News Release

Our Contribution to the Building of Zion by Elder Paya

We live in extraordinary times. Prophecies are being fulfilled. The Church is expanding rapidly and we are seeing a great increase in the number of members all over the world. In view of the increasingly important responsibilities weighing on the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, the Lord has revealed to His prophets that the time has arrived for the full implementation of His direction given in section 107 of the Doctrine and Covenants. For some years, the quorums of the Seventy have been organized, and the brethren who make up those quorums are traveling throughout the various continents where they are sent or assigned to assist the Twelve to fulfill their mission to build up the Church throughout the world. “The Twelve are a Travelling Presiding High Council, to officiate in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Presidency of the Church, agreeable to the institution of heaven; to build up the Church and regulate all the affairs of the same in all nations... The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the Church and regulating all the affairs of the same...It is the duty of the traveling high council to call upon the Seventy, when they need assistance, to fill the several calls for preaching and administering the gospel, instead of any others. (D&C 107: 33-34, 38).

In our Europe Area, we feel this same enthusiasm for the work. We all have our role to play in this great momentum. Sometimes we don’t feel equal to the task, but let us remember the Lord’s council to Enoch, who experienced something similar, “Why is it that I have found favour in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?” (Moses 6:31). The Lord’s reply, full of wisdom, is unequivocal, “And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good... Behold, my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.” (Moses 6: 32, 34). And we see what Enoch was able to do by placing his confidence in the Lord, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them. And Enoch continued his preaching in righteousness unto the people of God. And it came to pass in his days, that he built a city that was called the City of Holiness, even Zion.” (Moses 7:18-19).

At the start of our dispensation, several brethren enquired of Joseph Smith the Prophet what they could do to be effective. The Prophet’s reply was invariably the same: keep the commandments and seek to establish the cause of Zion (see D&C 6:6; 11:6; 12:6; 14:6). The situation is not that different today. Our leaders ask us to share our beliefs with those around us. Modern prophets have promised us that the Lord has placed people around us who are ready to accept the gospel. Let us be the means by which they receive this great blessing and let us not be afraid to open our mouths. Let us increase our spirituality, or, in other words, let us improve our relationship with our Heavenly Father through prayer, scripture study and fasting, and then let us turn to our neighbour showing evidence of our love and charity towards him. Let us bear our testimony and express our convictions with simplicity, and the Holy Ghost will undertake to touch those who are ready. Let us make our own the formula which Enoch applied: Spirituality + Love = Unity, or, in other words, Zion (D&C 105: 4-5)

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