Russell M. Nelson said: “Have you ever wondered why the Master waited so long to inaugurate the promised ‘restitution of all things’ (Acts 3:21)? Any competitor knows the disadvantage of allowing any opponent to get too far ahead. Wouldn’t the work of the Restoration of the Church have been easier if begun earlier?
Suppose for a moment that you are a member of a team. The coach beckons you from the bench and says: “You are to enter this contest. I not only want you to win; you shall win. But the going will be tough. The score at this moment is 1,142,000,000 to 6 and you are to play on the team with the 6 points!”
The large number was the approximate population of the earth in the year 1830 when the restored Church of Jesus Christ was officially organized with six members (see James Avery Joyce, sel, World Population Basic Documents, 4 vols. [1976], 4:2214]. The setting was remote and rural. By standards of the world it, its leaders were deemed to be unlearned. Their followers seemed so ordinary. But with them, the work was begun. Assignments had been revealed:
- The gospel was to be preached to every kindred, nation, tongue, and people.
- Ordinary folk were to become Saints.
- Redemptive work was to be done for all who had ever lived.
The great dispensation of the latter days had commenced, and they were the ones to usher it forth!” (“‘With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible,'” Ensign, May 1988′”) (Also from ‘Teachings of Russell M. Nelson’ Deseret Book 2018, p 324-25.)
