Sometimes we hear a person say, “I don’t agree with organized religion. I think God is best worshipped in a free, unrestrained way.” I’ve been talking this over with various people, and my mom put it best when she said, “God is organized. Of course His church would be the most organized church on the planet.”
This is so true. Look at the very laws of physics and science. All perfectly organized, A leading to B which leads to C. Look at the planets in the heavens, how they spin around each in their orbit, never bumping into each other. Look at the very creation of the earth – He assigned a separate day for each classification of nature. One day for trees and vegetation, another day for animals – He had it all worked out, all organized, according to the ways He knew were best.
Now, as far as an organized religion goes, when we know and understand His desire for organization in all things, why would He not want an organized religion for His own church? Would He not want His church to run after patterns He so carefully instituted?
We as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that He not only desires an organized religion, but that He gave us the pattern for that church Himself. It should be called after His name, there should be apostles and prophets – every thing He had in His church at the time He was here is also a part of our church today. Through modern revelation, we have the Primary and the Relief Society as well as the Priesthood organizations, each designed specifically for the members who fall into that category. Visiting teaching and home teaching were designed of God. The whole system, when properly administrated and carried out, is seamless, flawless in its design.
What messes up all this organization is man. Someone falls down on the job, or becomes prideful, and it throws the smoothness of the organization out of whack. This does not mean that organized religion has failed – it means that man has failed. The system is perfect – those running it are not.
I don’t disagree that you can find God in a meadow. You can find Him anywhere you look, as long as you are willing to look. But He is also to be found in a church, a church that runs smoothly as He revealed to his prophets, all working together for His glory and our good.
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