As we approach the 30th anniversary of the revelation received by President Spencer W. Kimball extending the priesthood blessings to all on June 1, 1978, my thoughts are centered on the marvelous manifestation of God’s love on that significant day.When the revelation was announced a week later on June 8, 1978, almost everyone can remember exactly where they were when the heard the marvelous news.
I have no recollection at all of specifically where I was or what I was doing. I was a fifteen-year-old high school student who had just finished his sophomore year, and I was not a member of the Church.
Later in the fall of 1978 we began to study with the missionaries after having the Church introduced to us by my Aunt Anita, who had joined the Church in the early part of 1978. On December 31, 1978, my father, mother, younger sister, and two younger brothers were baptized. And I was baptized on February 25, 1979.
Even though I cannot remember the day announcing the revelation specifically, every time I read the revelation in the scriptures, listen to someone speak about it, or watch a video in relation to it, the Spirit of God bears strong testimony to me of its importance, power, and veracity in a way that leaves an indelible impression on my soul.
Whenever there is a significant event of this magnitude, whether it is a historical event or something we read about in the scriptures, I try to take a step back and ask myself a question. What is it that God wants to have happen with this event, happening, or revelation?
When I think about the revelation in 1978 I have applied this same question. What did God want to have happen with this revelation? The answer that I received was that He wanted us to come together as one. To me the significance of this revelation was that He was saying that the time had come for all His children to be one. It was time for us to put all our differences behind us and to be one, as He, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost are one. The full blessings of the gospel were made available to all His children.
Some have likened the revelation to the Day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God was poured out on the Apostles and a great missionary effort began among the Jews. Others relate it to the vision that Peter had of the sheet knit at the four corners containing the unclean beasts and fowls and was told to eat and that the Lord had made clean what in the past was considered common or unclean, signifying that the gospel should be preached to the gentiles, Cornelius and his household being the first to receive that blessing.
As I ponder on this marvelous revelation, my mind is drawn to the second chapter of Ephesians, where the Apostle Paul is relating to the Saints at Ephesus that it was through the power, grace, majesty, and love of God and Our Savior Jesus Christ that they were brought nigh unto God by their faith, where in the past they had been strangers. Ephesians 2:4–13 reads:
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,Paul continues to relate to them that it is the same Jesus Christ that also brought down the wall of partition that had existed between the Jews and the Gentiles that allowed them to be one, He having abolished the enmity that had existed thus making peace and reconciling both unto God. He goes on to tell the Saints in Ephesus that they were no longer strangers or foreigners, but that they were fellow citizens and of the household of God. Ephesians 2:14–22 reads:
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;So the essence of the 1978 revelation was that the blessings of the fullness of the gospel were extended to all of God’s children, giving us power to become one with the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost and receive all the ordinances of eternity.
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
I know that President Thomas S. Monson will continue to lead us in this marvelous time of coming together. He has been able to develop so many relationships all over the world during his time as a leader in the Church with people of all faiths and backgrounds, and I feel we will see a coming together as never before as we have already witnessed by some of the callings and decisions that have been made.
I have a feeling deep in my heart that we will see some incredible manifestations in the near future.
Other questions that I ask myself are these: What are the fruits of this revelation? What evidences do we have that this was a divine revelation?
First of all, when you just look at the numbers, the fruits of this revelation are incredible. In 1978 there were approximately 3 million members of the Church. Today there are approximately 13 million members of the Church. That means that more than 75 percent of the current membership of the Church came into the Church in the short span of 30 years. Another way to look at it is this: It took us 148 years to reach 3 million members, and only an additional 30 years to add 10 million more. The revelation has opened an effectual door that has blessed the lives of many people and will continue to bless the lives of even more as the work continues forward.
The answer to the second question can be found only in the hearts and the minds of individual members of the Church. And the resulting impact that it has had on their lives is the true measure of its divine origin.
I cannot even begin to enumerate or qualify the impact that it has had on my life. I think about the day I received the ordinances of baptism and confirmation for the gift of the Holy Ghost. I think about when my father conferred upon me first the Aaronic Priesthood and later the Melchizedek Priesthood. I think about being sealed to my mother, father, and my brothers and sister in the Provo Temple. I think about being able to do the temple work vicariously for my grandfather, James Edward Wright. I think about being able to serve a mission for the Lord in Uruguay. I think about being able to administer the emblems of the sacrament. I think about being sealed to my wife in the Washington, D.C. Temple. I think about being able to give my children a name and a blessing. I think about being able to baptize and confirm my children as members of the Church. I think about when my children have come to me in faith to ask for a priesthood blessing when they are sick or need counsel or guidance. I think about being able to lay my hands on my wife and bless her by the power of the holy priesthood of God. I think about the joy I have received because of the service I have been able to give others as I have served in priesthood callings. And I think about innumerable experiences that I have been privileged to have as I have ministered to God’s children by the Holy Order after the Son of the Most High God.
Truly this revelation has opened an effectual door to bless the lives of millions of God’s children, and it will continue to bless all of our lives as we come together as one.
It is indeed a marvelous manifestation of God’s love for all His children!
May God bless you in His work! In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
—Michael Rice