Without loving leaders and members at church, there would be few places for us to be buoyed up and “nourished by the good word of God”.
Sister Reyna I. Aburto was nine years old when a devastating earthquake rocked her home country of Nicaragua. Her brother died in the earthquake, leaving her with questions about what comes after death and whether she would see her beloved brother again.
Seventeen years later, Sister Aburto walked into a building of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and described it as a “refuge from the storm” of spiritual uncertainty. The joy and faith of the members strengthened her testimony and encouraged her to be baptized three weeks later.
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In a general conference address titled “We Are The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” she shares, “Sometimes we are givers and sometimes we are receivers, but we are all one family in Christ. His Church is the structure He has given to guide and bless us as we worship Him and serve each other.”
We know how important community is—there is nothing quite like the feeling of being understood and loved for who we are. It is up to each of us to create a Christlike community at church by keeping the two great commandments: loving God and loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Keeping those commandments can be hard because we are all so unique, but Christ taught us that we are each a vital part of the body of Christ—His church. He teaches, “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
If a person was made up of only hands or elbows, that would be a pretty useless (and weird-looking) body. Likewise, every Church member represents a different—and essential—role in Church structure. When we go to church, our love of God and of “all mankind” grows and helps us recognize each person as they are—a vital member of the body of Christ.
Source: LDS General Conference
—Abby Haralson, Latter-day Saint Insights
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Find more insights
Learn more about making church a place of belonging with “The Secret Behind Cultivating Inclusivity at Church: Charity”
Listen to President Dallin H. Oaks explain why church is so important with his talk “The Need for a Church”.
Discover more about the importance of Church structure with “Why Do We Need So Many Church Meetings?”
I love this idea of every member of the Church being a vital part! I also think that our different callings act as huge parts of the “body” of the Church. Loved hearing your thoughts on this subject!