Lessons of 2026
Lesson No. Thirty-Nine

The Most Powerful Force of Good this World has Ever Known

“The Latter Day Saint network is the most powerful force for good this world has ever known” (Peter Zeihan, an American author and geopolitical analyst, speaking at a Zions Bank Forum held June 2026 at Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City). When Peter Zeihan delivered this statement he paused and chose his words carefully. He purposely used the word “network” rather than “Church” because he sees the Church with temporal eyes. Regardless, whether looking through temporal or spiritual eyes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the most powerful source for good the world has ever known.

Seeing with temporal eyes. The Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful force for good this world has ever known. One of the reasons for this is education. Education has long been emphasized in the Lord’s Church, and it is now being emphasized world-wide.

BYU Pathway has been remarkably successful in providing educational opportunities for under privileged students worldwide. An online program called BYU-Pathway Worldwide serves almost 100,000 students in more than 150 countries.

This program allows its students the opportunity for advanced education. Students begin with PathwayConnect with programs focused on life skills, math, writing, and religion. Then they are eligible to apply to either Ensign College or BYU-Idaho to begin class work that will lead them to a bachelor’s degree.

The cost of the program is customized by location, but the average cost globally per credit is US$12.78, which means Pathway students can complete a bachelor’s degree for approximately US$1,500. There are also programs to help graduates find work.

The Church sponsors universities in Utah, Idaho, and Hawaii. It sponsors institutes of religion on many college campuses. It sponsors seminary classes in colleges and high schools in many nations. The Church provides amazing educational opportunities, often through senior missionaries, in many under developed nations world-wide.

Seeing with spiritual eyes. Save Jesus only, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the most powerful source for good this world has ever known. The overarching reason for this is that it really is the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, and it is the instrument the Lord uses to accomplish many of His purposes. The great good the Church does temporally it is minuscule compared to the spiritual blessings the Church brings to individuals around the world. The following are a few reasons the Restored Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful source for good this world has ever know is true:

It administers all the saving ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, one ordinance at a time, to one individual at a time. Saving ordinances include baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and temple ordinances.

Baptism and the Holy Ghost. These ordinances are usually administered in chapels around the world. However, if necessary, baptism followed by receiving the Holy Ghost can be administered in swimming pools, or any body of water that permits immersion. These ordinances are presided over by a bishop, branch president, or missionaries.

Temples. There is nothing else on earth that even comes close to the importance of the work that goes on in temples for both those who are now living or who previously lived on the earth. Temple ordinances must be performed in an operating temple. Currently, the Church has 216 operating temples. Adding temples under construction, or in planning stages, or announced brings the number to 385. These numbers will keep accelerating.

The sealing power creates eternal families preserves the earth – Referring to Malachi 4:5-6 Joseph Smith explained: “I might have rendered a plainer translation to this, (the plainer translation is found in D&C 2) but it is sufficiently plain to suit my purpose as it stands. It is sufficient to know, in this case, that the earth will be smitten with a curse unless there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children…” (D&C 128:18). This welding link is the sealing power which binds both on earth and in heaven for both the living and the dead.

A temple, operating, under construction of announced, is evidence that there are many temple worthy members in that area. Significantly, the righteousness of these temple worthy saints will be a powerful influence to preserve freedom and protect those people from the calamities that are taking place in the latter days.

This is happening in Ukraine. When Russia first invaded Ukraine almost 5 years ago most people expected the war would be over and Ukraine would collapse within a few weeks. Remarkably, Russian forces got within 1.5 miles of Kiev Ukraine Temple and they stopped, and the Kiev Temple continues to operate on a regular schedule.

This is happening in Mongolia. In my calling as a temple sealer I occasionally meet students from various countries who are attending a Church school. Brother and Sister Unubold are students at BYU who recently attended one of my sealing sessions. Both of them were baptized at age 8 and grew up in Mongolia. Their families were among the first members there. Sister Unubold served a mission in the Boise Idaho, and Brother Unubold served in New Zealand speaking Chinese. They married and are attending BYU with plans to return to Mongolia after graduation. A temple has been announced for Ulaanbaatar Mongolia. The prime minister of Mongolia asked for a temple to be built in Mongolia. This is the greatest thing he could do to bless and prosper Mongolia.

Missionaries prepare people world-wide for the ordinances of baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and temple worship. The Restored Church of Jesus Christ is uniquely fulfilling, both in numbers and in places, the Lord’s command to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Like temple worship, nothing happening in all the world comes close to the missionary work The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is doing.

In the Restored Church of Jesus Christ every member is expected to be a missionary. President Dallin H. Oaks has said, “We need every member of the Church to help take the gospel to all the world.”

In September 2026 the Church announced an all-time high of then more than 90,000 full time missionaries serving in 505 missions around the world, 55 of which were new in 2026. Convert baptisms are increasing rapidly in all parts of the world.

Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fulfills Alma’s words: “Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise. And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:6-7).

Testimony. What Sharon Eubank, Director of Church Humanitarian Services, taught about temples is true: “I am occasionally asked, ‘Why doesn't the Church spend more money on humanitarian work? Why doesn't it stop building expensive temples and focus its resources on relieving the poor?’ This is a legitimate question for the Church of Jesus Christ. But is it money that solves society's ills? The world has poured two trillion dollars into addressing chronic issues in Africa. Why isn’t the situation better? Because money isn't really the issue. Lasting progress comes through trusted relationships, infrastructure, reducing corruption, and the ability of people to work together. Money doesn’t necessarily create those things. They must be developed alongside the resources and, frankly, it is much harder work.

“I will never discount the one thing this Church does that lifts entire communities in rapid development. It invites men and women of all social classes and backgrounds to enter sacred buildings and make the most binding and important promises of their mortal lives. In those buildings, they promise not to steal or lie, they promise to be faithful to their spouse and children. They vow they will seek the interest of their neighbors and be peacemakers and become devoted to the idea that we are all one family—all valued and alike unto God. If those promises made in holy temples are kept, it transforms society faster than any aid or development project ever could. The greatest charitable development on the planet is for people to bind themselves to their God and mean it. So, thank goodness the Church builds 335 temples and counting. It is the greatest poverty alleviation system in the world.

“The most important thing you can do as a humanitarian is to keep your covenants with God. The second most important thing you can do is connect in goodness with others around you” (BYU Idaho Devotional February 15, 2004).

Released on October 24th. 2026.