GATHERING PREDICTED.
On the 11th of September, 1831, the Lord said through Joseph Smith,
"For behold, I say unto you that Zion shall flourish, and the glory of the Lord shall be upon her, and she shall be an ensign unto the people, AND THERE SHALL COME UNTO HER OUT OF EVERY NATION UNDER HEAVEN."
In 1831, when the above words were uttered, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was composed of people who were converted in the neighborhood where the Prophet and other leading men operated—only a small portion of the United States. Since then the work has spread throughout the world, and there are now gathered with the Saints people from nearly every nation under heaven.
JOSEPH SMITH AS AN EXPOUNDER OF SCRIPTURE.
The manner in which he expounded the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, and in which he harmonized passages that were apparently contradictory, and made every Bible doctrine so plain to the understanding, is strong proof that he was inspired of Heaven. No theologian of recent times has been able to do this as has been done by Joseph Smith, although many learned men have made the attempt.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
The wonderful church organization which was effected through him is in itself an evidence of his divine inspiration.
If a builder should succeed in erecting one of the most magnificent structures the world has ever seen, without any previous training and without any plans to guide him, he would be looked upon as the most remarkable genius that ever was known. The church organization instituted by Joseph Smith is like a complete structure, perfect in every detail, and yet built up piece by piece without any preconceived plan being drawn up or experiment being made, so far as the Prophet was concerned. The only idea he had of the grand system he was putting in order was revealed to him at various times as occasion required. But when the whole order of church government was revealed it was discovered to be perfect, and though the Church has now existed for sixty-eight years there has never arisen any occasion for changing the order laid down in the beginning. Its workings have been harmonious in every detail; and should the Church increase in numbers indefinitely there would be no occasion for making any change in the system revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith.