When the Savior Comes Again
#1002 Hymns—For Home and ChurchLyrics
The Story Behind “When the Savior Comes Again”
A prompting that waited ten years, weeks of frustration, and one impression during the sacrament: write it for children — the story of hymn #1002.
A Prompting with No Instructions
Lane Johnson of Lindon, Utah, started writing music in high school in Mesa, Arizona, when a choir teacher encouraged him to arrange a song he'd learned in Primary. He chose a different career, but music never left — for decades he wrote choral arrangements for schools and churches on the side.
About ten years before this song existed, Johnson received what he called a 'clear yet undefined prompting' that he would someday write music about the Second Coming. 'I knew I was supposed to do this,' he said, 'but nothing beyond that.' The prompting came with no melody, no words, no deadline. He simply carried it.
The Answer Came During the Sacrament
When the Church announced its new hymnbook in 2018 and invited members everywhere to submit songs — some 17,000 submissions eventually poured in — Johnson knew the time had come. Then, for weeks, nothing worked. The hymn he was trying to write refused to come together.
The breakthrough happened in the quietest moment of the week. During the sacrament one Sunday, an overwhelming impression settled on him: this was not supposed to be a hymn at all. It was supposed to be a children's song. 'With that understanding, everything changed,' Johnson said. 'The words and music began to flow naturally, and within a few days it was complete.' The result treats the Second Coming the way children should meet it — not with fear, but with joyful expectation: death, pain, war, and conflict all ending, and only Heavenly Father knowing the day.
Second Hymn in the Book
Johnson's song was chosen from those 17,000 submissions and released on May 30, 2024, in the very first batch of Hymns—For Home and Church — as hymn #1002, immediately after 'Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.' A brand-new song by a lifelong amateur, placed second in the whole collection.
'We don't have to wait to rejoice in the Savior's return,' Johnson said. 'Because the Savior overcomes hate and war, death and pain, all of it — it won't last forever.'
Did You Know?
- Lane Johnson carried the prompting to write about the Second Coming for about ten years before the hymnbook project gave it a destination.
- The song came together only after an impression during the sacrament that it should be a children's song, not a hymn — then it was finished within days.
- It was chosen from roughly 17,000 member submissions to the new hymnbook.
- It is hymn #1002 — the second song in the entire collection, right after 'Come, Thou Fount.'
- Johnson's musical life began when a high school choir teacher asked him to arrange a song he'd learned in Primary.
Scripture Connections
- Doctrine and Covenants 45:56–59 — The Second Coming as the beginning of peace — 'the Lord shall be in their midst.'
- 1 Nephi 22:24–28 — The righteous need not fear — Satan has 'no power over the hearts of the people' who follow the Holy One.
- Articles of Faith 1:10 — 'Christ will reign personally upon the earth' — the plain doctrine the song sets to a child's melody.
- Isaiah 11:5–6 — The wolf and the lamb together — the peaceable world the song looks forward to.
Talk About It
Questions to spark a conversation with your family or Primary class:
- Lane Johnson waited ten years to understand a prompting. Have you ever had a feeling you didn't understand until later?
- The song teaches that the Second Coming is something to look forward to, not fear. What are you most excited about?
- The answer came to Johnson during the sacrament. Why do you think quiet, reverent moments help us hear Heavenly Father?
- The song says only Heavenly Father knows when the Savior will come. How can we be ready anytime?
Teaching Resources
Attribution
Music by: Lane Johnson, 2019
Text by: Lane Johnson, 2019
Audio files from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints