To All Nations
One of the great messages of the Restoration is that the
gospel of Jesus Christ is for people of all nations of the world. Despite the perception of some that it is an
American religion, the messages of the scriptures and modern-day prophets
declare that the doctrines, ordinances, revelations, and blessings that we have
from the Restoration are meant to bless all the nations of the earth. President Hunter said it this way: “We send
this message of love and hope to all the world. Come to the God of all truth,
who continues to speak to His children through prophets. Listen to the message
of Him who continues to send His servants to preach the everlasting gospel to
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Come and feast at the table laid
before you by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” (see here).
The words of the Doctrine and
Covenants in particular shows that the Lord indeed means for the gospel message
to go to all nations. He invited the
early Saints: “Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are
afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all
nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews” (D&C 133:8). He spoke of a “supper of the house of the
Lord” wherein His blessings could be obtained and “unto which all nations shall
be invited” (D&C 58:9). Another
revelation prophesies that “the righteous shall be gathered out from among all
nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy”
(D&C 45:71). Speaking of the great
blessings that would come to the Saints in Kirtland—presumably referring to the
temple there—the Lord said, “And from thence, whosoever I will shall go forth among all
nations, and it shall be told them what they shall do; for I have a great work
laid up in store, for Israel shall be saved, and I will lead them whithersoever
I will, and no power shall stay my hand” (D&C 38:33). The Twelve in particular were repeatedly told
in modern revelation that their ministry was to all the world. They were instructed “to build up the church,
and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and
secondly unto the Jews” (D&C 107:33). They are “under responsibility to travel among
all nations” unlike other officers in the Church (D&C 107:98). The President of the Twelve was told that the
members of his quorum were “chosen to bear testimony of my name and to send it
abroad among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people” (D&C 112:1). Their “path lieth among the mountains, and
among many nations” (D&C 112:7). That
phrase makes me specifically think of Orson Hyde as he traveled an enormous
distance from Nauvoo across the Atlantic Ocean, through the cities of Europe,
and down into Jerusalem where he would climb the Mount of Olives and dedicate
that land for the return of the Jews and the gathering of the children of
Abraham. He had described before this
visit how “the vision of the Lord, like clouds of light, burst into my view.… The cities of London, Amsterdam,
Constantinople and Jerusalem, all appeared in succession before me, and the
Spirit said unto me, ‘Here are many of the children of Abraham whom I will
gather to the land that I gave to their fathers; and here also is the field of
your labors” (see here). He was one of many who would help to fulfill
the Lord’s command that the gospel must go to all the world.
In 1845 the Twelve made a
proclamation to all the world in conjunction with this command to take the gospel
to all nations. They said, “To the
rulers and peoples of all nations, we solemnly declare again that the God of
heaven has established his latter-day kingdom upon the earth in fulfillment of
prophecies. Holy angels have again communed with men on the earth. God has
again revealed himself from heaven and restored to the earth his holy
priesthood with power to administer in all the sacred ordinances necessary for
the exaltation of his children” (see here). That work to reach all nations continues
today as the Twelve today travel all over the world, from Russia
to West
Africa to the Middle
East to Eastern
Europe to Thailand
to Mexico
and every other nation they can reach.
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