If you were to distribute the 17 million members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints evenly across earth’s population of 8 billion, each member would be just 1 in 475 people. However, since most Church members congregate in centers of strength, and there are populations who know little or nothing about Jesus Christ, the saturation percentages reduce far less than two one-hundredths of 1%.
Why is that? Since we have the doctrine and authority found only in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, why doesn’t everyone come running to join us? Christ Himself answered this best:
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt 7:13-14)
Put another way; The cares and philosophies of the world are easy, appealing, and popular, so most people choose them. But being a member of this Church is the opposite. It requires far more commitment and discipline than many are willing to give. We adhere to standards that require so much more than those of the carnal world. We spend our lives striving to become Christlike, yet none will achieve it in mortality. If it weren’t for the grace and atonement of Jesus Christ, we’d all fall short of the mark.
The prophet Nephi understood the smallness of the Church in our day 600 years before Christ.
And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few, because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who sat upon many waters; nevertheless, I beheld that the church of the Lamb, who were the saints of God, were also upon all the face of the earth; and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small, because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. (1 Nephi 14:12)
Joesph F. Smith, another latter-day prophet, also learned why our numbers are so few:
And yet, notwithstanding [Christ’s] mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands. (D&C 138:26)
So here we are, just 1 in every 475 people on earth, which begs two questions:
1. Do we grasp and appreciate the miracle of our knowledge and membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?2. What are we doing to leave our comfortable nest in the centers of strength, and share this miraculous news with all the world?
We know and understand that everyone will have the opportunity to hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ, either in this life or in the next; that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. But it is on us to do all we can to share this glad news with all who will hear it.
“A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges throughout the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” Joseph Smith
One in four hundred seventy-five people. How blessed we are!