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Stirring songs that teach and inspire application of gospel principles
Written by Ronald K. King
Teaching Ideas
Article of Faith 6
Church Organization
God's work, purpose and glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Everything he does is toward that end, beginning with the creation and continuing through the atonement, the organization of his church and his daily dealings with each of us. His way of accomplishing his work is to involve each of us. This blesses others, but also teaches and exalts us in the process.
To accomplish his purposes, God has established his church in the latter days with the same organization that existed in the church that Christ set up when he was on the earth. It is tasked with the responsibility of preparing the earth for the second coming and with the accomplishment of the great temple work that will save many of God's children through past dispensations. We each get to participate in these great responsibilities.
We are greatly blessed by the leaders God has chosen to serve. Just as God has led his people in all ages through a living prophet, we are led today by a living prophet who receives direction from the Lord for the whole Church. We are also blessed greatly by twelve apostles who regularly teach and uplift us at conference time and who travel the world strengthening and teaching the members of the Church. By following their counsel, we can be protected and perfected and fulfill the divine mandate God has given the Church.
We are likewise blessed with local leaders at both the stake and ward level who give us weekly direction and oversee the instruction of the members in ward and stake meetings. There are many other faithful teachers and leaders for both youth and adults that often have a powerful influence in shaping our lives, strengthening our testimonies and helping us grow. This is how God carries out his work through other people who follow his guidance and share their experiences.
Each of us can participate in the work. This stretches us and helps us to grow. Our callings may seem small and unimportant, but each person is needed in their own unique way. Just as we would feel severely limited or handicapped if any part of our body did not function the way it was intended, the members of the Church would feel a loss if any of us were missing or did not fully participate in the Church. Even if we do not have formal callings, each of us can be an example to those around us, serve others, share our experiences at church, share the gospel and participate in temple work.
(For additional insights, read The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage.)
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