The first divine commandment to men, created in God's image, was: "Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it." (19:4-5) The commandment to replenish the earth has not been canceled; it will be in force until the entire earth is filled with the children of God.
The entire population of the earth is estimated at about 2,500,000,000 (two and one-half billion) souls, of which one-half or 1,250,000,000 live in Asia 450,000,000 in Europe, 198,000,000 in Africa, 350,000,000 in North and South America, and about 9,000,000 in Australia. The increase is rapid in modern times. In 1814 the population of the earth was estimated at about 700,000,000. Since then there has been an increase of a billion, or more, owing to a better understanding of the laws of hygiene. If the increase continues at the present rate, the mission of the human race in mortality will before long, of necessity, be one of intelligent cooperation, for the preservation of life, instead of one of destructive competition, for the simple reason that the earth will be too small for billions to be at war with each other.
God commands the sons of Lehi to go to Jerusalem and bring Ishmael and his family down to the Valley. He must have been a friend of the family. Both he and Lehi were the descendants of Joseph, Ishmael through Ephraim and Lehi through Manasseh. His family consisted of his wife, two sons with their families, and five daughters. (v. 6)
“Raise Up Seed Unto the Lord”
The first divine commandment to men, created in God's image, was: "Be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it." (19:4-5) The commandment to replenish the earth has not been canceled; it will be in force until the entire earth is filled with the children of God.
The entire population of the earth is estimated at about 2,500,000,000 (two and one-half billion) souls, of which one-half or 1,250,000,000 live in Asia 450,000,000 in Europe, 198,000,000 in Africa, 350,000,000 in North and South America, and about 9,000,000 in Australia. The increase is rapid in modern times. In 1814 the population of the earth was estimated at about 700,000,000. Since then there has been an increase of a billion, or more, owing to a better understanding of the laws of hygiene. If the increase continues at the present rate, the mission of the human race in mortality will before long, of necessity, be one of intelligent cooperation, for the preservation of life, instead of one of destructive competition, for the simple reason that the earth will be too small for billions to be at war with each other.
God commands the sons of Lehi to go to Jerusalem and bring Ishmael and his family down to the Valley. He must have been a friend of the family. Both he and Lehi were the descendants of Joseph, Ishmael through Ephraim and Lehi through Manasseh. His family consisted of his wife, two sons with their families, and five daughters. (v. 6)