Ten ways the Book of Mormon defines 'The Church.'

The world will tell a person that anyone who believes in Jesus is the Church of Jesus, or the body of Christ.  Is that all?  Is that the whole truth?

 What does scripture say about it....

1.  People who are truly converted to Christ 'join' His church: 

3 Nephi 13:36 And they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus.

2.  The church bears His Name.

Mosiah 9:49 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. 

Mosiah 11:103 And it came to pass that whosoever were desirous to take upon them the name of Christ, or of God, they did join the churches of God; and they were called the people of God.

3.  Church members must first have faith in Christ, and be willing to take His Name upon them: 

Moroni 7:42 ... for no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name;

Moroni 6:3 And none were received unto baptism, save they took upon them the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.

 

4.  Church members must come to Him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit:

Moroni 6:2 ...neither did they receive any unto baptism, save they came forth with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, and witnessed unto the church that they truly repented of all their sins.

 

5.  Church members must have come in by repentance: 

Mosiah 11:129 For behold, this is my church: whosoever is baptized, shall be baptized unto repentance.

3 Nephi 8:48 And as I have prayed among you, even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name.

 

6. The Body (i.e. members) must have come in by Baptism: 

3 Nephi 12:13 And they who were baptized in the name of Jesus, were called the church of Christ.

 

7. The Body (i.e. members) must receive the gift of the Holy Ghost: 

Moroni 6:4 And after they had been received in baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ,

 

8. The Holy Ghost comes to members by the Laying on of Hands, in the Name of Jesus: 

Moroni 2:2 And he called them by name, saying, Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this, ye shall have power that on him whom ye shall lay your hands, ye shall give the Holy Ghost; and in my name shall ye give it, for thus do mine apostles.

 

9. The Church must be built upon Christ's Gospel to have God's power manifest in it: 

3 Nephi 12:22 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel, then will the Father shew forth his own works in it;

 

10.  Can one receive the Kingdom of God without these steps?

 3 Nephi 5:39 And again I say unto you, Ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in no wise receive these things.  

 

Therefore, 'The Church' equals those who have faith, exercise repentance, reflect a broken heart and contrite spirit, receive Baptism by water, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end being built upon Jesus' (true) Gospel.

Now the church met to partake of the sacrament, or the bread and wine (i.e. communion) in remembrance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ:

Moroni 6:6 And the church did met together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls: and they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus;

Finally, what was the term 'worthiness' defining when in 3 Nephi 8:60-62 when Jesus said some were 'unworthy' to partake of His flesh and blood (i.e., the sacrament, or communion)?

3 Nephi 8:60 And now behold, this is the commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall not suffer any one knowingly, to partake of my flesh and blood unworthily, when ye shall minister it, for whoso eateth and drinketh my flesh and blood unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to his soul;

3 Nephi 8:61 Therefore if ye know that a man is unworthy to eat and drink of my flesh and blood, ye shall forbid him; nevertheless ye shall not cast him out from among you, but ye shall minister unto him, and shall pray for him unto the Father, in my name,

What is this 'unworthiness?'  Does it mean that they don't deserve Jesus love?  No!  

The next verse supplies the answer!  'Unworthiness' in this context, simply describes those who have not yet joined 'the church' as Jesus prescribed (i.e. faith, repentance, baptism, etc. together are synonymous for those of 'the church.')

3 Nephi 8:62 And if it so be that he repenteth, and is baptized in my name, then shall ye receive him, and shall minister unto him of my flesh and blood;