“Little Flock”

During His mortal ministry, Jesus assured His disciples that they didn’t need to assemble a large group in order to receive His power:

If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:19-20

It’s not about numbers, in other words. It’s about a unified focus on the Savior.

In an 1829 revelation to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, He reiterated that principle, adding words of comfort and assurance:

I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you. …

Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.

Doctrine and Covenants 6:32, 34

How big was this “little flock?” Only two: Joseph and Oliver. The church wouldn’t be organized for another year. At this point, the Lord was speaking to two men, promising to be with them as they did His work together.

While Lehi’s family traveled in the wilderness, far from their former home in the city of Jerusalem, Nephi saw in a vision that in our day, small groups of people would receive God’s power:

I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.

1 Nephi 14:14

Collectively, globally, their numbers would be relatively few compared with their adversaries. (See 1 Nephi 14:12-13.) Individually, they might feel even more alone, as they were “scattered upon all the face of the earth.” But their small numbers would not stop them from accomplishing God’s purposes, because His power would descend upon them.

I’ve been thinking today about the “little flocks” that I’m part of. These include my marriage and several small teams of church members I serve with in various assignments. The challenges we face might be large, but it’s comforting to know that we are not alone. If we are unified in our focus on the Savior, we have His promise that He will be in our midst. Earth and hell cannot prevail against us when we are armed with His power.

Today, I will remember that Jesus accomplishes big things with little flocks. I will move forward with faith, recognizing that God’s work is not a numbers game. With His power and guidance, small groups of people can do great things.