Mosiah 18: 17-31, 17

What blessings are you enjoying because you are attending church regularly?

" 17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.

22 And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God.

24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.

25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together.

26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.

27 And again Alma commanded that the people of the church should impart of their substance, every one according to that which he had; if he have more abundantly he should impart more abundantly; and of him that had but little, but little should be required; and to him that had not should be given.

28 And thus they should impart of their substance of their own free will and good desires towards God, and to those priests that stood in need, yea, and to every needy, naked soul.

29 And this he said unto them, having been commanded of God; and they did walk uprightly before God, imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.

30 And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever.

31 And these things were done in the borders of the land, that they might not come to the knowledge of the king." (Mosiah 18: 17-31)

"17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church." (Mosiah 18: 17)

"21 And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another." (Mosiah 18: 21)

And here's the commentary entitled: "God commands His people to gather, organize, and be united." :

"Some people wonder, why do we need a church? Search Mosiah 18:17–31, looking for the value Alma’s people found in gathering in “the church of Christ” (Mosiah 18:17). What similarities do you see in the Church of Jesus Christ in Alma’s day and our day?

How would you respond to a friend or family member who doesn’t believe that an organized church is necessary? Why are you grateful to belong to the Church of Jesus Christ?

Think about what you can do to help your ward or branch members be “knit together in unity and in love” (Mosiah 18:21).

See also Dallin H. Oaks, “The Need for a Church,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 24–26; “Love One Another,” Hymns, no. 308."

The similarities I see in the Church of Jesus Christ in Alma's day and our day are: 

1. Those who are baptized by the power and authority of God are added to the church. 

2. They meet to worship together once a week.

3. They keep the Sabbath day holy.

4. They have ordained priests who teach about the kingdom of God.

5. They serve one another to meet both the temporal and spiritual needs.