8/4/2017 - Section 58:44-65

August 4, 2017

Section 58:44-65

Missionary Work The Call To, Missionary Work The Prophecies,

In v 45 the Lord tells those saints in Missouri that “they shall push the people together from the ends of the earth.” The student manual says that is through missionary work they must gather together the dispersed members of the house of Israel preparatory to the establishment of Zion. And then concludes that paragraph with “The Church is still in that process. Prophecies concerning this work are recorded in 1 Nephi 22:3-12 and 3 Nephi 21.” And then, after giving specific instructions to specific individuals, the Lord states in v 64: “—the gospel must be preached unto every creature with signs following them that believe.” These are the same instructions the Lord gave during His earthly mission and has given since: Matt 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8;, Revelation 14:6-7; D&C 1:2,4; 112:1,4, 16-17.

President spencer W Kimball, referring to some of the above scriptures said: “It seems to me that the Lord chose his words when he said ‘every nation’, ‘every land’, uttermost bounds of the earth’, every tongue’, every people’, ‘every soul’, ‘all the world’, many lands’. Surely there is significance in these words! Certainly his sheep were not limited to the thousands about him and with whom he rubbed shoulders each day. A universal family! A universal command!....I feel that when we have done all in our power that the Lord will find a way to open doors. That is my faith….With the Lord providing these miracles of communication [radio, television, cassette tape players, satellites, and receiving stations, and so on], and with the increased efforts and devotion of our missionaries and all of us, and all others who are sent, surely the divine injunction will come to pass (D&C 58:64) And we must find a way….Using all the latest inventions and equipment and paraphernalia already developed and that which will follow, can you see that perhaps the day may come when the world will be converted and covered? If we do all we can…I am sure the Lord will bring more discoveries to our use. He will bring a change of heart into kings and magistrates and emperors, or he will divert rivers or open seas or find ways to touch hearts. He will open the gates and make possible the proselyting” (When the World Will Be converted” Ensign Oct 1974)

Brigham Young: “The kingdom will continue to increase, to grow, to spread and prosper more and more. Every time its enemies undertake to overthrow it, it will become more extensive and powerful; instead of decreasing, it will continue to increase, it will spread the more, become more wonderful and conspicuous to the nations, until it fills the whole earth.” (Journal of Discourses 1:203)

Joseph Smith: “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church 4:540)

And the final verse (65) of this chapter is a simple, but powerful statement: “And behold the Son of Man cometh. Amen.”