If you feel like you don’t belong, just remember there’s a seat for you here—and it’s not going anywhere.
Growing up as a member of the church, I felt excitement about worshiping in a congregation, but I often felt like my family didn’t belong. Having a brother with special needs meant that we would usually arrive late to church and be louder than most families. When I moved away to college, I realized that these feelings of alienation didn’t disappear. When I sat in the pews, I would reflect on my trials, doubts, and imperfections, and I couldn’t help but compare myself to my peers. It seemed like everyone belonged except me.
Photo by The Good Funeral Guide
In his October 2013 General Conference talk, “Come, Join with Us,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf acknowledges the struggles that members of the Church face in pursuing belonging. He explains that there are many reasons people struggle with attending church, whether they be doubts, interactions with imperfect people, or feelings that they don’t measure up. He says, “Regardless of your circumstances, your personal history, or the strength of your testimony, there is room for you in this Church.”
Many people have struggled with feelings of loneliness or shortcomings as a member of the Church, and they’re not alone in having such feelings. Every member of the Church experiences trials, and we’re in this together. God doesn’t ask for perfection before we come to him, take a seat in his Church, and love one another.
Learn more about why each of us belongs at church despite our circumstances by reading President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s conference talk, “Come, Join with Us.”
Source: ChurchofJesusChrist.org
—Ellie Haverlock, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY GOSPEL MEDIA LIBRARY
Find more insights
To learn more about what it means to truly belong in Christ’s Church, read Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s October 2022 general conference talk, “The Doctrine of Belonging.”
To get more insights on how to be there for others who are struggling to feel like they belong, read Aundrea Esplin’s Latter-day Saint Insights article “Compassion in Action.”