Why did Christ convert so few people in his three-year ministry? Did the Holy Ghost not yet testify of His work?

Dr. Richard Lloyd Anderson, Professor of history and ancient scripture, Brigham Young University

The number of Christ’s converts seems few, judged by the conference that chose a new apostle in Acts 1. There the disciples are numbered: “… the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty.” (Acts 1:15.) As one reads of thousands of converts in following chapters, it seems that Christ’s personal work was not very fruitful. Yet this is a false impression, for the sustaining of Matthias took place in Jerusalem, where Christ had spent less time than in other parts of Palestine. That meeting probably represents only the faithful at Jerusalem, plus the apostles and Christ’s immediate family.

Another statistic expands our conception of Christ’s work. Paul detailed one of the resurrection appearances: “He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” (1 Cor. 15:6.) The first resurrection messages commanded “my brethren” to “go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.” (Matt. 28:10.)

The follow-up was a resurrection appearance at “a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.” (Matt. 28:16.) Because 500 individuals would probably be in some type of meeting, possibly this is the occasion when they saw the Lord. In any event, it is quite clear that the appearance to 500 would be in Galilee, the major scene of Jesus’ preaching. Since “500 brethren” were clearly missionaries holding priesthood assignments to testify of Christ, there would be at least three or four times that number of additional members in northern Palestine (women, children, and nonmissionary males).

At the outset of the ministry John the Baptist is portrayed as a powerful success in baptizing, but it was reported that “Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John.” (John 4:1.) The above statistical hints from Judea and Galilee would suggest perhaps 3,000 Christians after Christ’s three-year ministry. That is probably the number gained by the Latter-day Saints during the three years of 1829–1832; some 4,000 members at the end of three years of formal organization (1830–1833) would still be a comparable figure in the growth of Christ’s church during his lifetime.

But in both eras a fraction of those who heard the message really paid the price to become full members of Christ’s church. Could one sacrifice without knowing the truth by the Holy Ghost? Even before formal Church organization and first confirmations, the power of the Holy Ghost was with the latter-day church. At the baptism of Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, they came out of the water prophesying and rejoicing because “we were filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, vol. 1, p. 42.) In other words, the power of the Holy Ghost was upon the restored Church prior to the gift of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith explained the baptism of Cornelius on this same principle, which also operated during the ministry of Christ. (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp. by Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret News Press, 1940, p. 199.) Although the formal bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost was made by Jesus as “he breathed upon” the apostles after the resurrection (John 20:22), he stressed during his lifetime that hearers could know his words only because “it is the Spirit that quickeneth.” (John 6:63.)

This does not contradict John’s remark that “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:39.) As President Joseph Fielding Smith stressed, the apostles during Christ’s life “had special manifestations of the power of the Holy Ghost, but did not enjoy the gift itself” until after the resurrection. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, vol. 1, p. 46.) The same is obviously true of all potential converts of Christ. Reasons other than the lack of spiritual witness caused the numbers to be few compared to the total population. These reasons were outlined by the Savior himself in the parable of the sower: some allow Satan to harden their hearts, some are afraid of various forms of persecution, and some are more concerned with money and worldly cares than they are with living the gospel. The question of why Christ did not convert more should be asked in the present tense, for it is also about us: “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” (Luke 13:24.)