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Sometimes it’s easy for me to get wrapped up in my angst with The Church(TM) and how I think it ought to act. The truth is, though, that I don’t have much interaction (if any) with the COB. I have a great ward, and was very fortunate to participate in two ward activities this week that were lovely, spiritual, and service oriented. I’m not going to say I felt an overpowering spiritual manifestation (I didn’t), but I did feel good, and enjoy the saints in my ward, and we’ve got really good leadership. Sure makes it easy to stay when you’ve got good local people and support. I know not everyone is as fortunate as I am – I live about as far from the COB as one can get and remain on this little blue marble. For those of us with good local folks, though, the church (meaning the body of Christ’s believers) can be wonderful.
It’s good to recognize that. Thanks for sharing. I think you’re exactly right – our perception of “the church” is most definitely colored by our perception of our own wards and stakes and our interactions with the individuals therein. This is a great point, but it works for both good and evil. Sometimes your local ward is far worse than average! Or your politics are so different, you really hate going there. And I’ve long said that people view their religion through their political filter, not the other way around. Yes, a local Zion-like community (even one with serious issues and oddballs) can make all the difference – and vice-versa. It’s important to recognize the validity of cwald’s experience, but it’s just as important to do the same with kumahito’s. After all, they happen in the same Church, so we ought not define that Church by only one of them – either of them.
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