Do I need the Church?

[Anonymous]

I’m currently studying the Atonement, and scriptures, and have some random thoughts I want to share.

If I start with the importance of the Atonement and God’s plan, I believe for me the purpose of this life is to follow Christ and commit to becoming like Him. The Church is not in this sentence. I have not yet approached my reasons why I need the Church or to listen to leaders. My focus is on my purpose and my journey, and see other journeymen along the way, in and out of the church.

So, where does the Church come into play for me? Well, I believe God has told prophets and apostles some ways to do things to become more like Him, with promises that becoming more like Him will become more in line with universal principles that when I harmonize with those, I am blessed with greater happiness and fulfillment in life, possibly even avoiding pitfalls experienced by others (but there are no guarantees, just suggestions and possibilities as I work it out myself). I should obey the teachings of oracles to help me without losing sight of the purpose why I obey those. Having faith there is a purpose because that is important to motivate me and my actions on a daily basis.

I don’t believe obedience is required because God can’t accept those who don’t do certain things, but because He is inviting us become more like Him and He is trying to teach us how to do that. Therefore, the Church’s organization, support from its members, the covenants and authority, and opportunities to practice, all provide value in my journey. [Notice I don’t have to see the Church as a source of ultimate truth, or feel I must go through the Church to access God, to see the utility in the Church].

I think Elder Hallstrom was trying to teach similar things:

Quote:

Some have come to think of activity in the Church as the ultimate goal. Therein lies a danger. It is possible to be active in the Church and less active in the gospel. Let me stress: activity in the Church is a highly desirable goal; however, it is insufficient. Activity in the Church is an outward indication of our spiritual desire. If we attend our meetings, hold and fulfill Church responsibilities, and serve others, it is publicly observed.

By contrast, the things of the gospel are usually less visible and more difficult to measure, but they are of greater eternal importance. For example, how much faith do we really have? How repentant are we? How meaningful are the ordinances in our lives? How focused are we on our covenants?

I repeat: we need the gospel and the Church. In fact, the purpose of the Church is to help us live the gospel.

(Converted to His Gospel through His Church, By Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, April 2012 GC)

The Church is a standard to hold up on ideas to do things that really can help. But the trick is to marry up the internal feelings with the outward publicly observed actions that unite the Church group.

Therefore, staying LDS can be about accepting my inward spiritual desires will differ from other individuals and their journey, and the outward expressions are not the mark to be focused on, but I need to look to the gospel to point me towards becoming more Christ-like, more loving, more serving, more compassionate, more intelligent, more humble, and more at peace with ourselves. Right now, I get to do that by working in Cub Scouts, and just love the heck out of those little guys who get a kick out of doing the “Seal of Approval” cheer, and earning little beads to wear on their uniforms. If I can make them smile, I am doing something good.

The Church can help me do this in a variety of ways. But at some point, I need to remove the training wheels the Church offers and ride on my own balance of what things in the Church help me become Christ-like (and I should cling firmly to), what things really distract me from becoming Christ-like (and choose to let go of), and what things I don’t understand I will keep searching for answers on…always realizing my expectations and encounters with others, in and out of the Church, are part of my journey, and nothing more.

I don’t ultimately need the Church, but practically I do find I choose to need it because it is helping me live the Gospel and become Christ-like. When I find it no longer helps me, I will no longer need it. Because my focus is on a different purpose. For now, I choose to StayLDS.

[Anonymous]

I need an association of people whom I can serve and who can serve me and mine. I have multiple such groups, but the Church is my seocond in importance and time – behind my family.

My wife needs the Church more than I do in many ways, but she had an epiphany a few weeks ago as a result of a job that requires she miss church about half the time. She told me it finally hit her that she needs to work on her spirituality on her own (which she always has done, btw) and not rely on attending church every week to feel the spirit and be close to God. She misses the association, the talks, the chance to help the Young Women, and most other things about church – but she doesn’t need it to be a good, spiritual person. She does, however, need the Gospel at a very fundamental level.

My children need the Church to varying degrees – and I have one who struggles to keep from getting bored and reacting negatively to all the conservative, Republican chatter she hears living in Provo. (Btw, just as an aside, my family probably will end up splitting our votes and cancelling each other out again next week.)

[Anonymous]

Ray and I approach staying LDS quite differently, I think, yet much of the time we agree. humans need community, a tribe, because we are not evolutionarily equipped to be alone.

I tried an independent faith journey, and in the end, i returned to the church, because I need it — not for its teachings, nor for its ordinances, but for its community.

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! I started to read this thread thinking that I only needed the church as an opportunity to practice biting my tongue – but now I think that I may need the church in many ways that I might not fully understand without being truely away from it. Sometimes, we don’t know if or how deeply we might miss something until it is gone.

[Anonymous]

I mentioned this thread and its title in my testimony today and summarized the part of my comment that dealt with me.

I got nods throughout the congregation as I was speaking, and one woman referenced the title question in her own testimony.

[Anonymous]

We had stake conference today and an early leadership meeting and as was setting there thinking about some of the talks in the leadership meeting and waiting for the broadcast to start to all the stakes in Oregon when a friend sat down with me and we talked. He knows that I’m struggling right now and I think he has some issues too, but just

Making a connection like that and the sence of being part of something that it at least trying to do good remined me that I need to belong to some thing. I’m trying to work on the God and me thing right now and not concentrate too much on the church and me thing but for now with family and callings I have to still be part of the church, which is ok for now because I really can see at the local level at least that there really are some caring, loving people. I have learned over the years that I need and want other people in my life and church people fill that need and right now your guys are filling that need. It’s nice to have people that care.

[Anonymous]

I may not be active in the lds church physically but thanks to this site i am active mentally.

[Anonymous]

BeLikeChrist wrote:

I may not be active in the lds church physically but thanks to this site i am active mentally.

BLC, do you stay mentally because you need it?

church0333 wrote:

for now with family and callings I have to still be part of the church, which is ok for now because I really can see at the local level at least that there really are some caring, loving people.

That is a compelling reason to realistically need to church, IMO.

[Anonymous]

A few years ago I read an article by a non-Mormon theology professor at an university describing the strong Mormon sense of community as something unique and to him amazing. Mormons act to become saviors for one another in a very significant way. He described that Mormons take personal responsibility for one another.

The more I have thought about it, I believe this is a unique character of our Church. Examples are not just our three-hour Sunday services, but also casseroles for the sick, monthly home teaching, youth programs, missionary program, welfare program and disaster assistance to victims of disasters around the world. Personally I can think of help a home teacher who helped at an important time, and a bishop who spent many hours of his time just listening to my gripes about the Church, but enabling me to become active again despite my rather negative feelings about organized religion.

BTW, if anyone knows this article I referred to I would dearly love to document the source. I only remember that I read it on the internet 2-5 years ago but have been unable to find it.

[Anonymous]

I stay active mentally here at this site in spite of being physically inactive because i marvel at the substance of the pearl of great price, the doctrine and covenants, and the book of mormon.

additionally i have had very memorable spiritual experiences before and after my faith crisis. i had also felt the priesthood power from the saving ordinances that i have been a witness of. it is hard to forget the above and to pretend my experiences didn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Well, I certainly need the church, my wife needs the church, and our granddaughter needs the church.

But I don’t attend….and I won’t attend.

Maybe someday the church will come clean on it’s history…but I doubt it. It seems that everyone that explores it honestly ends up leaving out of disgust.

All is not well in Zion. Its very sad.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

It seems that everyone that explores it honestly ends up leaving out of disgust.

I love you, Bruce, but don’t throw that kind of insult around here on this forum. Intentional or not, it’s inaccurate and not appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Bruce in Montana wrote:

Maybe someday the church will come clean on it’s history…but I doubt it. It seems that everyone that explores it honestly ends up leaving out of disgust.

All is not well in Zion. Its very sad.

Let me cite one example, that after learning for years all about church history, and having journeyed through most major faith traditions, that I am LDS to stay and not leaving in disgust.

While there is an objective set of problems with the narrowness of church dogma today, the church is what I make of it. Recognizing that we are all humans trying to make it day-by-day in this world, the church fills a vital need for me as a community of saints: that is, those trying to seek inspiration and living by it. The humanity of the church means that like all scripture, it is a mix of the human and the divine. As we are all free agents with power of discernment, we are capable of taking what we interpret as divine, and leaving the rest behind.

I also believe, that as we share in a bit of further light and knowledge — that the church’s stories are myths meant to teach — we can rise above literalism to share our love for one another without dwelling on the pettiness that comes along with literalism.

This is Paul’s more excellent way: to love one another and to serve one another in that love. I know of no better organization for me than the church that gives every member the opportunity to serve.

We can criticize, for example, home and visiting teaching as an artificial numbers game, or we can seize the spirit of compassionate service to make a difference. We can complain that the church cuts costs for janitorial service, or we can find humility and love in cleaning toilets, anonymously serving those who will be grateful for a clean toilet.

Divinity in the church is not to be found in grand promises of eternal glory and prophetic perfection, but rather, in the mundane moments of nurturing one another.

Yeah, I need the church, now more than ever.

[Anonymous]

My faith crisis didn’t involve delving into church history but as i sought support i saw some who had a faith crisis because of their interpretation of history and it really is unfortunate but my saving grace was seeing the beauty of the doctrine and principles taught in the lds standard works brought forth by the saints in the early days of the church. that to me is what i marvel at !

[Anonymous]

wayfarer wrote:

Bruce in Montana wrote:

Maybe someday the church will come clean on it’s history…but I doubt it. It seems that everyone that explores it honestly ends up leaving out of disgust.

All is not well in Zion. Its very sad.

Let me cite one example, that after learning for years all about church history, and having journeyed through most major faith traditions, that I am LDS to stay and not leaving in disgust.

While there is an objective set of problems with the narrowness of church dogma today, the church is what I make of it. Recognizing that we are all humans trying to make it day-by-day in this world, the church fills a vital need for me as a community of saints: that is, those trying to seek inspiration and living by it. The humanity of the church means that like all scripture, it is a mix of the human and the divine. As we are all free agents with power of discernment, we are capable of taking what we interpret as divine, and leaving the rest behind.

I also believe, that as we share in a bit of further light and knowledge — that the church’s stories are myths meant to teach — we can rise above literalism to share our love for one another without dwelling on the pettiness that comes along with literalism.

This is Paul’s more excellent way: to love one another and to serve one another in that love. I know of no better organization for me than the church that gives every member the opportunity to serve.

We can criticize, for example, home and visiting teaching as an artificial numbers game, or we can seize the spirit of compassionate service to make a difference. We can complain that the church cuts costs for janitorial service, or we can find humility and love in cleaning toilets, anonymously serving those who will be grateful for a clean toilet.

Divinity in the church is not to be found in grand promises of eternal glory and prophetic perfection, but rather, in the mundane moments of nurturing one another.

Yeah, I need the church, now more than ever.

Wayfarer… This is a genuinely beautiful post and I really appreciate your wonderful words. What a perfect way to prepare myself on a Saturday evening to remember to look for the positives when I attend tomorrow.

Again, thank you.

[Author]

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