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"For behold the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul."
D&C 4:4
I HOPE I'M NOT EXTENDING the metaphor too far, but it seems apparent the field is less white and more colorful as the church moves into the twentyfirst century. Most church members are aware (although some along the Wasatch Front have a hard time visualizing it) that rapid growth rates in Latin America, Africa, and the Philippines are essentially among people of color. However, it is my contention that future growth of the church even in the bastions of Nordic, Teutonic, British, and Celtic Europe-a region which supplied membership and leadership during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries-will increasingly be among people of color not native to the European continent.
"BLOOD OF ISRAEL" AND EUROPE
An interesting philosophical/theological backdrop for current and future church growth and activity in Europe is the revival of a widely held nineteenth and early twentieth century view-one with which many of us who grew up in the church are familiar-that Europeans, especially northern Europeans, are literal descendants of the House of Israel and hence heirs to the Kingdom. It is surprising to discover that this "Blood of Israel" theology, relating to the Lost Ten Tribes, is being taken seriously again as it pertains to the indigenous populations of Europe. It is remarkably similar to theories of John Wilson's "British-Israel Millen- nialism" popular from 1835-1840, and to the 1885 views of Edward Hine on "British Israelism," which claimed that the British were superior to others and were true Israelites while Jews might actually be imposters. While not as extreme, some church leaders continue to promote similar views regarding the role of "true Israel" in the future of the LDS church in Europe. There have been prophetic pronouncements made by church leaders over the past five years suggesting the miraculous growth awaiting the church in Europe. At a seminar for stake and mission presidents of Western Europe held in Paris in November 1995, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland made the following remarks:
The Church in Europe must live again. The work of the Church...