Lessons of 2025
Lesson No. Thirty-Two

The Importance of Missions to England

I begin with a parable about a company called NEWCO:

NEWCO’s founder and CEO, as a teenager, had ideas and experiences that made many people in his small community uncomfortable. As years passed he introduced a revolutionary product and formed NEWCO. Investors were needed.

NEWCO began with a few investors, but soon more people invested. The market was very competitive, and the established companies did not want NEWCO to succeed. They encouraged a boycott of NEWCO’s product. NEWCO moved its headquarters.

An expensive headquarters building was built. More people invested. A management team and a sales force were created. NEWCO was underfunded and its investors poor, and contrary to rational business practice the CEO built an expensive headquarters building. This united the investors. It later became clear why this laid the foundation for NEWCO’s future.

Soon NEWCO’s investors were tested by a serious economic depression. Many failed the test. They wanted to remove the CEO and sell their shares. NEWCO was on the verge of bankruptcy.

Again, contrary to rational business practice, NEWCO went international. The CEO sent his best and most loyal investors to open a market in England. Thousands of people invested. Soon there were more investors in England than in the United States.

Many English investors wanted to move to the United States to be near NEWCO’s headquarters. Tens of thousands investors immigrated.

These English investors were very committed to NEWCO. They passed their desire to invest on to their posterity, most of whom continue to invest.

NEWCO was saved, and it began to prosper. Today NEWCO sells it product and has millions of investors world-wide. Informed analysts believe NEWCO and its product will continue to grow, and will become the largest most profitable company in the world.

The interpretation of the parable. NEWCO is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, led by a living prophet of God. It is the stone that will fill the earth, “and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44). Its product is the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first Apostolic mission to England. In June 1837, when serious apostasy was beginning in Kirtland, Joseph Smith approached Heber C. Kimball in Kirtland Temple saying: “Brother Heber, the Spirit of the Lord has whispered to me: “Let my servant Heber go to England and proclaim my Gospel, and open the door of salvation to that nation.” Eight missionaries, led by Heber, arrived in Preston England, July 1837. Satan knew what this would start, and he did all that he could to stop it.

In the morning of Sunday, July 30,1837 the day the first baptisms were performed in England, the brethren were attacked by legions of devils. Heber wrote:

“While thus engaged, I was struck with great force by some invisible power, and fell senseless on the floor. The first thing I recollected was being supported by Elders Hyde and Richards who were praying for me. Elders Hyde and Richards then assisted me to get on the bed, but my agony was so great I could not endure it, and I arose, bowed my knees and prayed.

“I then arose and sat up on the bed, when a vision was opened to our minds, and we could distinctly see the evil spirits, who foamed and gnashed their teeth at us. We gazed upon them about an hour and a half (by Willard’s watch). We were not looking towards the window, but towards the wall. Space appeared before us, and we saw the devils coming in legions, with their leaders, who came within a few feet of us. They came towards us like armies rushing to battle. They appeared to be men of full stature, possessing every form and feature of men in the flesh, who were angry and desperate; and I shall never forget the vindictive malignity depicted on their countenances as they looked me in the eye; and any attempt to paint the scene which then presented itself or portray their malice and enmity, would be vain.

“I perspired exceedingly, my clothes becoming as wet as if I had been taken out of the river. I felt excessive pain, and was in the greatest distress for some time. I cannot even look back on the scene without feelings of horror; yet by it I learned the power of the adversary, his enmity against the servants of God, and got some understanding of the invisible world. We distinctly heard these spirits talk and express their wrath and hellish designs against us. However, the Lord delivered us from them, and blessed us exceedingly that day.” The Apostles baptized 1,500 people during the next year.

The second Apostolic mission to England. In response to D&C 118 nine Apostles, Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Orson Hyde, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Pratt, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, George A. Smith, and Willard Richards constituted the second Apostolic mission to England from 1840-41. The Apostles baptized about 6,500 converts during this mission.

“The story of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the British Isles between 1837 and 1841 is a most momentous story in the latter day history of missionary work: Poignant, powerful, and inspiring. Especially with reference to the 1840-41 mission, no other single assignment has had such a profound and far-reaching effect upon the Church.”

“The apostles created a missionary system that made an extraordinary contribution to continuing Church growth.

“The Twelve organized an emigration program that, within fifty years, resulted in the migration of more than 88,000 European Saints, including 55,000 Britons, to the U.S.

“They established a publication program that had a significant effect on the Church.” An edition of the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants was published along with the publication of the Millennial Star and a hymn book.

“The missions to England proved to be a testing ground, uniting the Twelve as they had never been before. This prepared them to carry out even greater responsibilities after the death of Joseph Smith three years later” (Men With a Mission, 1837-1841).

These divinely directed Apostolic missions to England saved the Restored Church of Jesus Christ. They were an essential part of making the Church what it is today and what it will yet become.

I served in the British Mission in London from 1963 – 1965. Sixty years ago there were wards and branches throughout England. The London Temple was operating. Our mission was centered in London at the Hyde Park Chapel. The missionaries were almost exclusively white males from the United States. The population of England, including London, was predominately white. Conversions were moderate, partly because of necessary adjustments to stop the practice of baptizing unprepared youth.

The British Mission in London in 2025. Today there are 188 young missionaries, many of which are young women; 22 senior missionaries. They are from 59 countries and speak 26 languages. Baptisms are the highest in Europe. One/half of these baptism are international, and most will take the gospel of Jesus Christ to their home countries. The stone Daniel saw that will fill the earth is growing in London.

Testimony. As the Apostolic missions set the stage for the Church to fulfill it divine destiny, my mission to England planted the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my heart. There I gained a testimony of The Book of Mormon and all else about the Restored Church of Jesus Christ.

On my mission I first experienced the power of the priesthood. That increased my faith and gave me a great desire to marry, have a family, and together stay on the covenant path. My grandson and I recently visited England and followed the footsteps of those early Apostles. It was a pilgrimage that stirred up wonderful memories and insights which continues to bring me great joy and rejoicing.

Released on August 24th. 2025.