Jesus Christ is the light that Church members hold up as a standard to all nations, said Elder C. Scott Grow of the Seventy.

Elder C. Scott Grow

"We offer the additional light of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ," he added during his Saturday afternoon conference address.

Elder Grow spoke of serving a mission in Southeast Mexico almost four decades ago. In some towns all the homes were made of adobe, the Church was young and members knew sacrifice. Yet, he said, they were a happy people with strong testimonies.

Now, as a member of the Mexico North Area Presidency, Elder Grow said he has returned to a far different Mexico.

"Mexico has 200 stakes and a million members of the Church," he said. "Many stake and ward leaders are highly educated and financially secure. Thousands of young men and women from Mexico are serving full-time missions."

The vision of Lehi, for his people, is coming to pass, Elder Grow affirmed.

He said, "Jesus Christ is the light that we hold up as a standard for all nations. We offer the additional light of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ."

Elder Grow spoke of President Gordon B. Hinckley's recent challenge to read or re-read the Book of Mormon before year's end in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Joseph Smith.

It was Joseph Smith who was told by the ancient prophet Moroni that his name "should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds and tongues." That prophecy has come to pass, Elder Grow said.

He shared the story of Jesus Santos, a teenager from Mexico who was impressed by the full-time missionaries. Young Jesus longed to talk to the missionaries, but had been told by a friend that he would have to wait for them to make contact.

Many times, the young man would go to the local meetinghouse and watch the missionaries and mutual youth playing games outside. He wanted to be part of them, but he was never invited to join. Years later, the missionaries finally became acquainted with Jesus Santos and began teaching him.

"As soon as he began to read the Book of Mormon, he knew it was true," Elder Grow said. "Finally, 12 years after he first became aware of the Church, he and his wife were baptized. So many years had been lost. If missionaries had just talked to him, if the Mutual youth had just noticed a lonely teenager looking over the fence . . . his life would have been different during those 12 years."

Today, Jesus Santos presides over the Monterrey Mexico Temple. Elder Grow encouraged Church members to look for others who are simply waiting for an invitation to participate in the gospel.