The Mission and Future of the Church

TO ESTABLISH THE KINGDOM OF GOD. Let us here and now express gratitude for the Church of Jesus Christ with quorums and auxiliaries specially organized to combat evil. It was established by divine revelation of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ. Its glorious mission is to proclaim the truth of the restored gospel; to uplift society that people may mingle more amicably one with another; to create in our communities a wholesome environment in which our children may find strength to resist temptation and encouragement to strive for cultural and spiritual attainment; to make ineffective the influence of designing men who would make profit out of their fellows who are fallen so low as to be slaves to their appetites and passions -- and who would fill their purses through the weaknesses of addicts to gambling, and the pitiable courtesan outcasts. The gospel is a rational philosophy that teaches men how to get happiness in this life and exaltation in the life to come.

The mission of the Church is to establish the kingdom of God upon the earth, which, in the words of Thomas Nixon Carver, "is not a mythical but a real kingdom. It is a body of people dominated by ideals of productivity, which is mutual service. We do not strive for the things which satisfy but for the moment and then leave a bad taste. We strive for the things which build us up and enable us and our children to be strong, to flourish, and to conquer. We strive to make ourselves worthy to receive the world by fitting ourselves to use the world more productively than others. We believe that obedience to God means obedience to the laws of nature, which are but the manifestations of his will; and we try by painstaking study to acquire the most complete and exact knowledge of that will, in order that we may conform ourselves to it." -- CR, October 1948, p. 122.

GOD IS AT THE HELM. My brethren and sisters, as I contemplate the growth of the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ, I feel to exclaim with Browning: "God's in his heaven -- all's right with the world!" Men and nations make errors and will be punished therefor, but ultimately the Lord will overrule the acts of men for the triumph of truth. -- CR, October 1938, p. 130.

The Lord is not just an absent, faraway influence. He Is a kind Father, solicitous of the welfare of his children, and ready and willing to hear and answer their call. The answer may be negative, as sometimes a wise parent gives a negative answer to the pleadings of a child, but he is ever ready to hear and to answer.

His Beloved Son stands at the head of this Church. It is his Church. Oh, may the world realize that in the very near future, open their minds to study the needs of the war-torn world, and see that those needs may be supplied by obedience to the principles of the revealed word of God.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD A REALITY. What was the burden of Christ's teaching when he came among men? The first great proclamation was the announcement that the kingdom of God is at hand. "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." The forerunner, John the Baptist, preached that. He preached the coming of the Lord. He showed the position which the Lord would hold in that kingdom, and the Savior bore witness to it and preached the same. And what was the kingdom? Not a mythical, but a real kingdom; not only a feeling within, but also an outward expression of righteousness! It was divine government among men. That was what the Savior had in mind, the establishing of a divine government among men. -- CR, October 1919, p. 76.

TO TRANSFORM SOCIETY. There are those in the world who say that jealousy, enmity, selfishness in men's hearts will always preclude the establishing of the ideal society known as the kingdom of God. No matter what doubters and scoffers say, the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ is to eliminate sin and wickedness from the hearts of men, and so to transform society that peace and good will will prevail on this earth. -- CR, April 1941, p. 109.

This admonition and promise I have chosen for my theme at this time because it seems so aptly to epitomize generally the timely instructions given at this conference. Then, too, it expresses the ideal to which every man who holds the priesthood has subscribed. Again, if heeded, it will be the greatest and best safeguard to our sons who are called to serve their country. And, finally, I firmly believe that if rulers of nations followed that admonition, contention and war would be banished from among men.

". . . Whenever there has been a righteous man on earth unto whom God revealed his word and gave power and authority to administer in his name, and where there is a priest of God -- a minister who has power and authority from God to administer in the ordinances of the gospel and officiate in the priesthood of God, there is the kingdom of God; . . ." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.271.)

WHAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IMPLIES. The term implies divine rule in the hearts and wills of men and in society. Man acknowledges a power and authority superior to his own. "It is not the arbitrary rule of a despotic Deity, but is based upon man's voluntary submission of his will to that of God's." On one occasion Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is within you." That is true, for it is in the heart of man that membership in the outward kingdom has its origin. Devotion and loyalty that spring thus from the heart "for the common Father of all mankind is the strongest and only universal bond that can bind all men together." Only such a group looking as one mind to heaven for guidance can eventually transform human society.

THE PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH. The mission of the Church is to prepare the way for the final establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. Its purpose is, first, to develop in men's lives Christlike attributes; and, second, to transform society so that the world may be a better and more peaceful place in which to live. -- CR, April 1941, p. 106.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES. The consummation of God's purposes is put in these words: ". . . this is my work and my glory -- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39.) This divine purpose may be achieved by using the Church as a means of accomplishing the following specific objectives in the achievement of which lies a sufficient challenge for the brightest minds in the world:

First, physical strength, virility, cleanliness. When therefore you hear harping critics say that the Church Authorities overemphasize the Word of Wisdom, you may know that they have not studied very deeply the significance of the Word of Wisdom. Fundamentally, physical strength and virility are essential factors in the progress of humanity.

Second, economic security. When you hear a young man say we lay too much stress on tithing, you may know he does not realize the relation of tithing and fast offerings to the economic security of every man, woman, and child in the Church.

Third, social justice. Go into any quorum and see who are meeting there -- your lawyers, your doctors, your farmers, all meeting on a social plane. In the Church of God every man and woman has equal privileges to every other man and woman.

The anchor of the young people is in the realization that the Church is established as a means of consummating God's purposes; and they realize, too, even if they have not thought it out as they will some day, that there is nothing in the world to compare with the Church of Jesus Christ as an effective organization in alleviating the ills of mankind.

And now, young people, thus anchored in the faith, and thus organized, we ask you to join the organizations in your wards, to heed the advice of the President of the Church, to affiliate with your quorums, with your auxiliary organizations, in your fast meetings, and there in these local groups express your thoughts, express your doubts, seek after the truth, apply measures that will appeal to those of your associates, and when you prove those measures to be effective and satisfying to the soul, then can the central organizations take those measures and adapt them to the whole as a universal benefit. In that way, and in that way only, will progress and efficiency be fostered. Don't stand out on the sidelines, and say, "This quorum is not doing its work," but get into the quorum and help it do its work. That is the way which God intends people to work in this Church, and it offers to you one of the best opportunities in the world. -- CR, April 1934, pp. 23-24.

THE DIVINE COMMISSION. On a momentous occasion two thousand years ago eleven men assembled near a mountain in Galilee -- eleven humble, obscure men who had been chosen and ordained Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. According to appointment these men met the resurrected Christ who made what to them must have been a startling declaration. They had been with their Master not yet three years and had been expressly enjoined by him to go not in the way of the Gentiles, to enter no city of the Samaritans, but to go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (See Matt. 10:5-6.) At this meeting, however, as his final parting instructions, he opened their eyes to the universality of the gospel by giving them this divine commission:

In the restricted experience of these eleven disciples, the idea of preaching Christ and his saving doctrine to any but members of their own race germinated very slowly. Indeed, the Savior of men found it necessary to give another direct revelation to Peter, the chief Apostle, before even he fully realized that the Gentiles "should hear the word of the gospel, and believe."

THE SPREAD OF CHRISTIANITY. However, as the light of truth dawned in their hearts, these earnest followers set about to give the gospel to the world -- ". . . simple men, with only the wind to bear them over the seas, with only a few pence in their pockets, and a shining faith in their hearts. They fell far short of their ideal; their words were twisted and mocked; and false temples were built over their bones, in praise of a Christ they would have rejected. And yet, by the light of their inspiration many of the world's loveliest things were created, and many of the world's finest minds inspired."

APOSTASY AND THE PROPHET. Three hundred years passed, and Christianity became the dominant religion of the most powerful nation in the world, and the persecuted became the persecutors. Pride and worldliness supplanted humility and faith. The church became corrupt. Doctrines of men supplanted the commandments of God; spiritual darkness enshrouded the nations of the world.

Later, courageous, God-fearing men began to protest against the evil practices of a corrupt clergy. The dawn of a spiritual awakening appeared, but none either claimed or received divine authority to reestablish the Church. Roger Williams, pastor of the oldest Baptist Church in America, resigned his position, because, said he, "There is no regularly constituted church on earth, nor any person authorized to administer church ordinances, nor can there be until new apostles are sent by the Great Head of the church for whose coming I am seeking."

RESTORATION. That authority came early in the nineteenth century by the personal appearance of the risen Lord. Again was given the divine injunction for authorized servants to be ". . . sent forth to the east and to the west, to the north and to the south," (D. & C. 42:63) that "every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

THE WORLD-WIDE DESTINY UNFOLDS. Though the Church is still young and has had to struggle through persecution, mobocracy, drivings, poverty, misrepresentation by egotists, uninformed preachers, apostates, and by a prejudiced public sentiment, it is moving steadily forward toward its world-wide destiny. Almost immediately after the organization of the Church, the proclamation of the restored gospel began.

The land of China has been dedicated for the proclaiming of the gospel to her 450,000,000 people. Letters of appeal are coming from India. There are those who are praying that the way will soon be cleared for missions in Hungary, Italy, and Russia. Besides the three missions already established in South America, other countries in that land are beckoning for the gospel as Macedonia beckoned Paul and his companions.

As the Savior said to the eleven in Galilee and to all whom they appointed, so he says to his authorized servants today: Go ye therefore and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded. (See Matt. 28:19-20.)

Where, however, each missionary of old could speak to one person, the representatives of Christ today can speak to millions. A sentence uttered in an ordinary tone of voice can encircle the globe in less than a minute. The marvels and inventions of science today make it possible to spread the gospel as never before in the history of the world.

And what a message the Church has for this distracted world! "Its appeal," as Kent says of true Christianity, "is universal -- to the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak, the learned and the ignorant. It proclaims God to be not only the one supreme Ruler of the universe, but the Father of each individual, a God of justice, yet a God of love, constantly watching over and guiding even the humblest of his children."

The Church, with its complete organization, offers service and inspiration to all. It is "pre-eminently a social religion." In quorums and auxiliaries it "aims by training the individual conscience and will, to establish a closely knit world-wide fraternity." It is in no sense ascetic. Instead of taking men out of the world, it seeks to develop perfect, Godlike men in the midst of society, and through them to solve the problems of society." -- DNCS, December 20, 1947, p. 4.

It matters not in what part of the globe the meeting is held, whether in the islands of the sea, in Japan, in Syria, in the Scandinavian countries, in England, Germany, France, Holland -- wherever one meets a group of Latter-day Saints whose faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ is unwavering, there one finds the spirit of oneness, the spirit of love, the spirit of willing sacrifice for the good of humanity. God bless the Latter-day Saints all over the world that they may continue in that same spirit. -- CR, April 1925, p. 11.

A LIGHT UNTO THE WORLD. "And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me." (D. & C. 45:9.)

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was scarcely one year old when that declaration was made through inspiration by the Prophet Joseph. He himself was but twenty-six years of age. It is a marvelous declaration, great in its pretension, comprehensive in its scope: ". . . mine everlasting covenant" (the gospel), is sent "into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, . . ." (D. & C. 45:9.)

On Bedloe Island, at the entrance of New York harbor, there stands the Statue of Liberty, a light to the nations. What it has meant to thousands and hundreds of thousands of the downtrodden of Europe has been most graphically expressed by Israel Zangwill in that impressive production, The Melting Pot. I shall give a few words. David the emigrant, the little Russian Jew, is speaking:

"All my life America was waiting, beckoning, shining, the place where God would wipe away tears from off all faces. To think that the same great torch of Liberty which threw its light across all the seas and lands into my little garret in Russia is shining also for all those other weeping millions of Europe, shining wherever men hunger and are oppressed, shining over the starving villages of Italy and Ireland, over the swarming, starving cities of Poland and Galicia, over the ruined farms of Romania, over the shambles of Russia. When I look at our Statue of Liberty, I just seem to hear the voice of America crying: Come unto me, all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest, rest."

What that Statue of Liberty symbolizes to the oppressed and downtrodden of Europe, the gospel of Jesus Christ is to the world. Mormonism, so-called, has reared an ensign to the nations and, with words as comprehensive as those I have read in the revelation, invites the world to peace, to rest, to contentment.

And to whom does that ensign now wave? To what sort of world does the beacon light of the everlasting gospel extend its invitation? A new world, or rather a world struggling to make itself new! The terrible war that has just passed was but the birth pangs -- and now the world is ready to be reborn. "We stand at a creative moment in human history," says Sherwood Eddy. "Never before has the whole world had the chance to make all things new, old customs and contentions, old rules and ruts, old traditions and enslavements have been broken forever. We are living in the birth pangs of a world struggling to be reborn, and the issues of our time will reach into eternity." -- CR, April 1920, pp. 114-115.

NOTHING TO CONCEAL. The Church of Jesus Christ has nothing to conceal. It neither teaches nor practices anything of which it is ashamed. It stoops to no secretive methods to obtain converts. Carrying the responsibility of proclaiming the fact that the gospel of the Redeemer in all its simplicity and power is restored to man, the Church seeks by every legitimate means to declare this message to the whole world. -- MS, 85:728 (1923).

A WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. A more important question for us today is this: "Are the so-called Mormons true Christians and does the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints contain the elements of a world-wide Christian religion?" It is my sincere belief and testimony that the Latter-day Saints commonly called Mormons are Christians in the truest and fullest sense of the term, and that this Church is world-wide in its comprehensiveness, in organization, and in its blessing and salvation of the human family. As true Christianity should and as it did in the days of the Savior, Mormonism combines the essential elements in the teachings of Israel's prophets, priests, and sages; and in accepting the Jehovah of the Old Testament as the Savior of mankind, it fulfils the noblest aspirations of the Hebrew race, thereby indicating a world-wide scope so far as Israel's people and Israel's God are concerned.

All that is "virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy" in the teachings of all the great religious teachers of mankind, teachings that today are influencing hundreds of millions of God's children, are comprehended in the ethical teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Mormonism is an authoritative religion, yet at the same time the most thoroughly democratic Church on earth -- a combination that is well worthy of serious thought. It emphasizes the universal bonds of human brotherhood. It seeks by training the individual conscience and will to establish a closely knit, world-wide fraternity. It glorifies humanity and all normal human relations. It is a spiritual force emanating from God himself. -- CR, April 1927, pp. 104-105.

But what a responsibility this entails of leading good men and good women all over this world to know God, and to know what their mission is on earth! Fathers and mothers, fellow workers, do you fully realize today what it means to assume the responsibility of carrying the message of peace and good will to all men? The base of our operations must be here at home. Neglect your duty here, and all you undertake abroad will be compromised because people can rightfully ask: What do you do at home? What life are you living at home? Every elder who goes abroad to preach this gospel must first live the gospel to the best of his ability and have a conviction in his heart that he is preaching the truth. True, at first this testimony may be somewhat indefinite; but all our children have it to some extent. They breathe it as they breathe the mountain air, but they often neglect to define it, to express it in the plane of consciousness. It is the duty of presidents of stakes, bishops of wards, to make definite in the minds of missionaries this testimony of the truth. Through study, service, humility, and prayer, this testimony will increase. -- CR, April 1927, p. 106.

Can you not see many nations yet to hear the truth -- Jew as well as Gentile! India and China both awakening, Russia but in the throes of the birth of a new nation, a new religious freedom it must be. God will overrule it, for that people must hear the truth, and the truth in simplicity. Truly there is much for the Church to do in the coming century! -- CR, April 1930, p. 82.

THE NECESSITY OF UNITING. There is permeating Protestant Christendom today, a keen realization of the necessity of uniting all creeds into one great Christian church. The petty differences and distinctions now existing among the various creeds professing the name of Christ are recognized as barriers to the fulfilment of the hope that Christianity shall become the world-wide religion.

"The conviction," says The Christian Century, "that our denominational system is fundamentally defective is well known. The sincere desire of its editors and many of its contributors is to help in finding a remedy for these defects, and to assist communities on which the futility of their denominational organizations has forced the issue of finding a remedy, is also well known. It is not surprising that the mail brings many letters to this office from eager and more or less distressed spirits whose bewilderments and perturbations we would fain dispel. We sometimes long for ready formulas by which these seekers might be shown the way. But evils so serious do not yield to light and easy remedies."

"I have been reading with profit in your paper what you say concerning community churches. We are about ready to unite here; but we technically do not know how to do it. We are bothered: how to break away from our denomination at large; or how to remain tied loosely to it; what to do with benevolent monies, etc., etc. Can you direct me how to find out, or have you any suggestions for us? We must build singly if not together; but I am anxious to unite our two churches. I would be willing to lose my job if necessary in order to bring this about. However, the spirit is ripe; but how shall we begin? Would it be best to continue some denominational attachment? We would be most grateful for any help you can furnish in this great work. -- A Subscriber.

To these questions The Christian Century says: "We don't know." Neither does it offer a solution of the problems of the contribution and the disbursing of funds; of the securing of ministers; of the sort of church the community proposes to form, etc., etc. Nor will these problems be solved until the cause that produced so many conflicting sects shall have been recognized and removed.

MARKS OF THE GREAT UNITED CHURCH. Once this reason for the existing disunion throughout Christendom is recognized, and with it the acceptance of the fact that Jesus Christ, the author of our salvation, is the only one who has the authority and right to establish his Church among men -- once the ministers of the sectarian churches of so-called Christianity are absolutely honest with themselves and mankind, and will acknowledge the fact that they have not been divinely authorized to officiate in the name of Jesus Christ nor to administer any ordinances in his Church -- once they accept the dictates of reason, and the teaching of the scriptures, both of which give the conviction that a man must be called of God to officiate in the ordinances of the gospel -- then, and not till then, will the great difficulty be overcome of establishing one great united Christian church upon the earth.

In that church there will be never a question as to the source of the finances necessary for its temporal needs; never a question as to who shall receive the funds nor as to how and by whom they shall be dispersed. All this will be in accordance with the law of God.

In that church there will never be a question as to the relation of one official to another, no matter how great its numbers nor how unlimited its subdivisions; perfect order and harmony will always exist because the organization is of divine origin.

In that church men will not preach for money nor divine for hire; but every worthy man will be a priest, a servant of the people, a preacher and teacher of righteousness; every worthy woman will have an opportunity to render service in a perfectly organized capacity.

In that church the millionaire and the man of humble earnings, the professional man, the artisan, and the laborer will all meet on common ground, and study, in equality and brotherhood, the divine principles of happiness, progress, and eternal life.

In that church the poor need not and should not suffer from a lack of sufficient food, clothing, and shelter, because ample provision will be made for the physical, the temporal, as well as the spiritual salvation of every human being.

That church is already upon the earth, established by God the Eternal Father and his Son Jesus Christ, by whose divine authority men are now commissioned to officiate in all the ordinances of the gospel. The necessity of its having been so established by direct revelation was shown to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the words of the Savior who declared that the contending "creeds were an abomination in his sight."

Until the authority of the Redeemer is acknowledged, in vain will so-called Christian sects seek for unity; and in vain will they strive to regain the power they once held over the minds and hearts of the children of men. In vain, also, will they fight against the Church of Jesus Christ, which is destined to grow until it fills the whole earth, until every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. -- MS, 85:248-250 (1923).

THE ROAD TO UNION. Another difficulty, and one frequently entertained by unprejudiced minds, is the idea that "one church is as good as another. They are all trying to do the will of God, and will eventually lead to his kingdom." The thought is summarized in the timeworn phrase, "All roads lead to Rome."

By traveling any of the many roads leading to that great medieval city, they could reach it, enter it, and even participate in some of its advantages and far-famed glory; but before they could become citizens, they had to comply with the prescribed conditions.

So it is with the church and kingdom of God. All churches and all creeds contain some good which lead toward the kingdom of our Father; but to become a citizen of that kingdom everyone must conform to the requirements made by the King. Indeed, there is only one way in which entrance into the Church of Jesus Christ may be obtained, and that is the way marked out by Jesus Christ, the Lord. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6.)

The means of obtaining citizenship in the Church of Jesus Christ are very explicit; so clear, indeed, that it is surprising that so many seemingly intelligent and well-read people will arrogate to themselves the thought that they can gain entrance by other and various means.

Evidently Peter, the chief Apostle, attached significance to this requirement as an essential means of gaining not only citizenship in the Church but also salvation in the kingdom of God, for, when the multitude pricked in their hearts cried out, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" he answered and said:

"Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38.) Thus are given the four requirements, the four essential principles and ordinances, obedience to which are essential to membership in Christ's Church: viz. faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost. . . .

There are many roads being pointed out as leading to the kingdom of God, but there is only one gate through which entrance and citizenship therein may be obtained. Christ plainly pointed this out when he was among men; and he has again revealed it through the Prophet Joseph Smith. The way is simple and easy to find, and as infinitely sublime as it is eternal.

There are many roads in so-called heathen and Christian lands leading sincere people toward the church and kingdom of God, but those who would participate in the privileges and blessings of citizenship therein must obey the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ.