When the Savior originally charged his apostles, go ye in
to all the world, His church was very small with members
scattered in the geographic regions now known as the
Middle East. His dynamic apostles, like Peter, James,
John and Paul, traveling mostly by foot or by ship, did
everything they could to keep the little flock together.
But the distance and the lack of communication made their
work very difficult.
They themselves knew that the future would bring a falling
away from the teachings of the gospel.
They also know that eventually there would come to the world
a restoration of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I testify that the restoration of the gospel was accomplished
beginning with the appearance of Heavenly Father and the
Lord Jesus Christ to the prophet Joseph Smith in the
spring of 1820.
Since that glorious day, more than 90 men have been called
to serve as apostles with the same commission as the
apostles of old, teach all nations that Jesus is the
Christ the Son of God our Eternal Father.
Today our labors are greatly enhanced by jet airplanes and
remarkable technology that stretch the reach of our
ministry to the farthest parts of the world.
Since 1820 over 750,000 full time missionaries have served
in the world, teaching and testifying of Christ in over
100 languages and in 137 nations and territories.
I testify to you that it is the will of our Father in
Heaven, through his beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ,
that this mighty work moves forward.
It is by Him and through Him that our missionaries bear
humble and sincere testimony.
I'm a witness of that.
I came to know for myself the truth of this work and of the
savior's divinity while serving as a full time
missionary in England 50 years ago.
I know it more surely today through experiences too
numerous and too sacred to discuss.
This is his gospel.
He stands at the head, holy, divine, supreme.
Full of power, majesty, grace and truth.
He lived for us and He died for us because He loves us.
I love Him more deeply and powerfully than I can find
words to express.
He is my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer and my Friend.
I know that Jesus Christ is the son of
God our Eternal Father.
He lives and directs His Church today through His
prophets and His apostles.
His great work will continue to roll forth until it fills
the whole earth.
This is my testimony in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Amen.