Heavenly Father wants us to meet together often. Here are some of His reasons why.
A few years ago, I was wondering, isn’t it enough to take care of our daily gospel tasks and go to church occasionally? Why do we need to attend so frequently? I kept trying to find the logic behind the commandment to meet together often. Then, after further thought and prayer, I had an epiphany.
PHOTO BY JACKSON DAVID
We go to church meetings regularly because if we didn’t, we would forget important things like our covenants.
In a Brigham Young University devotional address, “Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God,” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland outlines more of the ways meetings are important for us individually and as a worldwide church:
- Revelation. The more we attend church, the more we receive revelation, both personal and general. We get to be taught by a Heavenly Father who loves us so much that He is always ready to reveal more of His plan to us.
- Instruction and edification. When we attend church often, we find more ways to strengthen each other spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. We get to speak with each other about the welfare of our souls (see Moroni 6:5) and share our love and testimonies.
- Remembering. In such vast nations and communities, church meetings help us pay attention to those who may be fading into the background. “Everyone matters,” Elder Holland says. “We have a name and it’s recorded and we need to remember that here. No one must get lost.”
While preparing for upcoming general conferences, we should remember all the reasons behind these meetings. Heavenly Father gives us the commandment to meet often because He knows we hunger for His word, for shared experiences and love, and for belonging.
Let us feast.
Discover stories about how church meetings have changed lives by reading Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s speech “Remembered and Nourished by the Good Word of God.”
Source: BYU Speeches
—Suzanne Uchytil, Latter-day Saint Insights
FEATURE IMAGE BY JOSH BOOT
Find more insights
Take a look at Shannon Symonds’s article “Preparing for Conference: Spiritual Readiness, Family Traditions Add to Experience” for more information about the blessings of General Conference.
Read “The Needs before Us” by Bonnie L. Oscarson to learn more about how we can use our participation in the Church to serve other people.