christians survived the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 by following Christ’s prophecies and fleeing when appropriate. This underscores not panic, but quiet, humble obedience and listening for the Spirit.

With advancing technology and cultural sophistication, some may imagine that God’s pattern of working through living prophets is antiquated. Yet, as Hugh Nibley writes, “Do you think the God of heaven is going to come unannounced by prophets? God’s declared policy of testing the world by the sending of prophets from time to time was not abrogated two thousand years ago. … Our message is that God has called prophets again in these days and that the world might well heed their words.”

This is more than a comforting belief; it is the defining point of the Restoration—the assertion that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates under living prophetic direction. The world’s response to this fact is itself a test. Prophets do not simply predict; they teach repentance, give warning, guide temporal and spiritual preparation, and point continually to Christ. The existence and guidance of living prophets is the contemporary fulfillment of God’s ancient model and the most important “sign” of the times for our generation.