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.