“I know the gospel, so I don’t really need to go to church every single Sunday.”
It was at the tail-end of 2020 as churches were opening back up that I heard someone say this.
They were explaining how the pandemic made them realize they didn’t need the church as much as they thought.
The thing is— I get it!
This can be such a tempting thought to have and to entertain, especially when attending church feels like a big sacrifice or inconvenience.
I didn’t respond to the person at the time.
But I had many many thoughts fill my mind, most of them informed by beautiful conference talks throughout the years that have highlighted the need for a church.
Today I want to point to the scriptures for an answer.
The Lord didn’t just want “the gospel” restored to the church.
His plan, from the very beginning, was to restore the fullness of His gospel along with a church to administer it.
“For in them are all things written concerning the foundation of my church, my gospel, and my rock.” – D&C 18:4
Elder Renlund taught:
“The gospel is perfect, but a divinely commissioned church is required to preach it, maintain its purity, and administer its sacred ordinances with the Savior’s power and authority.”
Could you probably complain about “the church” if I asked you to?
It can be so tough to deal with other imperfect people, conflicting personalities, unrighteous dominion, strong differences of opinion, weaknesses, pride, and so much more.
But this is how the Lord wants us to do it.
He wants His perfect gospel administered through a church filled with very normal people.
And we have to learn how to soften our hearts and deal with (and maybe even like and love) each other.
Because HE deals with (and even likes and loves) each of us with our imperfections.
So if we want to be like Him, we can work on that, too.
The church isn’t an obstacle to the perfect gospel—
This is exactly how it’s all meant to work, and maybe we can learn some lessons from trying to embrace BOTH the perfect gospel and the divinely commissioned church.
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
