These Good Things: The True and Living Church — D&C 1

Come, Follow Me: Doctrine and Covenants 2025
(January 6–January 12)

We ended the Book of Mormon with Moroni’s encouragement to “lay hold upon every good thing.” This is the perfect theme for studying the Doctrine and Covenants in 2025. Let’s discover good things in the stories of the early saints and the divine words they received that can guide and encourage us.  

One of the highlights of my professional career with Intermountain Healthcare was being a part of the team that built Intermountain Medical Center. From signing my name on the I-Beam to the first day of receiving patients, I experienced how a hospital was built. 

The hospital that opened in 2007 is not the same today. While the mission has stayed steadfast, the hospital has changed because of medical science breakthroughs, changing needs of staff and patients and because of original unknown errors. It is both a true and living place of healing.

We often misquote DC 1:30 when we say, “the church is the only true church” leaving out an equally important truth, “the only true and living church.” 

The church is true because it contains eternal truths and saving priesthood power and ordinances. It is also living because “the restoration is an ongoing process” (Elder Uchtdorf) and because “the heavens are open” (The Restoration of the Fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ).

True doesn’t mean fixed and lifeless. Truth can grow and be added upon, line upon line as we believe “…all that He does now reveal” and all that “He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (The Articles of Faith, 9). 

In her book, Both Things are True, Kate Holbrook, a Church historian, provides a unique perspective on our role in this true and living church. Her words are worth pondering:

“This is part of what it means that our Church is “true and living”: the Church is always becoming true as it grows and adapts to new circumstances and challenges. One of the ways the Church becomes true is through our own efforts to build it truly. The truth of the Church must be constantly replenished by the faith, hope, and charity of its members. When we build Christlike relationships with one another, we make the church true”.

These Good Things: How are you helping the Church become true?