How Do I Find the Right Christian Church for Me?
“What church should I go to? Does God care which church I attend?” You may have asked questions like these as you have considered the place of religion in your life. When looking for a church, it is helpful to think about what Jesus and His apostles and prophets have taught.
Find a community of believers
As one of His Ten Commandments, God said, “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). One of the ways we keep the Sabbath day holy is by going to church. Jesus also taught, “Ye shall meet together oft” (3 Nephi 18:22). God wants us to go to church regularly to worship Him and be strengthened by other believers.
God can make you a better person. You can make us a better church. Welcome!
Aside from going to church on Sundays, God wants us to practice our faith every day. He told us to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). As we look for ways to love, serve, and share our talents regularly as part of a church community, we are doing what God wants us to do.
Find a church led by Jesus Christ
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul taught that Jesus’ Church is “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Jesus is the head of His Church, and He calls apostles and prophets to help Him guide and teach His people. That same organization of apostles and prophets exists in Christ’s Church today—The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
In 1820, a young man named Joseph Smith knelt in prayer, asking God which of all the Christian churches he should join. This prayer led to the beginning of God’s restoration of lost truths and direct communication again through a prophet. God and Jesus Christ directed Joseph to not join an existing church. Instead, Joseph was called to be a prophet and to organize Christ’s restored church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
What happened to the church Jesus established when he was on the earth?
Find blessings through worship and service
God wants to give you blessings, including the blessing of happiness. You can find happiness simply by being with fellow believers and by serving and worshipping with them.
Another blessing from coming to church regularly is participating in the sacrament (or Communion). Before He died, Jesus took bread and wine, blessed it, and gave it to His disciples. He told them that it represented His body and blood, and that they should continue to partake of the bread and wine often to remember Him (see Luke 22:19–20 and 3 Nephi 19:1–11).
Pay close attention to how you feel at church. God will let you know if you are in the right place through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will help you feel “...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, [and] faith” (Galatians 5:22).
Find a church near you
Jesus Christ’s Church is for all the world. That means you will probably be able to find a congregation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints close to your home.