Why do we need a church?

[_ajax18]

I'll never forget the old third missionary discussion. You're supposed to ask the investigator, "Do you think it's important that we have a true Church led by prophets?" And I remember struggling to find a good answer for myself. Of course no investigator would have given it two seconds thought. So thankfully I never had to come up with an answer.

But you know, it all seems like just inertia to me. Why do we need a church? Oh cause we've always had one.

Do other churchs pay as much tithing as LDS? How much of the money really goes to having a building? We don't even have a preacher, which is fine by me, I never like that either. Does anyone have a good guess on how this money is actually spent?

And if all you can really come up with are saving ordinances, I have to say those are some pretty expensive ordinances. Even the Catholics don't charge that much.

[_GoodK]

Nevermind...

[_bcspace]

Why do we need a church?

To ensure the correct doctrine is taught which results in salvation (Ephesians 4:11-14).

[_ludwigm]

Why do we need a church?

To ensure the correct doctrine is taught which results in salvation (Ephesians 4:11-14).

What does "correct doctrine" means in an environment where no doctrine exists?

[_ajax18]

That's fine BC Space but couldn't you teach that doctrine to your family in a few Sundays. The Gospel is very simple. Some people feel energized going to Church. I would find it more energizing to just be with family and talk about God.

[_haleray]

People need church for several reasons, first, we need to be taught the Gospel, we need the Sacrament, and people need to have people that are like them, we all teach ourselves. This is the only church that I know of, that there is no preacher, priest, or any other clergy preaching to us from the pulpit. It is members of the congregation.
There is the old saying that you can break a single stick, but you can’t break a group of sticks. It’s the same thing at church, people are naturally weak by themselves, but are strong as a group.

[_ajax18]

People need church for several reasons, first, we need to be taught the Gospel,

What about the gospel that is necessary for your salvation were you not taught in primary? Did you not already know the gospel from the light of Christ within you? I did. And I think everyone did.

we need the Sacrament,

Why couldn't we do sacrament at home? If someone doesn't have a priesthood holder, they can come over to my place. Think how much this would save on buildings.

This is the only church that I know of, that there is no preacher, priest, or any other clergy preaching to us from the pulpit. It is members of the congregation.

I agree that was a step in the right direction. It just makes me wonder seeing local protestant Churchs that manage to support a preacher, have a gymnasium, and many other things our Church does not. All this and no compulsory tithing. It makes me wonder.

There is the old saying that you can break a single stick, but you can’t break a group of sticks. It’s the same thing at church, people are naturally weak by themselves, but are strong as a group.

I suppose that's where I'm different. My strength and faith come from within not other people. I'm much stronger by myself because I'm forced to get the job done myself rather than rely on other people.

Ecclesiastes says that two is better than one because when one falls there is another to help him up. But I say that one is better than two because there was nobody there to knock him down in the first place.

[_haleray]

I see what you are saying, Ajax. Yet I feel that at church, and at Sunday School, there are questions, and answers, about the gospel, that I never thought of. Peer pressure works both ways. You can have friends that pressure you to do bad things, or you can have friends that pressure you to do good things. Most peer pressure that I had was good, and was the kind that was unsaid, like to keep the Ten Commandments, don’t smoke, etc . . . I knew what was right, and seeing other people do these same things helped make it easier to do so.

[_ajax18]

I understand that peer pressure has positive effects. It just seems like 10% of your income is an awful lot to finance that. Would people pay 10% of their income on mental health even?

[_bcspace]

To ensure the correct doctrine is taught which results in salvation (Ephesians 4:11-14).

What does "correct doctrine" means in an environment where no doctrine exists?

Fortunately, such a vacuum does not exist in the LDS Church.

That's fine BC Space but couldn't you teach that doctrine to your family in a few Sundays. The Gospel is very simple. Some people feel energized going to Church. I would find it more energizing to just be with family and talk about God.

The funny thing about that is inactivity from the Church has taught us that this kind of thing does not work. On this board are many prime examplesof people who do not attend Church anymore and who do not know the doctrine at all.