What Does Jesus' "True" Church Look Like?

Ok, I am actually laughing with this post because of what the Lord has just shown me...it's so obvious to me now that I'm out of the LDS Church! (Read about my journey here.)

And from the image comparison--you may be laughing too--or crying when you realize where all of your "tithing to the Lord" has actually gone.

For those of you who are still in the LDS/Mormon Church, please come to realize that: "The Lord" you have been paying your tithing to, "the Lord" you have been going to the temple to worship and "the Lord" to whom you perform rituals on behalf of dead people, is NOT the same Jesus Christ who was born in the flesh to the virgin Mary, died, and was resurrected on the 3rd day, because the LDS Church does NOT have Jesus' organizational chart for His church--check it out!

DISCLAIMER: The image on the right depicting the LDS Church Corporate Structure is from 1991--I can't find a more updated one as thorough as this one, and I can only image that the holdings have vastly MULTIPLIED since 1991. If you can find a more updated one, please SHARE it with me! However, the image on the left is still pretty accurate (when I left the church in 2025) of showing the hierarchy of the callings in the LDS church.

Besides the massive organizational chart and numerous other companies of the LDS Church, according to Google AI, as of 12/30/2025:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) is extremely wealthy, with recent estimates placing its total worth around $293 billion (as of late 2024/early 2025), including a massive $200+ billion investment portfolio (Ensign Peak Advisors) and significant operating assets like farms, real estate, and BYU. Funded primarily by members' tithing (around 10% of income), the church generates billions annually, using some for operations and humanitarian aid, but a large portion for continued investment, making it one of the world's richest religious organizations, comparable to major corporations.

Hmmm...

I didn't think churches were supposed to be in business "comparable to major corporations." Aren't they supposed to be "charitable organizations?"

The LDS Church is actually a business, not a church, in the way it operates.

In John 2:16, Jesus specifically says:

"Stop making My Father's house a place of business!"

I think the LDS Church has A LOT of explaining to do when they charge tithing to allow admittance into the temple, which they claim have the "saving ordinances of the gospel" and then use that money to fund their investments and other businesses...

Jesus said:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. [Matthew 10:6-8, emphasis added]

In other words, the true works of Jesus do not require money be exchanged.

The Kingdom of God is FREE!!!

The LDS Church sounds very familiar to warnings given in the Book of Mormon:

1 Nephi 13:4-6 states:

And it came to pass that I saw among the nations of the Gentiles the formation of a great church. And the angel said unto me: Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity. And it came to pass that I beheld this great and abominable church; and I saw the devil that he was the founder of it.

1 Nephi 14:9-10:

And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look, and behold that great and abominable church, which is the mother of abominations, whose founder is the devil. And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.

So according to the Book of Mormon, there are only two churches. One belongs to the Lamb of God, the other one belongs to the devil.

So how do you know which one the LDS Church belongs to?

Well, for a start, you can compare the organizational structure and requirements of Jesus' church to that of the LDS church.

So, compare the 2 organizational charts above, and may I suggest that where it says "man" and "woman" on Jesus' organization chart, it could just say "disciple."

Are the 2 charts the same?

If they aren't the same, then can the LDS Church really be Jesus' church?

And if the LDS Church charges/requires tithing (money) to be paid to be saved via temple ordinances, while Jesus' church is free, can they be the same church?

Please, my LDS brothers and sisters, I plead with you to open your eyes and see.

See the fundamental differences starting with the organizational structure and the money requirements, because they are huge!

And then make a decision to choose Jesus and be in His "church."

Here's the coolest part:

Jesus' "church" is already inside you.

As Jesus explained to the disbelieving, hard-hearted Pharisees in Luke 17:20-21:

And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (emphasis added)

If you are really seeking for Jesus' "true" church, may I suggest that it is already within you.

There is no church to "go to" or "belong to" if you belong to Jesus.

Can you gather with other believers and worship and learn of Jesus in a physical building?

Absolutely!!

Just recognize that no "church" can save you, no matter how big its organizational structure is or how much money they charge you.

Only Jesus saves you ❤️‍🔥✝️🩸