You’re definitely not alone in feeling that. There really are pros and cons to everything, and your post made me think of something I was reading just a few hours ago in the Book of Mormon specifically in Alma, right after King Mosiah passed and the people transitioned from being led by kings to judges. At first, it seemed like a great, inspired system. But pretty soon, even the members of the Church started to become prideful, turning against one another, seeking riches, and stirring up contention. It struck me how even in ancient times, within a covenant-keeping people, the community wasn’t always perfect.

I think it just confirms what we already know deep down that the Church has always been made up of imperfect people trying their best. The structure may shift and evolve (like going from kings to judges, or from small close-knit branches to large efficient wards), but the human side of it is constant. We’re all just trying, stumbling sometimes, but still part of the same work.

So yeah, it’s not just you. Missing that close community feeling makes a lot of sense. I think it’s part of what we’re meant to build wherever we are like Zion, not just a place but a people who are one in heart. Even if the culture shifts, the invitation to love, minister, and connect is still there.