First and foremost, it means the opportunity to know of and take advantage of the atonement of our Savior. It means that I and my family have access to the ordinances of salvation. It means that we know that we are literally our Heavenly Father's loved children, with capacity to become as He is. It means that I am privileged to hold the priesthood, and use it to bless my family and others.
It means that I have been blessed with a testimony of Jesus Christ, the holy scriptures, the prophet Joseph Smith, and modern revelation. It means that we have access to the meetings and organizations of the church, and are given callings and responsibilities that allow us to serve and grow.
It means that my family and I have been sealed through temple marriage so that we can be together forever, and that we can do these temple ordinances for our deceased ancestors.
It means that I can have a patriarchal blessing.
My membership in the church means that I had the opportunity to serve a full time mission for the Lord, and hope to serve a couple mission with my wife when we retire.
It means that I have the opportunity to repent, that I was baptized, that I have had the gift of the Holy Ghost bestowed upon me, and that I have a chance to live so as to build greater and greater faith.
It means that I can know who Jesus and Heavenly Father are, and that I can develop a personal relationship with them.
It means that I have a legacy of ancestors and saints who made it possible for me to have been born into the church and raised to know the gospel.
It means that I live in a community of fellow saints, and am a member of a priesthood quorum who support my family and me, and who we can serve and support in return.
It means that I have the privilege to partake of the sacrament weekly, to attend sacrament meetings, Sunday school, and priesthood meetings.
It means that I get to be in ward and stake choirs.
It means that I have access to prayer, that I have scriptures to read and study, and that we have Family Home Evening weekly in our home.
Of course there is much more, but I think that is enough for this writing, except to emphasize again that it all centers in Christ and his redeeming sacrifice.
In upcoming posts I will expand on many of the themes that have been touched upon here.
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