2 Nephi 22

(All of my own thoughts are in red type.5/20 Green 2/21 orange 5/22 Brown 2023)

Chapter 22

In the millennial day all men will praise the Lord—He will dwell among them—Compare Isaiah 12. About 559–545 B.C.

1 And in that day (Jehovah's Day of Judgment) thou shalt say: O Lord, I will praise thee; though thou wast angry with me thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. The chapter summary says this is the millennial day. Is there a way that it could be before that day? If the 7th seal was opened in 2000, then technically we are already in the "millennial" year or the 7th thousand years. Has His "Second Coming" already begun? Does it happen in stages? Sister Nelson said in a talk "So, now a question as I conclude: What if you learned that the Savior had already returned to this earth—that He, as part of His Second Coming, had already met with some of His true followers in several marvelous, large gatherings¹³—gatherings about which the world, including CNN and the blogosphere, knew nothing. If you found out that the Savior was already on the earth, what would you desperately want to do today, and what would you be willing and ready to do tomorrow?" The main point, is that if we are chastened by "Assyria" in any way, our response better be repentance. If it is, we may receive deliverance and feel to sing this song. Gileadi-the righteous, though they may feel his anger for a season because of their transgressions—as he allows the king of Assyria/Babylon to subject them—when they repent Jehovah turns his anger away. We will feel to sing and individual and collective song of praise as we are led to Zion.
  2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also has become my salvation. We need to trust in this promised "day" and not fear evil.
  3 Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. Gileadi - To trust in Jehovah “without fear” even when the odds of deliverance appear hopeless (Isaiah 35:3-4) forms a divine principle that separates those saved from those destroyed: “In that day you will say, ‘This is our God, whom we expected would save us. This is Jehovah for whom we have waited; let us joyfully celebrate his salvation!’” (Isaiah 25:9; emphasis added). As Jehovah personifies his people’s salvation, and as he embodies the living waters that regenerate them (Jeremiah 17:13-14; John 4:10-14), his people’s songs of faith when times are hard turn into songs of joy when salvation happens.
  4 And in that day shall ye say: Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. What are these "doings"? Will it be some of the miraculous events surrounding the "birth of the kingdom of God" and the "gathering" of the Restoration? Gileadi - The remnant of Jehovah's people that return from exile praise His for their marvelous deliverance. This news will be broadcast among those who don't participate in the exodus to Zion but who have survived the "Day". 
  5 Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things; this is known in all the earth.
  6 Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee. Gileadi 0 Joy and rejoicing most characterize Jehovah's millennial reign. After the trial of faith, there is rejoicing at the presence of Jehovah.

More about Adam-ondi-Ahman from Elder McConkie: These things were all written in the book of Enoch, and are to be testified of in due time.” (D&C107:53-57.) Will this “due time” be before He comes? Before the tribulations? Before New Jerusalem? “Daniel in his seventh chapter speaks of the Ancient of Days; he means the oldest man, our Father Adam, Michael, he will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man.” how does this preparation happen? 

And as all the spirits of men attended the grand council in preexistence, so all the righteous shall attend a like one at Adam-ondi-Ahman before the winding-up scenes. This sounds like I will be there! The prophet then says: “I saw Adam in the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. He called together his children and blessed them with a patriarchal blessing. The Lord appeared in their midst, and he(Adam) blessed them all, and foretold what should befall them to the latest generation. This is why Adam blessed his posterity; he wanted to bring them into the presence of God.” (Teachings, pp. 157-59.) Thus, we are left to conclude that the ancient gathering of the righteous at Adam-ondi-Ahman involved a great host of people, even as will be the case with the like gathering that is soon to be in the last days.

And we need not suppose that all these things shall happen in one single meeting or at one single hour in time. It is proper to hold numerous meetings at a general conference, some for the instruction of leaders, others for edification of all the saints. In some, business is transacted; others are for worship and spiritual refreshment.

Daniel also tells us of the conflict between the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God. In spite of the opposition of the world, he says, “the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.” And also: “I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.” In this present world Lucifer reigns. This is the great day of his power. The kingdoms of men prevail in many ways over the Church and kingdom of God. Evil forces “devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.” But Lucifer’s day is limited; he shall soon be bound. “The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy” the Lord’s work and his kingdom. “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” (Dan. 7:13-27.)

“And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.” (D&C 27:4-14.) The sacrament is to be administered in a future day, on this earth, when the Lord Jesus is present, and when all the righteous of all ages are present. This, of course, will be a part of the grand council at Adam-ondi-Ahman

President Joseph Fielding Smith observed: “This gathering of the children of Adam, where the thousands, and the tens of thousands are assembled in the judgment, will be one of the greatest events this troubled earth has ever seen. At this conference, or council, all who have held keys of dispensations will render a report of their stewardship. . . . We do not know how long a time this gathering will be in session, or how many sessions will be held at this grand council. It is sufficient to know that it is a gathering of the Priesthood of God from the beginning of this earth down to the present, in which reports will be made and all who have been given dispensations (talents) will declare their keys and ministry and make report of their stewardship according to the parable [the parable of the talents; Matthew 25]. Judgment will be rendered unto them for this is a gathering of the righteous. . . . It is not to be the judgment of the wicked. . . . This will precede the great day of destruction of the wicked and will be the preparation for the Millennial Reign.” 5
So what of the women? 
Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., commenting on the current citizens of Spring Hill, stated:

The citizens here go about their daily tasks all unaware of the wondrous occurrences which have taken place in this beautiful valley and on this hill. They are equally oblivious to the momentous events soon to be staged there. Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., The Way to Perfection, p. 287. One of the first important events at Adam-ondi-Ahman is the building of Zion. "[O]n the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt,' Zion shall be established." Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol. 4, p. 350 (citing D&C 117:8 ("Is there not room enough upon the mountains of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and on the plains of Olaha Shinehah, or the land where Adam dwelt, that you should covet that which is but the drop, and neglect the more weighty matters?").) The New Jerusalem "shall arise in the tops of the mountains and in the land of Missouri." Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah, Vol. 4, p. 350. Prior to this event, "[t]he western boundaries of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that as President [Brigham] Young tells us, 'when we return to that place there will not be as much as a yellow dog to wag his tail.'" J. Golden Kimball, Conference Report, October 1930, p.59.

As noted above with regards to the location of Adam-ondi-Ahman, Zion will be built more specifically at the location of the Garden of Eden in Independence, Missouri, rather than at Adam-ondi-Ahman.

Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., indicates that prior to this great gathering, the world governments, being in Satan's control, will fall, creating a world of anarchy:

Until this grand council is held, Satan shall hold rule in the nations of the earth; but at that time thrones are to be cast down and man's rule shall come to an end --for it is decreed that the Lord shall make an end of all nations. (D.C. 87:6.) Preparation for this work is now going on. Kingdoms are already tottering, some have fallen; but eventually they shall all go the way of the earth, and he shall come whose right it is to rule. Then shall he give the government to the saints of the Most High. Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., The Way to Perfection, p. 290.

However, in-spite of this great listing, neither the world nor the members of the Church as a whole will know of this great council. Only those "who officially shall be called into this council" shall know of it "for it shall precede the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world." Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., The Way to Perfection, p. 291. How this will happen is explained by Bruce R. McConkie:  Now I’m confused. Earlier he said all the righteous would be there; now he’s saying members of the Church won’t even know about it, except those called to be there...

And we need not suppose that all these things shall happen in one single meeting or at one single hour in time. It is proper to hold numerous meetings at a general conference, some for the instruction of leaders, others for edification of all the saints. In some, business is transacted; others are for worship and spiritual refreshment. Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah, pp. 585-586.

While the time for this great council is unknown, the Prophet Joseph Smith and eluded to its imminence by his remark "This may take place before some of us leave this stage of action." Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p.732, "Signs of the Times (citing Teachings of Joseph Smith, p. 157).)

When Christ comes, "as a part of the great restoration, this land surface will be brought back to its original form. When that time comes, the land of Zion (Western Hemisphere) and the land of Jerusalem 'shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided.' D&C 133:21-25. John saw this day when 'every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.'" Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr., Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 3, p. 75 (quoting Revelations 6:14; 16:20).

The great council at Adam-ondi-Ahman will usher in the millennium. Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 493, "Millennium." As our anxieties rise as the world becomes more wicked and the end seems so near, Neal A. Maxwell, brings these events into perspective. Reminding us that while "there will be wrenching polarization on this planet," while "nation after nation will become a house divided," and while "Armageddon lies ahead -- but so does Adam-ondi-Ahman!" Neal A. Maxwell, Even As I Am, p. 121.