In a small log cabin in upstate New York on April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

One might wonder if the handful of Latter-day Saints gathered in that small room knew then of the magnitude of what they were witnessing. For from that moment forward, with the re-establishment of the true and living Church on the earth, the kingdom of God could roll forth as foreseen by Daniel: "And in the days of the kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever" (Daniel 2:44).

It would take 117 years — until 1947 — for the Church to grow from the initial six members to 1 million. It would be 16 more years, in 1963, before the Church would reach the 2-million-member mark and eight years after that before there would be 3 million Latter-day Saints.

But few could argue: "The stone was cut out of the mountain without hands" (Daniel 2:45).

Today the Church has more than 14 million members.

In addition there are 340 missions, 51,736 missionaries, 28,424 wards/branches, 2,865 stakes and 134 temples (Deseret News 2011 Church Almanac, p. 5).

"I am pleased to report that the Church is doing very well," said President Thomas S. Monson in April 2009 general conference. "The work of the Lord continues to move forward uninterrupted."

A new study of religion in America, "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us," documents some of the impact of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members.

The sociological study, conducted by scholars Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell, analyzed and documented the nature and social effects of American religion.

While Latter-day Saints are a relatively small part of American society, the study found they play a large role in American religious life. (See beta-newsroom.lds.org/article/major-new-study-of-religion-has-much-to-say-about-mormons.)

Among the study's findings related to Latter-day Saints are the following:

Latter-day Saints are among the most devout religious groups in the country.

Latter-day Saints are among those most likely to keep their childhood faith as adults.

Latter-day Saints are unusually giving.

Latter-day Saints have a relatively positive view toward members of others faith, including those outside of Christianity.

Latter-day Saints are among the most likely to believe that one true religion exists, but also that those outside their faith can attain salvation or reach "heaven." (Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell, "American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us"; New York: Simon and Schuster, 2010).

In a general conference address in 1900, President Lorenzo Snow spoke of the Church, that "commenced as an infant" and had "grown to manhood."

"The Lord has prospered us amazingly, and we are doing large things at the present time," he said. "We are blessing the people of the world. Now ... the Lord expects that we will do something — something that will cause the nations to marvel, as what we have done has caused them already to wonder" (Lorenzo Snow, Conference Report, April 1900).

May we be like the Latter-day Saints who heard President Snow's words 110 years ago, responded to his call and accomplished something that caused the nations to marvel.

"The centuries have passed. The latter-day work of the Almighty, that of which the ancients spoke, that of which the prophets and apostles prophesied, is come. It is here. For some reason unknown to us, but in the wisdom of God, we have been privileged to come to earth in this glorious age ... ," said President Gordon B. Hinckley in October 1999 general conference address.

"We stand on the summit of the ages, awed by a great and solemn sense of history. This is the last and final dispensation toward which all in the past has pointed. I bear testimony and witness of the reality and truth of these things. ...

"And so we shall go forward on a continuing path of growth and progress and enlargement, touching for good the lives of people everywhere" (Gordon B. Hinckley, "At the Summit of the Ages," Ensign, November 1999, p. 74).