The idea that a person can be spiritual or worship God without organized religion is popular in our day. Some may wonder, “Why do we need a church?”
While developing a relationship with God is personal and can certainly progress independent of church participation, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints exists to teach the fulness of His doctrine and officiate with His priesthood authority to perform the ordinances necessary to enter the kingdom of God with our loved ones forever.
In other words, church attendance and participation help us focus on our eternal priorities. In addition, those who forgo church attendance and rely only on individual spirituality forfeit many opportunities to make sacred covenants with God, including in holy temples, or qualify to perpetuate their family for eternity.
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is “the head of the church” (Ephesians 5:23) and that He organized it “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12). We affirm the scriptural origin and need for a church directed by and with the authority of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We need the Church because the Savior taught that “whosoever belongeth to my church need not fear, for such shall inherit the kingdom of heaven” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:55). May we all remain steadfast in our commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ’s Church as we seek eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God.
Guest Author
J Washburn
