Did you miss the “Rapture” at 6pm on May 21, 2011? Oops, I certainly did. There have been a lot of predictions about the end of the world and if and when the Second Coming will happen. The scriptures teach us that Jesus Christ will return again. However, the Savior taught “Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42)
Regardless if He comes today or years from now, Jesus told us to “Watch” and prepare ourselves. Through the parable of the Ten Virgins, He impressed the importance of unwavering diligence in preparation for His coming. Will you be ready? Are you like the wise or the foolish women in the story?
It was a custom among the Jews for the bridegroom to come at night to the bride’s house, where her bridesmaids attended her. When the bridegroom’s approach was announced, these maidens went out with lamps to light his way into the house for the celebration.
Jesus told a story about ten young women who went to a wedding and waited for the bridegroom to come and let them in. They did not know what time he would come. Five of the virgins were wise and took along extra oil for their lamps, but five others were foolish and did not. When the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered, and at midnight, when it was announced that he was coming, the wise virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, but the foolish virgins said, “Our lamps are gone out.” And they said to the wise “Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” But the wise women said no, it is not enough for both of us, go and buy for yourselves. While the foolish ones went to buy more oil, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in and the door was shut, the foolish virgins were too late and could not go to the wedding. (Matthew 25:1-12) http://lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/25?lang=eng&query=ten+virgins
In this parable, Jesus represents the bridegroom and we are like the ten virgins. When Christ comes again, some of us will be ready because we have prepared by obeying God’s commandments. Others will not be ready and will not be able to be with the Savior. If we look at the ratio in the parable, half of those who profess to follow Jesus will not enter into His kingdom.
Those who are unprepared will look to the righteous around them and beg for their help. However, the wise members of Christ’s church will not be able to aid them. As we cannot share our own “oil”, which is our faith, testimony, purity, dedication, good works, and our keeping of covenants. We must carry our own light or Spirit of God with us to find the way.
Like the ten virgins who stepped out into the night to meet the bridegroom, the children of God are looking for the Savior to return. We do not know the timing of Christ’s Second Coming, but we should prepare for it as though it could come at any moment.
In the mean time, we can be like the five wise virgins in this parable, filling our lives with an abundance of oil in case our world gets dark and it’s hard to find our way. This reserve will keep the light of God burning with us, guiding us safely until the Savior comes again. This is how the spirit of the wise is maintained. 
