Joseph Smith, the founding prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called Mormon Church), championed the idea of a far-reaching, worldwide church.

One of his early associates, Wilford Woodruff (who later became the fourth president of the Church), recalled a meeting held in the 1830s. In it, Joseph Smith spoke of the worldwide destiny of the Church:

“The Prophet called on all who held the Priesthood to gather into the little log school house they had there. It was a small house, perhaps 14 feet square. But it held the whole of the Priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who were then in the town of Kirtland. … When we got together the Prophet called upon the Elders of Israel with him to bear testimony of this work. … When they got through the Prophet said, ‘Brethren, I have been very much edified and instructed in your testimonies here tonight, but I want to say to you before the Lord, that you know no more concerning the destinies of this Church and kingdom than a babe upon its mother’s lap. You don’t comprehend it.’ I was rather surprised. He said, ‘It is only a little handful of Priesthood you see here tonight, but this Church will fill North and South America—it will fill the world.’”
(”Chapter 11: The Organization and Destiny of the True and Living Church,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 135–47.)

In another setting, Joseph Smith affirmed:

“I intend to lay a foundation that will revolutionize the whole world.” (“Chapter 44: The Restoration of All Things: The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, [2007], 507–16.)

Joseph Smith had a global vision. The Church began in the United States, then Joseph Smith sent missionaries to Canada, and later went himself in 1833. In 1837 he sent missionaries to Great Britain. From there, it branched out to the rest of Europe, and then the world.

However, some people see the Church and Joseph Smith as a local or national phenomenon. Scholar Harold Bloom wrote, “Mormonism is a purely American Gnosis” (The American Religion, 123). To an extent, that is true. I cannot imagine Joseph Smith and the Church of Jesus Christ arising in any other country besides America. Despite the persecutions and the Extermination Order, no other country is as religiously free as the United States.

On the other hand, if Joseph Smith was merely a permutation of Jacksonianism, then why does the Church have 27,475 congregations with 13 million members worldwide?

Howard W. Hunter, the fourteenth president of the Church, explained:

“Mormonism, so-called, is a world religion, not simply because its members are now found throughout the world, but chiefly because it has a comprehensive and inclusive message based upon the acceptance of all truth, restored to meet the needs of all mankind.” (Howard W. Hunter, “The Gospel—A Global Faith,” Ensign, Nov 1991, 18.)

I am a part of this global phenomenon. I am from California, and I served my mission in Portugal. While there, I had a companion who was Portuguese, I worked with a local church leader from Mozambique, and had a Brazilian mission president. We were a mini-United Nations.