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Show C. 4 Jt KwrcS QfW (2EDITORIAL PAGE A Mev Decade Beckons The decade of the 1960s was a period tremendous growth and for the Church. What will the 1970s bring? The next decade is like a book with unprinted pages, as yet untouched by the authors of history. In ten years they will tell what we have done as the past decade is now recorded. How pleased are we with the past? How well prepared are we for the future? The growth of the Church during the ten years now ended, as shown on the inside alpages of this weeks Church News, seems to add it the most incredible. But preceding ten years and truly we are astonished at what has happened. OUR MEMBERSHIP has increased nearfold in those twenty years. In the three ly last decade alone it increased by more than a million. Activity as shown in percentage statistics reveals another remarkable gain. More Latter-da- y Saints, both in total numbers as well as in percentages, are active in the Church now than at any time within memory. From President McKays accession to the presidency in 1951 until now the number of stakes has increased from 180 to 496. Twelve others have been approved for organization in the early part of the rlew year. Twenty years ago we had only 41 missions; today there are 88. Then we had less than 2,000 missionaries; now we have over 12,000, coming not only from the United States, but from Canada, Mexico, South America, Central America, Europe, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, some from the South Sea Islands, Hawaii, and a few even from Asia. IT IS INDEED a worldwide missionary movement, with far flung branches and stakes contributing to it. And what is being accomplished ? The Gospel is being preached abroad as never before. It now goes by radio, television, shortwave, filmstrips, motion pictures, posters, tracting, cottage meetings in members homes, and open houses in chap-es- . And then there are the LDS boys in military service. We have 29,000 of them in uniform. Are they contributing to the growth of the Church? Some servicemen, who were former missionaries, are converting more while in the service than while they were on missions. Local residents of countries in which these boys are stationed are hearing the Gospel from them, even though no regularly appointed missionary program is carried on. SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? THE GOS- PEL IS GOING ABROAD FARTHER AND FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE! The Lord is speeding up His work miraculously. He said He would shorten it in the last days, and He is doing so. Many of us remember when we had no radio or filmstrips or Church movies, how slowly the word was spread. There were no rapid means of communication then. Actually, as far as preaching was concerned, was it much faster in those days than in the time of Peter and Paul? Who could hear those ancient brethren beyond the normal sound of the human voice? And who could hear any farther fifty years ago? But now? General conference is broadcast the world around. The Gospel is preached in many places seldom mentioned before. It is heard in more than thirty different languages, and is read in that many tongues. Then do we realize what is happening before our eyes ? Is not this great development of the Church one of the signs of the times? And does it not fit in with other signs of the times the Middle East crisis, the natural and social upheavals, and the technological advancement? THESE ARE SIGNS of the times. The Lord, through them, is talking to the nations. He soon will speak even louder, in more wars, quakes, tidal waves, and plagues. Are we ready to listen to Him, and is the world ? But the preaching by the elders must also go on, faster and broader. That is what the futuie is for. That is the destiny of the Church, for as Jesus said, 'this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness to all nations, and then shall the end come. No one knows when the end will come, not even the angels of heaven. But learn a parable of the fig tree: When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh. So what does the era of the 1970s hold for us? It offers a further opportunity to build a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people, walling to be faithful in God's kingdom even to the end. True Freedom: Do What Is Right MEN IN MODERN SCRIPTURE William W. Phelps Among references to William Wines Phelps in the Doctrine and Covenants is one dealing with the important principle of repentance. Phelps had joined the Church at Kirtland, and because of his experience as a printer and publisher, had been appointed editor of the Evening and Morning Star, a magazine issued monthly concerned with activities of the Church. Older than many who had joined, and perhaps because of his past experiences, William Phelps wasn't as humble as he might have been, and the Lord said to him: And also let my servant William W. Phelps stand in the office to which I have appointed him, and receive his inheritance in the land ; And also he hath need to repent, for I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seekelh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me. Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I the Lord, remember them no more. sins them. By this ye may know if a man repenleth of his behold, he will confess them and forsake (D. & C. 58:40-43- ) William remained a faithful and close associate of the Church through the Missouri persecutions, taking part in many functions and activities including publishing of the Book of Commandments (Doctrine and Covenants) , acting as scribe for the Prophet Joseph Smith in the translation of the Book of Abraham, publication of the first hymnal ot the Church, and joining in the dedication of the Kirtland and Nauvoo Temples. William fell away from the Church from 1839-4but was received back into fellowship and came West with the saints in 1848. He was appointed surveyor-generand chief engineer of the Provisional State of Deseret, helped write the State Constitution, served as a member of the Legislature, as a regent at the University of Deseret, and practiced law. He published the Deseret Almanac for several years, was present when the Endowment House in Salt Lake City was dedicated, and served there as an ordinance worker for many years. He was a member of the Deseret Theological Institute, the Deseret Horticultural Society', chaplain of the Legislature, and a notary public. He died in Salt Lake City in 1872, at the age of 80. of the leaders 1, Excerpts from an address by Elder D. Richards at General Con ference, April 1969. franklin Someone lias said. There are two freedoms, the false freedom where one is free to do what he likes and the true freedom where one is free to do what he ought to do. Loyalty to true freedom principles or causes embraces love, dedication, faith, allegiance, willingness to sacrifice and many ether qualities that contribute to ichievement and happiness. & Disloyalty o true freedom prin or causes embraces ciples betrayal, unfaithfulness, disaffection, sedition, infidelity and other qualities that contribute to failure, destruction and unhappiness. Loyalty to false freedom principles can only bring delusion, a counterfeit happiness and eventual destruction. False freedom principles include such things as the abuse of one's body by the use of drugs, liquor and tobacco as well as sexual immoralities. False freedom principles likewise include the spread of Com WEEK ENDING JANUARY 3, 1970 munistic doctrine and protest by force. In reality, true freedom can only exist in doing what is right in being loyal yes,' in doing what we ought to do. We should be loyal to ourselves, our family, friends, employers, our God, Church and our Country. Loyalty to one's family and friends is likewise basic and paramount. It indicates love and affection. al |