The Prosperity of the Church

How can you tell when the church is doing well? One indication is increased membership and participation. Here’s Mormon’s description of a very good time for the church in Zarahemla:

And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.

And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

Helaman 3:24-25

I don’t know which came first: church members receiving amazing blessings or thousands of people becoming church members. In all likelihood, it was a virtuous cycle. People wanted to be part of the church because they saw joy and peace in the lives of the members (see Helaman 3:31-32), and existing church members were spiritually strengthened as they loved and served with new converts.

Something more subtle was happening as well. Many church members were growing closer to God and being changed by Him.

They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

Helaman 3:35

This is important because the whole purpose of the church is to bring each of us closer to Jesus Christ, so that He can redeem us.

Interestingly, when the church is struggling, Mormon shifts from talking about “the church” as a single entity to the hearts of each of its members:

In the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God

Helaman 3:33

Eleven years later, there was a sudden influx of people as a group of Lamanites witnessed a dramatic miracle. As a result, “the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites, yea, because of the church of God, which had been established among them. And they did fellowship one with another, and did rejoice one with another, and did have great joy” (Helaman 6:3).

Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained that the two purposes of the Savior’s church are “to preach the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ and administer the ordinances of salvation” (“Why the Church,” General Conference, October 2015). President Dallin H. Oaks added, “Church attendance gives us the strength and enhancement of faith that come from associating with other believers and worshipping together with those who are also striving to stay on the covenant path and be better disciples of Christ” (“The Need for a Church,” General Conference, October 2021).

Today, I will be grateful for the prosperity of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as evidenced by the spiritual growth in the lives of its members. I will work and pray for the increased success of the Church in helping people find the joy and peace which the gospel of Jesus Christ can bring into their lives.