One Church

©Darrell Wyatt

 
As of December 31, 2009, there were 2865 stakes and 28,424 wards in the church (Statistical Report, April 2010).  For those not familiar with wards and stakes, this is the way that the LDS Church divides into smaller groups.  With nearly fourteen million members, having smaller groups gather allows us to learn better and to better take care of each other.  Each ward has a Bishop, and there are usually at least three wards in a Stake, which is headed by a Stake President.  The curriculum taught is the same in all of the wards.  The organization is the same.  Even most of the buildings are basically the same.

And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted unto Alma that he might establish churches throughout all the land of Zarahemla; and gave him power to ordain priests and teachers over every church.

Now this was done because there were so many people that they could not all be governed by one teacher; neither could they all hear the word of God in one assembly;

Therefore they did assemble themselves together in different bodies, being called churches; every church having their priests and their teachers, and every priest preaching the word according as it was delivered to hmi by the mouth of Alma.

And thus, notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God...(Mosiah 25:19-22)

This is exactly how the church is organized today.  Notwithstanding there are many wards and stakes, we are all one church, even The Church of Jesus Christ.  There is no confusion as to what should be taught, since our lessons all come from inspired leaders, and we are all taught the same thing.  It is such a blessing!

Wherever I go, whether it be back to Washington State or to California or Florida, or if I am somehow blessed to be able to travel to a foreign country, I will be learning the exact same thing in pretty much the same way as if I were here at home in Utah.  To me, this is a great blessing.  Even if I'm in a place that's foreign to me, the church is a familiar and comfortable place to be.

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