What does it mean to belong to “His Church”? For many, the concept of belonging to an organized religion feels restrictive or even antiquated. Yet, Elder Dale G. Renlund’s talk, This is My Gospel – This is My Church sheds light on why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is essential to God’s plan—not just as an institution but as a transformative, power-filled support for individuals. By exploring how the gospel and the Church work in harmony, Elder Renlund offers insights that can help address both common critiques and lingering questions about the Church’s role in the lives of its members. Why does the Church matter, and how does it enable spiritual growth?

In this post, we’ll delve into Elder Renlund’s message, looking at common critiques and questions. We’ll consider how this talk addresses issues around doctrine, historical practices, and social questions that often surface in discussions about faith.

Questions, Misconceptions, and Criticisms

• “I Can Be Saved Without Organized Religion”

• • A common critique of organized religion is the belief that one’s personal relationship with God or spiritual experiences in nature are sufficient for salvation, making church attendance or participation optional. While personal spirituality is vital, Elder Renlund’s talk teaches that such an approach is incomplete without the structure and ordinances provided by the Church.
  • Elder Renlund uses a compelling metaphor to explain the necessity of the Church. He compares the gospel of Jesus Christ to nitroglycerin—powerful but unstable—and the Church to diatomaceous earth, a stabilizing substance that makes nitroglycerin safe and effective. Separately, these components are either ineffective or dangerous, but together, they become transformative and valuable, like dynamite.
  • In the same way, while personal spirituality can provide inspiration, it lacks the stability and divine authority of the Church, which is essential for lasting transformation and salvation. Elder Renlund emphasizes that the Church offers more than a gathering place—it is the divinely authorized institution that:

1. 1. 1. Teaches the Doctrine of Christ: The Church ensures that the gospel is taught in its fullness and purity. Without it, spiritual understanding becomes vulnerable to what Elder Renlund calls “doctrinal drift”—the gradual distortion of truth over time due to cultural and philosophical influences.
      2. Administers Saving Ordinances: Ordinances like baptism, the sacrament, and temple covenants can only be performed with priesthood authority, which resides in the Church. These ordinances are not just symbolic; they are the means by which we access Christ’s power to transform and sanctify us.
      3. Facilitates Covenants with God: Church participation is not about passively attending meetings; it is about entering into sacred covenants with God and renewing those covenants through ordinances such as the sacrament. These covenants bind us to Christ and enable us to access His atoning power in ways that personal spirituality alone cannot.

• Following Christ Means Following His Church

• • Elder Renlund teaches that the Savior refers to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as “my church” because it is commissioned to fulfill His purposes. The Church is not a human invention; it is the instrument through which Christ administers His saving and exalting power. To fully follow Christ, we must participate in the institution He established. While spiritual experiences at home or in nature can enrich our connection to God, they cannot replace the essential role of the Church. Elder Renlund’s message invites us to embrace the Church not as a restriction on personal spirituality but as the divine structure that makes salvation possible.

• “The Church is Run by Imperfect People, So How Can It Be Divine?”

• • A common criticism is that because the Church is led by imperfect individuals, it cannot truly represent God’s work. This perspective can lead to disillusionment, especially when leaders make mistakes or policies evolve. Elder Renlund acknowledges the reality of human imperfection but emphasizes that the divinely established Church remains essential for God’s purposes.
  • Elder Renlund explains that the Church is comprised of “ordinary people, disciples of Jesus Christ, gathered and organized into a divinely appointed structure that helps the Lord accomplish His purposes.” This acknowledgment highlights that the Church is not perfect because of its human members; it is perfect because it was divinely instituted and operates under Christ’s direction.

Apologetic Applications of Doctrine

Defending Divine Doctrines

Elder Renlund uses the metaphor of dynamite and stabilizers to clarify why the Church is essential in preserving and delivering the gospel. Here’s how this doctrinal emphasis defends some core beliefs:

• The Nature of God: This talk highlights that the Church teaches the nature of God in a restored, clear form, contrasting with creedal interpretations. Elder Renlund explains that without the structure of the Church, doctrines have historically “drifted” or been altered over time.
• Priesthood and Ordinances: By linking the Church’s role to dynamite’s power, Elder Renlund reinforces the necessity of divinely sanctioned authority. Ordinances performed with priesthood authority are essential stabilizers, enabling members to access divine power.

Application

When faced with imperfections in the Church, focus on Christ, whose purpose is to draw us closer to Him. Exercise charity by recognizing that we are all striving to follow the Savior despite our flaws. Trust that God works through imperfect individuals to accomplish His purposes, deepening your faith in His guidance of His Church.

Historical and Doctrinal Connections

Contextual Background

The importance of organized worship and ordinances administered through Christ’s Church is not unique to the modern Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Evidence from both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon reveals that the ancient Church operated in much the same way—emphasizing community, priesthood authority, and sacred ordinances as essential to following Christ.

The New Testament Church

The New Testament demonstrates the early Christian Church as a divinely authorized institution organized by Christ Himself, who called apostles and gave them authority to teach, baptize, and administer ordinances (see Matthew 16:18–19; 28:19–20). After His Ascension, the apostles continued this work, gathering believers for worship, prayer, and the sacrament (see Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). Paul emphasized that the Church is “the body of Christ,” where every member plays a vital role in its function and growth (see 1 Corinthians 12:12–27; Ephesians 4:11–16), and that ordinances like baptism (see Acts 2:38) and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (see Acts 8:17) were essential components of the faith community.

The Book of Mormon Church

The Book of Mormon describes the establishment of Christ’s Church among ancient believers, with Alma organizing a congregation at the Waters of Mormon where he taught repentance, administered baptism, and led the people to covenant to follow Christ and gather regularly for worship (see Mosiah 18:7–17). After His visit to the Nephites, Christ explicitly organized His Church, granting priesthood authority to His disciples and commanding them to administer ordinances, teach His gospel, and help individuals make covenants with God (see 3 Nephi 27:7, 21).

A Consistent Pattern Across Dispensations

These examples from both the New Testament and the Book of Mormon demonstrate that the pattern of attending church, receiving ordinances, and making covenants is not merely a modern construct. It is a hallmark of Christ’s Church in every dispensation. Elder Renlund reinforces this truth, teaching that without the Lord’s Church, humanity’s understanding of His gospel becomes unstable and subject to distortion. The Church provides the authority and structure necessary for salvation, ensuring that sacred ordinances are performed properly and that individuals can access God’s power through covenants.

Living Apologetics

Practical Application: Discussing Faith with Others

Elder Renlund’s talk encourages us to recognize the essential power the Church brings into our lives through ordinances, authority, and gospel truth. In conversations with friends or family, you might consider:

• Focus on Transformative Power: Rather than trying to explain each doctrine, share how the Church’s gospel has transformed you. Elder Renlund’s metaphor of dynamite offers a great image of powerful change and stability.

Faith in Action

• Lead a Study Discussion: Host a discussion in a study group or family setting about the talk, addressing critiques with Elder Renlund’s explanations of gospel and Church synergy.

Application Ideas

• Personal Reflection on Covenants: Spend time reflecting on the covenants you’ve made, writing down how they have drawn you closer to the Savior and “transformed” you, as Elder Renlund describes.
• Share these experiences with those who may question the necessity of organized religion, using Elder Renlund’s metaphor of dynamite to illustrate the stabilizing and transformative power of the gospel combined with the Church.
• Focus on Christ: When confronted with the imperfections of others at Church, shift your focus to Christ. The Church is His, and its purpose is to draw us closer to Him.
• Exercise Charity: Recognize that imperfection is part of the human condition. Approach others with empathy and patience, knowing we are all striving to follow the Savior.
• Engage with Faith: Remember that God works through flawed individuals to accomplish His purposes. Allow this truth to deepen your faith in His ability to guide His Church.

Quick Reference: Key Defenses and Facts

• Church and Gospel Combination: The gospel without the Church lacks the stability required for transformative power. Just as nitroglycerin needed kieselguhr, the gospel needs the Church to provide divine authority and doctrinal consistency.
• Doctrine of Eternal Progression: The idea that we can become like God is grounded in covenants made possible only through the Church, as Elder Renlund emphasizes.
• Priesthood Authority and Ordinances: Ordinances performed with priesthood authority make it possible to receive God’s transformative power. This divine authority stabilizes and preserves the gospel’s purity.

Top Apologetic Facts:

• The Essential Role of the Church in Salvation: The Church provides the divine authority, ordinances, and structure necessary to stabilize the gospel and enable salvation, countering the instability of personal spirituality alone.
• The Transformative Power of Covenants and Ordinances: Covenants and ordinances administered through the Church are essential for accessing God’s power to become holy and perfected in Christ.
• Imperfect People in a Perfectly Designed System: The Church’s divine mission is accomplished through Christ’s guidance and atonement, proving that human imperfection does not invalidate its role in God’s plan.

Conclusion

Elder Renlund’s message powerfully reminds us that belonging to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is about accessing the divine power that transforms us into what God intends us to become. The combination of gospel and Church makes possible an “unspeakable joy” that Elder Renlund promises is “far greater than dynamite.” How has belonging to “His Church” empowered you to become what God intends you to be?

Without the Lord’s Church, humanity’s understanding of His gospel was unstable—prone to doctrinal drift and subject to the influence of different religions, cultures, and philosophies. An amalgamation of those influences has been manifested in every dispensation leading up to this last one.

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The Consider Conference series by FAIR offers an in-depth look at recent General Conference talks to help members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints navigate common questions, misunderstandings, and criticisms. Each post provides doctrinal insights, historical context, and practical ways to apply gospel principles in everyday conversations. Through this series, we hope to equip readers with faith-promoting resources that encourage thoughtful reflection, respectful dialogue, and a stronger foundation in gospel truths, fostering both personal conviction and meaningful discussions with others.

The post The Power of Gospel and Church Together: Understanding God’s Design for Our Transformation appeared first on FAIR.

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