Hunter Howard W.
The Gospel - A Global Faith

     The gospel of Jesus Christ, which gospel we teach and the
ordinances of which we perform, is a global faith with an all-
embracing message. It is neither confined nor partial nor subject
to history or fashion. Its essence is universally and eternally
true. Its message is for all the world, restored in these latter
days to meet the fundamental needs of every nation, kindred,
tongue, and people on the earth. It has been established again as
it was in the beginning - to build brotherhood, to preserve truth,
and to save souls.

     Brigham Young once said about such a broad and stimulating
concept of religion: "For me, the plan of salvation must . . .
circumscribe [all] the knowledge that is upon the face of the
earth, or it is not from God. Such a plan incorporates every system
of true doctrine on the earth, whether it be ecclesiastical, moral,
philosophical, or civil: it incorporates all good laws that have
been made from the days of Adam until now; it swallows up the laws
of nations, for it exceeds them all in knowledge and purity; it
circumscribes the doctrines of the day, and takes from the right
and the left, and brings all truth together in one system, and
leaves the chaff to be scattered hither and thither." (Journal of
Discourses, 7:148.)

     As members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we seek to bring all
truth together. We seek to enlarge the circle of love and
understanding among all the people of the earth. Thus we strive to
establish peace and happiness, not only within Christianity but
among all mankind.

     In the message of the gospel, the entire human race is one
family descended from a single God. All men and women have not only
a physical lineage leading back to Adam and Eve, their first
earthly parents, but also a spiritual heritage leading back to God
the Eternal Father. Thus, all persons on earth are literally
brothers and sisters in the family of God.

     It is in understanding and accepting this universal fatherhood
of God that all human beings can best appreciate God's concern for
them and their relationship to each other. This is a message of
life and love that strikes squarely against all stifling traditions
based on race, language, economic or political standing,
educational rank, or cultural background, for we are all of the
same spiritual descent. We have a divine pedigree; every person is
a spiritual child of God.

     In this gospel view there is no room for a contracted, narrow,
or prejudicial view. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: "Love is one of
the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by
those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love
of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges
through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race."
(History of the Church, 4:227.)

     In 1907, the First Presidency presented to the general
conference a declaration which includes this statement: "Our
motives are not selfish; our purposes not petty and earth-bound; we
contemplate the human race, past, present and yet to come, as
immortal beings, for whose salvation it is our mission to labor;
and to this work, broad as eternity and deep as the love of God, we
devote ourselves, now, and forever." (In Conference Report, Apr.
1907, appendix, p. 16.)

     In the gospel view, no man is alien. No one is to be denied.
There is no underlying excuse for smugness, arrogance, or pride.
Openly scorning the pettiness and intolerance of rival religious
groups, the Prophet Joseph Smith said in an editorial:

      "While one portion of the human race is judging and
condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the
universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly
care and paternal regard; He views them as His offspring, and
without any of those contracted feelings that influence the
children of men, causes `His sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.' He holds the
reigns of judgment in His hands; He is a wise Lawgiver, and will
judge all men, not according to the narrow, contracted notions of
men, but, `according to the deeds done in the body whether they be
good or evil,' or whether these deeds were done in England,
America, Spain, Turkey, or India." (History of the Church,
4:595-96.)

      Mormonism, so-called, is a world religion, not simply because
its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because
it has a comprehensive and inclusive [page 19] message based upon
the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all
mankind.

      We believe there is a spiritual influence that emanates from
the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. (See D&C
88:12.) All men share an inheritance of divine light. God operates
among his children in all nations, and those who seek God are
entitled to further light and knowledge, regardless of their race,
nationality, or cultural traditions.

      Elder Orson F. Whitney, in a conference address, explained
that many great religious leaders were inspired. He said:  "[God]
is using not only his covenant people, but other peoples as well,
to consummate a work, stupendous, magnificent, and altogether too
arduous for this little handful of Saints to accomplish by and of
themselves. . . .

      "All down the ages men bearing the authority of the Holy
Priesthood - patriarchs, prophets, apostles and others, have
officiated in the name of the Lord, doing the things that he
required of them; and outside the pale of their activities other
good and great men, not bearing the Priesthood, but possessing
profundity of thought, great wisdom, and a desire to uplift their
fellows, have been sent by the Almighty into many nations, to give
them, not the fulness of the Gospel, but that portion of truth that
they were able to receive and wisely use." (In Conference Report,
Apr. 1921, pp. 32-33.)

      The restored gospel is a message of divine love for all
people everywhere, based upon the conviction that all humans are
children of the same God. This primary religious message was
beautifully expressed in a statement of the First Presidency on
February 15, 1978 as follows:

      "Based upon ancient and modern revelation, The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gladly teaches and declares the
Christian doctrine that all men and women are brothers and sisters,
not only by blood relationship from common mortal progenitors, but
also as literal spirit children of an Eternal Father." (In J.
Spencer Palmer, "Introduction," The Expanding Church, Salt Lake
City: Deseret Book Co., 1978, p. v.)

      Latter-day Saints have a positive and inclusive approach
toward others who are not of our faith. We believe they are
literally our brothers and sisters, that we are sons and daughters
of the same Heavenly Father. We have a common genealogy leading
back to God. But more than that, we also seek the true and the
beautiful wherever it may be found. And we know that God has
blessed all his children with goodness and light, in accordance
with the conditions in which they find themselves.

      In our humble efforts to build brotherhood and to teach
revealed truth, we say to the people of the world what President
George Albert Smith so lovingly suggested:

      "We have come not to take away from you the truth and virtue
you possess. We have come not to find fault with you nor to
criticize you. We have not come here to berate you because of
things you have not done; but we have come here as your brethren .
. . and to say to you: `Keep all the good that you have, and let us
bring to you more good, in order that you may be happier and in
order that you may be prepared to enter into the presence of our
Heavenly Father.'" (Sharing the Gospel with Others, comp. Preston
Nibley, Salt Lake City: Deseret News Press, 1948, pp. 12-13.)

      In summary, then, the validity, the power, of our faith is
not bound by history, nationality, or culture. It is not the
peculiar property of any one people or any one age. As Joseph Smith
once said, it is "above the kingdoms of the world." (History of the
Church, 5:526.)

      Ours is a perennial religion based on eternal, saving truth.
Its message of love and brotherhood is lodged in scripture and in
the revelations of the Lord to his living prophet. It embraces all
truth. It circumscribes all wisdom - all that God has revealed to
man, and all that he will yet reveal. Of that eternal revelation,
I bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
 
 

Gen. Conf.    Oct. 1990