When President Spencer W. Kimball gave his 1974 address inviting members to lengthen their stride and enlarge their vision to further missionary work, members of the Church began to more clearly see their responsibility to share the gospel, and pray for the furthering of missionary work, said Elder Brent H. Nielson of the Seventy in his Sunday afternoon conference address.

"We as members of the Church began to pray regularly … that the hearts of the leaders of nations would be softened and the doors opened to our missionaries," he said. "We witnessed President Kimball's vision begin to unfold."

President Kimball's challenge to the members of the Church echoed that of Jesus Christ. Elder Nielson said, "As the Savior's earthly ministry drew to a close, He appeared as a resurrected being to His Apostles. His charge to them is the same call He extends to you of the rising generation today: 'Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost' " (Matthew 28:19).

The missionaries preaching the gospel in once-closed lands did not realize they were the answers to the prayers of past generations, Elder Nielson said. Since President Kimball's instruction 35 years ago, the Church has grown to include 13.5 million members, 52,000 missionaries and more than 2,800 stakes, Elder Nielson noted.

"Who are the laborers in the vineyard who have assisted in bringing to pass this marvelous work and a wonder? They are certainly the prophets and apostles seated before us today," he said. "They are also the wonderful stake presidents and bishops who have served so faithfully; but they are also you parents; the mothers and fathers, aunts and uncles and brothers and sisters who sit beside you, of the rising generation today.

"Most critical, however, is the fact that as we strive to take the gospel to all nations, we have just begun to scratch the surface."

Watch video of this talk and other conference talks at ksl.com