In September 1831, while Joseph Smith and his brethren were engrossed in preparations to move from Ohio to Missouri where they would endeavor to establish Zion, the Lord by revelation gave this counsel:
"All things must come to pass in their time.
"Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (Doctrine and Covenants 64:31-32).
Timeless counsel indeed, but it must have had profound significance for the Prophet and his colleagues at that time. Scarcely 17 months previously, the Church had been formally organized on April 6, 1830, the 175th anniversary of which is observed this month.
Events of immense impact had preceded that occasion: the visitation of the Father and the Son to Joseph in early spring 1820 and the restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood in 1829, with resurrected beings acting as agents in that restoration. The Book of Mormon, an ancient record preserved to be another witness of Jesus Christ in this gospel dispensation, was translated by the gift and power of God and, in fact, had been published just 11 days previously.
Now, some 50 or so individuals packed the tiny log farmhouse of Peter Whitmer Sr. in Fayette, N.Y. They came from Fayette and surrounding communities such as Manchester and Colesville. There, on a day designated by revelation from the Most High, and in accordance with New York laws, six men effected the formal organization of what would come to be known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Joseph Smith recounted the events in these words: "Having opened the meeting by solemn prayer to our Heavenly Father, we proceeded, according to previous commandment, to call on our brethren to know whether they accepted us as their teachers in the things of the kingdom of God, and whether they were satisfied that we should proceed and be organized as a Church according to said commandment which we had received. To these several propositions they consented by unanimous vote" (History of the Church 1:77).
The prophet laid his hands upon the head of Oliver Cowdery to ordain him an elder in the new Church; Oliver did the same with Joseph. Then, for the first time in the Church's history, the sacrament of the Lord's supper was administered. Individuals, previously baptized, were confirmed members of the Church by laying on of hands.
"The Holy Ghost was poured out upon us to a very great degree — some prophesied, whilst we all praised the Lord and rejoiced, exceedingly," Joseph recounted (HC 1:78).
While they were assembled, the Prophet received the revelation preserved for us today as Section 21 of the Doctrine and Covenants. In it, the Lord commanded that a record be kept in which Joseph would be called "a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church" (verse 1). The Church was commanded to "give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me" (verse 4). In the revelation, the Lord promised to bless all those who labor in His vineyard "with a mighty blessing" (see verse 9).
In this April of 2005, the collective fulfillment of that promise is evident in the progress of the Church from that humble beginning 175 years ago.
Said President Gordon B. Hinckley at a member meeting in Trinidad on May 20, 2002: "I have seen in my lifetime the miracle, the absolute miracle of the growth of this work as it has touched the lives of people all over the earth. I have met with them in many lands under many circumstances. . . . We are all one great family of those who walk in faith before the Lord."
This issue of the Church News highlights several different aspects of the "miracle" of which President Hinckley spoke: the global presence of the Church today; its influence in the lives of people; its efforts in missionary work, education, humanitarianism, and making available the saving ordinances to the living and the dead.
With all that has been accomplished from the foundation laid in 1830, there is still much building to do. In a sense, as new horizons are uncovered, Latter-day Saints are still "laying the foundation of a great work." Like the brethren of 1831 preparing to move to Missouri, Church members of today are seeking to establish Zion in preparation for the coming of the Lord in glory.
And, where much is given, much is required. As President Hinckley said: "The Lord expects so much of (Latter-day Saints) now because we are not persecuted, we are not driven, we are not on the march, we are not being burned and destroyed and troubled on all sides. We have peace, and we have the good opinion of many, many people in many, many places. How thankful we ought to be and how ambitious we ought to be to move forward this, the work of the Lord" (member meeting in Richmond, Va., Nov. 14, 1998).
E-mail to: rscott@desnews.com
