The Lord Commands the Latter-day Saints to Be a Light and Standard for the Nations
Doctrine and Covenants 115:4–6
4 For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
5 Verily I say unto you all: Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations;
6 And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth.
President Harold B. Lee said:
“This people must increase in beauty before the world; have an inward loveliness which may be observed by mankind as a reflection in holiness and in those inherent qualities of sanctity. The borders of Zion, where the righteous and pure in heart may dwell, must now begin to be enlarged. The stakes of Zion must be strengthened. All this so that Zion may arise and shine by becoming increasingly diligent in carrying out the plan of salvation throughout the world.
“While the Church was in its infancy, the Lord pointed to a time when those earlier gathering places would not have room for all who would be gathered for reasons for which he declared that His church should be united. Here are His words:
“‘For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.’ And then this command: ‘Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations’ (D&C 115:4–5).
“Here is clearly inferred that the coming forth of His church in these days was the beginning of the fulfillment of the ancient prophecy when ‘the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths . . .’ (Isaiah 2:2–3).
“In these revelations the Lord speaks of organized units of the Church which are designated as stakes . . . These units so organized are gathered together . . . for a defense against the enemies of the Lord’s work, both the seen and the unseen.”
(“Strengthen the Stakes of Zion,” Ensign, July 1973, 3–4.)
