Congregations Join

In the last letter Myranda wrote to me, she asked about a quote regarding baptizing congregations. About 3 years ago, my great friend and co-worker Larry Stevenson retired. Years earlier, Larry’s son Eric, and I met when he was attending BYU-Idaho and was looking for employment. I was working at the Idaho Falls Church employment center. I assisted him in his employment search. He is a very talented artist, as was his grandfather. 

At Larry’s retirement party, Eric and I visited. We’ve visited numerous times over the years and like his father, Eric is a man who expands my vision. As we talked, he mentioned that he was currently serving as a stake mission leader. He then told me that he believes that there will again be times when individuals will flock to the Church for baptism, similar to when missionaries first went to England. 

His thought struck me—first as odd. Although, within a moment, I felt he was right. I still feel a warm feeling that groups will soon flock to the Church. Even great congregations. I used to believe that this initially happened to get the Church started, but I believe it will happen to prepare the World for Christ’s coming.

Not all of the great people of the world will be baptized before the 2nd coming. Some of them will receive the fullness in the millennium. Some may be like Alexander Doniphan.

“Soon after Missouri governor Lilburn W. Boggs issued his Mormon Extermination Order of 27 October 1838, which declared that “the Mormons must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state” (History of the Church, 3:175), Brigadier General Alexander W. Doniphan received the following order from his superior officer:
‘You will take Joseph Smith and the other prisoners into the public square of Far West, and shoot them at 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.’

“To this command, General Doniphan replied: “It is cold-blooded murder. I will not obey your order. My brigade shall march for Liberty (Missouri) tomorrow morning, at 8 o’clock; and if you execute these men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God” (ibid., 190–91).” (Ensign, January 1995, “Missouri Honors Man Who Refused Order to Kill the Prophet Joseph Smith”).

For this and other great things, Joseph and Emma named their son Alexander. I heard that Joseph Smith (or another prophet) stated that there are some, like Alexander Doniphan, who are kept from being baptized into the Church because of the great work that only a friend of the Church can perform.


To go with this, Ofelia Nelson recently shared some information about her friend who is currently serving in Africa. Here are some of his Facebook posts:








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