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I came to an epiphany last night, a reason why I have felt "weird" about the church since we moved to this new ward over a year ago (coming up on two years, now), and it has taken me this long to realize what the problem is. The problem is a definition of "The Church". I have been using a definition that the church is the structural buildings, "order of hierarchy", and the doctrine and fundamentals described by this established structure. However, I have been ignoring the most important part of this equation, and the part that really makes up "the Church". The Church is the people that make it up. EVERYTHING ELSE is secondary.

When we joined the church, the people made the conversion. This was in another stake and ward altogether. We were in this ward for about 10 months or so. We had true counsel when needed, and felt that we were members of a family. Now we are in our current ward, and have fallen on hard times. Not only is there no counsel, but there is no family feeling here. In other words, we feel as though we are asking too much by asking for anything from our ward leaders or even the members themselves. Outside of Sundays, rarely do we see members during the week. There is not ward activities outside of our children coming together on Wednesdays. The family feeling there is non-existent.

This really bothers me, especially the lack of counsel. Its not that we sit here waiting for counsel. Many times I have approached our Bishop asking for counsel of problems we have had this past year (and we have had some very very tough things occur). His replies back have been, "man, that's a tough one. Go and pray about it," or, "I dunno how to help you here."

Upon the epiphany, my understanding of why I have felt so weird came to light. My testimony in our previous ward was of the first definition I gave of the church and since the second definition was in harmony of this, my testimony grew of the truthfulness of the Gospel. But since being here, the lack of community, the lack of counsel, the lack of a personal church is not here, and therefore my testimony has stalled. Luckily its just stalled, but I feel it slipping because of the people of the ward. Furthermore, we do not see us moving from here in the next year or two, meaning I have two more years of this to deal with.

I feel that if I do survive this ward, I will move to another ward without the community feeling that is needed in any ward and without the idea that I should go to my bishopric or to those over me for advice and confidence. Anyone else been here, done this? Suggestions?

Nephi wrote:
The problem is a definition of "The Church". I have been using a definition that the church is the structural buildings, "order of hierarchy", and the doctrine and fundamentals described by this established structure.

SatanWasSetUp wrote:The problem is you get all sorts of people as members , so you can't rely on that as a guide. The doctrine and fundamentals change frequently, so you can't really rely on that. So that brings you to your first 2 items: The structural buildings, and the order of hierarchy. I think you nailed it there. That is the rock on which the Mormon church is built - buildings and brethren. As long as you have a testimony in those two things you can ignore the rest.

Runtu wrote:You know, I kind of half-way agree with you. In essence, the church is what the Brethren say it is. If one day black people aren't to have the gospel, they can have a revelation and change the doctrine/practice. Continuing revelation means that the definition of the church is fluid and can adapt to change. That's a good thing for a church that wants to grow in the next century and beyond.