I noted with interest this morning that the Church reported a total membership of 17,887,212 at the end of December, 2025. In the first quarter of this year we no doubt have passed 18,000,000 members.
The world's population is now estimated at 18,300,000,000. If one were to plug those numbers into a calculator, you get a number like .002168% that represents the total percentage of people who have been baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this final dispensation.
Clearly, when one ponders this reality it can be a very disheartening prospect if we consider ourselves to be a missionary church as we do. Conversely, if one were to take the positive point of view with the same set of facts, why not conclude that our opportunities that await us in converting the world to the true blessings of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ are virtually unlimited. We are expanding our reach throughout the world now with new missionaries and new missions being organized in record numbers.
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| Twin Granddaughter Missionaries Being Endowed |
I was edified this morning as I reviewed a pivotal address on an Easter Sunday by President Dallin H. Oaks in General Conference in 2018. He entitled it "Small and Simple Things." He encourages us to consider just how impactful our influence can be in situations we might be tempted by Satan to think are meaningless and so trivial that we can easily become discouraged or disheartened. The monumental tasks ahead of us seem insurmountable at times when we look at the raw data.
However, think of the rising number of our young people who are routinely answering the calls into the mission field worldwide these days. It's staggering to contemplate the collective influence for good their efforts represent.
Remember, these are the most innocent and inexperienced people we could possibly imagine, yet they answer their calls with hope and anticipation unfettered by the judgments of the world. And perhaps most importantly, they are succeeding in staggering numbers as baptisms continue to rise and temples are spreading throughout the world to provide eternal ordinances for those seeking a covenant relationship with their Heavenly Father and their Savior Jesus Christ.
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| Second Coming |
My conclusion today is that we may be intimidated by the sheer magnitude of the mountain yet to climb in this dispensation as we prepare the world for the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. But (and it's a BIG BUT) we are promised the final victory in this small sample from the gospel of John:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6).
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12).
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33).
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