Editorial Comment Issue 70

Why the Remnant Church?

Volume 18, Number 1, Issue 70, Jan/Feb/Mar 2017

Several months ago, during my journey into Kenya, I was asked this question by an elderly gentleman. The question was posed to me after Seventy Friday Mbaoma and I had spent some time sharing the gospel with a group from the Massai tribe of that area of Kenya.

My response, after a brief moment of thought, was the simple statement, “Because we’re going to build the kingdom.”

In this issue of The Hastening Times, you will find articles which focus on several seemingly different topics of interest to the Remnant Church. However, when taken in their totality, that common thread of building the kingdom of God on earth weaves its way through each one. There are writings which speak of the growth at Bountiful, how Zion’s ability to flourish will come about, how the church is organized, not only by scriptural law, but by a democratic process, and an article which reminds every saint of the need to more fully understand that faith, works, and grace must be an integral part of our lives. Seemingly disparate, these are, however, intricately entwined.

Carefully enclosed in the “Proclamation and Invitation to the Faithful” which was penned on May 18, 1999, and became the first call to gather the saints into what ultimately became the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was this portion of scripture which, as it was described, compelled those men “by a Higher Power to once again ‘earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints’ (Jude 1:3).” That Proclamation continues then to define the rationale for the emergence of the Remnant Church, giving both historical, as well as scriptural, support for the necessity of that decision. Ultimately the Proclamation closes with this statement: “Prophets and seers have looked longingly to these latter days and for a faithful remnant who will covenant to keep all the commandments of God ‘that the Kingdom of Heaven may come’ (D&C 65:1f).”

As Latter Day Saints, many of us have looked forward to the day when that fulfillment will take place. Like those twelve brothers who stood for truth, and in full solidarity when composing that Proclamation, they looked to the past pattern of scriptural and organizational authority to set in place the way by which the kingdom of God can be brought again to this earth.

In a moment of “revealment” given just a few years ago, during a powerful communion service at Blue Springs Branch, the Lord indicated that the “city of Zion, the Church of the Firstborn, as you have read of it and studied of it, I will tell you now that it was not a great city in number – but it is a great city in power.” Perhaps for too long we have anticipated that the Lord would bring great numbers to the church, in fulfillment of the words quoted in Isaiah 2:2-3 and Micah 4:2 where it is referenced that “all nations shall flow unto it” and “he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” Saints, perhaps it is time that we seriously look unto ourselves to see if we are that people whom the Lord is fully depending upon to build up the waste places of Zion, to become the true and pure examples of  “the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble” (D&C 58:3) who will be called unto this great work.

Writing for the First Presidency, we have no doubt that we can accomplish this great work. We are in harmony with that which was shared with those seekers in Kenya, that this church will establish Zion. And we are sure that “Zion Shall Flourish.” May it be so in our day, during our time, and according to his will.

Ralph W. Damon

The First Presidency