Membership of the Church in the early 1830s didn't even make a ripple on the vast sea of humanity. By the end of 1831 there were only about 680 members out of an estimated 1 billion people in the world. But during that year, the Lord, at least four times, issued a charge that must have seemed so overwhilming to the infant Church:

"...my scriptures shall be given as I have appointed..." the prophet Joseph Smith was told on Feb. 9, 1831. "And I give unto you a commandment that then ye shall teach them unto all men; for they shall be taught unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people." (D&C 42:56,58)Six months later, on Aug. 1, 1831, the prophet was again commanded: "For, verily, the sound must go forth from this place into all the world, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth--the gospel must be preached unto every creature..."(D&C 58:64)

Twice in November of that year, the prophet again heard the clarion call from the Lord to preach the gospel throughout the world. (see D&C 68:8, 133:7-8)

Why did the Lord repeat again and again this charge if He didn't feel it could be accomplished? The message seems clear: The gospel must be preached to the whole earth, and the Lord will provide the way to do it.

Even in persecution and hardship, the Church began to carry out the mandate: As early as 1836 missionaries were casting the gospel net in eastern Canada, followed by missions to England in 1837; the Society Islands (Tahiti) in 1844; Wales in 1845; and Scandinavia, France, Italy, Switzerland and the Sandwich (Hawaii) Islands in 1850.

In spite of the arduous move halfway across the American continent during this time that took its toll in the loss of about 6,000 lives, the Church continued to spread the gospel to the far reaches of the world. Missionary work began in Australia in 1851, Germany in 1852, South Africa in 1853, Siam in 1854, Netherlands in 1864, Mexico in 1879, Turkey in 1884, Samoa in 1888, New Zealand in 1898; and japan in 1901. The list goes on and on throughout the 20th century up to the present. From the tiny island dots of the Pacific to the vast continent of Africa, the doors to the gospel are swinging open in everincreasing numbers. Branches and wards are now organized in 97 sovereign countries.

As the stone seen by Nebuchadnezzar in his dream and interpreted by Daniel (see Dan.2) continues to pick up momentum and rolls forth at even greater speeds, additional doors will be opened for the preaching of the gospel.

President Spencer W. Kimball, in a hallmark address to the regional representataives at the October 1978 general conference, declared; "There seems to be a great movement afoot in many nations to prepare people for the further light and knowledge that only we can give them. The Lord by His Spirit is preparing people for the day when the gospel will be taught them in plainness."

The Church is universal--its blessings are available to all worthy mankind. and many of those accepting the message of the restored gospel are now hearing it in their own language. The Book of Mormon, which President Ezra Taft Benson says "was compiled by inspired men for our blessing today," can be read in 80 languages, and by 85 to 90 percent of the world's population.

In recent years, this sacred volume of scripture or selected portions thereof have been translated into languages that most of us hadn't ever heard of before: Tagalog, Papiamento, Akan, Trukese, Pohnpeian, Efik, Kekchi, Guarani and Mam, to name just a few.

While we are witnessing in a very magnificent and exciting way the unfolding of the divine commission to preach the gospel to all the world, each of us should ask ourselves: "What can we do to help further this great work?"

The strength of the Church lies in the righteous lives of its members. our lives should be our greatest testimonies.

Since the mandate to preach the gospel to every nation was first given in this dispensation, the world has grown in population to where it now numbers nearly 5 billion people. But because of technology, transportation and communications, the world has "shrunk in size," making members of the Church more visible than ever before.

Each of us has a responsibility to live in such a way that the "window" we project to the people of the world is clearly the window that will enable them to see that this, indeed, is the Church of Jesus Christ.

And if each of us does this, then the work will roll forward at an even greater pace, and eventually will fill the whole earth.

One general chorus then shall rise

From men of every tongue,

And songs of joy salute the skies,

By every nation sung;

Hymns, No. 269.