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Why Do We Need Organized Religion?
Being part of the Lord’s Church can help us remember and become like Jesus Christ.
Have you ever wondered why God organized His Church the way He did? Why do we have prophets, apostles, and Church callings? Maybe you’ve wondered why we need to make and keep covenants to receive exaltation, rather than receive it merely by being a good person.
Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, “We do not strive for conversion to the Church but to Christ and His gospel, a conversion that is facilitated by the Church.” Here are a few ways The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can deepen our conversion to Jesus Christ and help us become like Him.
Accessing Priesthood Keys and Power
President Russell M. Nelson said, “Without priesthood keys, the Church could serve only as a significant teaching and humanitarian organization but not much more.” Priesthood keys make covenants with God available to men and women. When we keep our covenants, we have greater access to God’s power, which can help us fulfill callings, endure trials, resist temptation, and discern between right and wrong.
Receiving Prophets’ Guidance
Prophets are a foundational piece of Christ’s Church. Just like people in the Bible were led by Abraham, Moses, and other great prophets, we are led by prophets in the latter days. Prophets are vital to our spiritual growth because, as Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught, “They represent the mind and heart of the Lord and are called to represent Him and teach us what we must do to return to live in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ.” In a world with many conflicting voices, it’s comforting to know that we can always look to living prophets as a source of truth.
Growing through Callings
Another way the Church helps us become like Jesus Christ is extending callings to individual members. Our Church service is not just to meet temporal needs but also to help us become more like the Savior, the perfect example of selfless service. “Every calling provides an opportunity to serve and to grow,” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said. “The Lord organized the Church in a way that offers each member an opportunity for service, which, in turn, leads to personal spiritual growth.”