The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faced unparalleled challenges and opportunities during the 19th-century Utah period. Amidst political tension, geographical isolation, and spiritual fervor, Church leaders emphasized a divinely inspired, over-arching mission. That mission revolved around four interconnected actions: Preach, Gather, Build, and Prepare. These guiding principles not only defined the LDS Church’s mission but also shaped the community and identity of the Saints during this era.
Preach: Proclaim the Gospel to the World
The first element in fulfilling the Church’s mission was to spread the message of Christ to the world. Early LDS leaders stressed the urgency of sharing the restored truths revealed through Joseph Smith. Brigham Young, in 1857, taught:
“There is no time allotted to us to use outside of the limits of duty…. In using every possible means to send forth the Gospel of salvation to the inhabitants of the earth.”
Missionaries were sent to far-reaching corners of the world, from Europe to the Pacific Islands, testifying of Christ’s restored Church. This effort was not merely about inviting converts. It was also about fulfilling the Savior’s command to preach the Gospel to all nations. John Taylor echoed this sentiment in 1878. He stated that the Saints’ mission included, “to preach the Gospel and introduce correct principles, to unfold the laws of God as men are prepared to receive them….“.
Wilford Woodruff, in 1880, highlighted the persistence of this calling: “We are called of God; we have been chosen; we have been ordained as men who have been called to bear the priesthood and… to preach the Gospel, to warn this generation….”
Through preaching, the Saints sowed the seeds of faith, inspiring countless individuals to embrace the restored Gospel and join in a grand collective mission.
Gather: Uniting Israel and the Honest in Heart
While the Gospel was being preached, the next element was to gather God’s covenant people to a place of safety and unity. The early Saints believed in physically gathering the righteous to a designated place. They gathered to where they could live in harmony and worship freely. Brigham Young declared in 1863:
“The purpose of our life should be to build up the Zion of our God, to gather the house of Israel….”
Utah became a hub for this gathering, a physical manifestation of spiritual unity. Converts from across the globe, particularly Europe, sold their possessions and endured perilous journeys to settle in the valleys of the Rocky Mountains. Here, they found refuge from persecution and an opportunity to live according to God’s laws.
As Wilford Woodruff described in 1883, “It is a day in which the Gospel is to be preached to every nation, tongue, and people for a witness of what shall follow; a day in which the Israel of God who receive it in their dispersed and scattered condition are to gather together to the place appointed of God, the place where they will perform the ‘marvelous work and wonder’ spoken of by the ancients who in vision saw our day.”
Adding to this, Orson Pratt taught in 1872: “Zion will be built up by the gathering of the Saints from all the nations and kingdoms of the earth.”
The gathering symbolized more than physical relocation—it represented the fulfillment of prophecy and the uniting of God’s covenant people.
Build: Establish Zion and God’s Kingdom
While converts were being gathered, the Saints in Utah were tasked with building Zion in both physical and spiritual aspects. The early Utah pioneers turned an arid desert into thriving communities. They constructed temples, cities, and infrastructure that supported their collective faith. Brigham Young taught in 1860:
“We are to build up and establish Zion, gather the house of Israel, and redeem the nations of the earth.”
Zion was more than a geographic location; it was a spiritual ideal. Wilford Woodruff emphasized this dual purpose in 1867, stating the Saints’ mission. He taught, “We have to build up Zion—a temporal work here upon the face of the earth—and we have got to establish righteousness and truth. When I say a temporal work, I speak of temporal things. The Zion of our God cannot be built up in the hearts of men alone. We have to build up temples and cities, and the earth has to become sanctified and to be made holy by the children of God who will dwell upon it, and to do this, we must be united together.”
Heber C. Kimball, in 1854, connected building Zion with personal spiritual growth. He taught, “Let us go to work and build up Zion as well as build up ourselves; for when we build up Zion, we build up ourselves.”
Building Zion meant creating a society where righteousness prevailed and God’s laws governed. This labor was not only physical but deeply spiritual. The Saints strove to purify their hearts and establish a community of holiness.
Prepare: Readying the World for the Second Coming
All these efforts—preaching, gathering, and building—were ultimately directed toward preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This belief infused every aspect of the Saints’ lives with urgency and purpose. As John Taylor taught in 1878:
“We have a mission to… prepare a people for the time when the bursting heavens will reveal the Son of God….”
The construction of temples, for example, was seen as vital preparation for Christ’s return, providing sacred spaces for covenants, ordinances, and spiritual renewal. Wilford Woodruff echoed this theme in 1876, emphasizing the Saints’ role. He taught, “Somebody or other has got to build up Zion…. But before Christ comes a people have got to be prepared by being sanctified before the Lord. Temples have got to be built; Zion has got to be built up; there must be a place of safety for the people of God while his judgments are abroad in the earth.”
This preparation extended beyond the individual, as the Saints worked to establish a society worthy of welcoming Christ in glory.
Conclusion
To sum up, the interconnected actions of Preach, Gather, Build, and Prepare defined the over-arching mission of the Church during the 19th-century Utah period until the late 1880s. Leaders and members alike viewed these efforts as part of a unified divine mandate. Though no one leader mentioned all four aspects of the Church’s 4-fold mission in one statement, many quotes included three of the four:
Wilford Woodruff, 1883
“The work that is to be so marvelous in the eyes of men has already commenced and is assuming shape and proportions; but they cannot see it. It will consist in preaching the Gospel to all the world, gathering the Saints from the midst of all those nations who reject it; building up the Zion of God; establishing permanently in the earth His kingdom….”
John Taylor, 1878
“We have a mission to perform, and that is to preach the Gospel and introduce correct principles, to unfold the laws of God as men are prepared to receive them, to build up his Zion upon the earth, and to prepare a people for the time when the bursting heavens will reveal the Son of God.”
Charles W. Penrose, 1883
“The Saints of God will be gathered and there is no power can stop their gathering. They will come to Zion and build temples to the Most High God. They will unite together and build up the Zion of God and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus whose right it is to reign….”
Through preaching the Gospel, gathering Israel, building Zion, and preparing for the Second Coming, the Saints in 1800s Utah lived with purpose and dedication. Their work was not merely for their time but for the eternal fulfillment of God’s plan. It is a legacy that continues to inspire faith and commitment today.