(Isa. 2:21; Rev. 11:11–13; 16:18, 20; Ezek. 38:20; Isa. 62:4; Haggai 2:6–7; D&C 45:48; 133:23)
This great earthquake, of a magnitude never before recorded on the Richter Scale, will be “such as was not since men were upon the earth,” (Rev. 16:18.) “The mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall” (Ezek. 38:20). “Every island [shall flee] away” (Rev. 16:20) as the earth’s land masses join together (see D&C 133:23; Isa. 62:4). “All nations shall be shaken” (Hag. 2:6–7).
The Savior will make His appearance during this earthquake: “And then shall the Lord set his foot upon this mount [of Olives], and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake” (D&C 45:48). “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south” (Zech. 14:4).
The besieged people of Judah will escape through the valley created by the earthquake and will recognize the resurrected Lord as their long-awaited Messiah, yet they will sorrow at seeing the wounds of the crucifixion in His body. (See Zech. 14:5; 12:10; 13:6; D&C 45:51–53.)
(Hoyt W. Brewster Jr., Behold, I Come Quickly [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1994], 102–103.)