A Hinge Point in the History of the Church

This weekend all fifteen apostles—the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the First Presidency—were in Rome as part of a historic dedication of the new temple there.  This is the first time that a temple has been built in a Biblical city, and so it is fitting that the modern-day apostles would be there where apostles anciently walked.  Pictures in this article show the living apostles in the visitor’s center in front of statues of the twelve ancient apostles, with Paul replacing Judas.  Of course the most prominent part of the picture is the statue of the Resurrected Savior Himself, showing the marks in His hands as a sign of His atoning sacrifice for all mankind.  President Nelson posted this picture with His witness of the Savior: “As one of His special witnesses, I testify that because the Savior offered Himself as the infinite Atonement, you and I have the opportunity—the privilege—to be forgiven when we repent. We can also turn to Him for healing of our hearts, for strength when we are weak, and for help to do things we simply cannot do on our own. He taught us how to love, how to pray, how to endure. There’s no trial we can endure that He doesn’t know about. He gives each one of us hope.”  How blessed we are to have apostles and prophets today to teach of the Savior and fulfill His final command before ascending into heaven: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:19-20). 

               Having served my own mission in Europe, seeing another temple there is exciting and signifies the powerful way in which the work of the Lord is moving forward.  At that time when I was there, then Elder Nelson made the statement that a “second harvest” of converts was coming for Europe.  This was a reference to the “first harvest” that happened when apostles such as Brigham Young and Wilford Woodruff went there and thousands joined the Church.  My own ancestor Dan Jones was one of those who was a missionary in Wales and also baptized thousands of people.  Knowing the difficulties of European missionary work among a generally very secular people, I was thrilled to hear Elder Nelson’s statement at the time.  We have definitely seen since that time an increase in membership in the Church, particularly with the building of temples in Europe, but I certainly don’t think we have seen the fulfillment of his statement.  What he said this weekend, though, is of a similar message: “This is a hinge point in the history of the church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace, of which this is a part. The church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled; we're just building up to what's ahead now."  We are living in a time when the Lord’s statement to the Prophet Joseph is coming to pass: “Behold, I will hasten my work in its time” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:73).  If someone thirty years ago, when there were about 40 temples, had been told there would be 162 dedicated temples today, they would have been simply amazed.  What the next thirty years brings will likely be even more unprecedented.  Ours is the privilege to be a part of that work, to stand as witnesses of the Savior and His gospel for the living and the dead in a day when the chasm between good and evil grows ever wider.  The Savior invited the Nephites and us to stand for Him and the light He offers to the world: “Therefore, hold up your light that it may shine unto the world. Behold I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do” (3 Nephi 18:24).