Warning …. LDS Church Doctrine Follows!

I was assigned this month to talk on Unity at the Arbon Branch. I went out there today and had an enjoyable Church meeting block. What follows are my crib notes for my talk:

A couple of weeks after High School graduation in 1963 I was at Lackland AFB in Texas sweating in boot camp learning hard lessons about being obedient. The Air Force had a name for this obedience, called “following orders absolutely and completely.” Everything in basic training revolved around the squadron becoming “one.” We got up at the exact same time; marched together in formation everywhere (and we spent a LOT of time learning to march precisely together), studied together, ate together, and retired at the same time collapsing into our bunks. The purpose for all of this was to learn to trust our fellow airmen to also follow orders (that is, be obedient) and not let each other down.

I was in Air Force Basic Training for a variety of reasons and decisions, one of which had to do with the fact that the United States was getting seriously involved in a war in Southeast Asia. I had the earliest draft date of all the fellows in my graduating class and I had no desire to carry a gun and shoot at people while being shot at. I figured that enlisted guys in the Air Force would be safely away from where bullets were flying.

However, after finishing my training as a Chinese Linguist, I found myself in a sandbag bunker on my first night in Vietnam holding an M-16, a couple of clips of ammunition, and a box of additional ammo nearby with orders to let no one past unless they were friendlies with more than plenty bullets flying around. It was raining hard, which meant that there was no air support. The Viet Cong coming at us with intentions of doing serious bodily harm would only be stopped by those of us on the ground. It was a harrowing night and when it ended, the training had worked. The enemy was repulsed and I even had some ammunition left.

That night left a big impression on this young nineteen-year-old kid. One of lessons that night hammered home to me was the need to be “one” in whatever great cause we’re engaged in.

Scriptures on Unity

There are four critical commandments, four declarations from the Lord so powerful that almost everything else we think upon and live pales in comparison. They are from the teachings of the Master, where he stated:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

“This is the first and great commandment.

“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matt. 22:37-39; italics added).

“The third?” you ask. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

And the fourth, “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27).  (“The Blessing of Being Unified”, Elder Hugh W. Pinnock, Ensign, May 1987)

The scriptures have a lot to say about unity:

Moses 7:18: And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.

D&C 38:27: I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

John 17:20-21: Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Ephesians 4:11-14: And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

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

D&C 105:1-5: Verily I say unto you who have assembled yourselves together that you may learn my will concerning the redemption of mine afflicted people- Behold, I say unto you, were it not for the transgressions of my people, speaking concerning the church and not individuals, they might have been redeemed even now. But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them; And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom; And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

Achieving Unity

How do we achieve this Unity so that we might abide the Law of the Celestial Kingdom?

1.    Obedience.

We will become of one heart and one mind as we individually place the Savior at the center of our lives and follow those He has commissioned to lead us (“Come to Zion”, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, November 2008).

One of those principles [of unity] is revelation. Revelation is the only way we can know how to follow the will of the Lord together. It requires light from above. The Holy Ghost will testify to our hearts, and the hearts of those gathered around with us, what He would have us do. And it is by keeping His commandments that we can have our hearts knit together as one (“Our Hearts Knit as One”, President Henry B. Eyring, November 2008).

In Mosiah we read:

“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.

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

“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.
“And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.” (Mosiah 18:7, 19-22)

2.    Being Inclusive.

That leads to another principle of unity. It is to speak well of each other…. Realizing that you see others in an imperfect light will make you likely to be a little more generous in what you say…. I can promise you a feeling of peace and joy when you speak generously of others in the Light of Christ…. We must follow that same principle as the Lord gathers more and more people who are not like us. What will become more obvious to us is that the Atonement brings the same changes in all of us. We become disciples who are meek, loving, easy to be entreated, and at the same time fearless and faithful in all things. We still live in different countries, but we come into the Church through a process that changes us (“Our Hearts Knit as one”, President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, November 2008).

Within this Church there is a constant need for unity, for if we are not one, we are not his. (See D&C 38:27.) We are truly dependent on each other, “and the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.” (1 Cor. 12:21.) Nor can the North Americans say to the Asians, nor the Europeans to the islanders of the sea, “I have no need of thee.” No, in this church we have need of every member, and we pray, as did Paul when he wrote to the church in Corinth, “that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.” (1 Cor. 12:25-26.) (“That We May Be One”, Elder Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, May 1976)

One way I have seen it done is to search for anything on which we agree…. The great peacemaker, the restorer of unity, is the one who finds a way to help people see the truth they share. That truth they share is always greater and more important to them than their differences. You can help yourself and others to see that common ground if you ask for help from God and then act.

He will answer your prayer to help restore peace, as He has mine.

That same principle applies as we build unity with people who are from vastly different backgrounds. The children of God have more in common than they have differences. And even the differences can be seen as an opportunity. God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help you see and value what another person brings which you lack us (“Our Hearts Knit as one”, President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, November 2008).

3.    Service.

We control the disposition of our means and resources, but we account to God for this stewardship over earthly things. It is gratifying to witness your generosity as you contribute to fast offerings and humanitarian projects. Over the years, the suffering of millions has been alleviated, and countless others have been enabled to help themselves through the generosity of the Saints. Nevertheless, as we pursue the cause of Zion, each of us should prayerfully consider whether we are doing what we should and all that we should in the Lord’s eyes with respect to the poor and the needy…. In much of the world, we are entering upon unsettled economic times. Let us look after one another the very best we can (“Come to Zion”, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, November 2008).

Are we one with our neighbors? Is the street where you live a little more peaceful because you dwell there? (“The Blessings of Being Unified”, Elder Hugh W. Pinnock, Ensign, May 1987)

He cannot grant [unity] to us as individuals. The joy of unity He wants so much to give us is not solitary. We must seek it and qualify for it with others. It is not surprising then that God urges us to gather so that He can bless us. He wants us to gather into families. He has established classes, wards, and branches and commanded us to meet together often. In those gatherings, which God has designed for us, lies our great opportunity. We can pray and work for the unity that will bring us joy and multiply our power to serve (“Our Hearts Knit as One”, President Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, November 2008).

In Conclusion

How do we glorify Jesus? How do we say thank you for the Atonement? How do we state gratitude for the ordinances and the covenants? How do we express appreciation for his teachings? Of course, we do it by loving God, by loving our neighbor, by living the commandments, and also by being one. We adapt to the Master’s teachings. We place him and others with us into one: “One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” as Paul taught (Eph. 4:5). We accept those called over us as our leaders without creating a fuss. Our leaders know of our loyalty because we do what they call us to do.

May we be one in this great work, brothers and sisters…. May our children observe this solidarity and a genuine desire to be one that enhances our lives with peace and with power ? (“The Blessings of Being Unified”, Elder Hugh W. Pinnock, Ensign, May 1987).

[T]he key to a unified church is a unified soul-one that is at peace with itself and not given to inner conflicts and tensions. So much in our world is calculated to destroy that personal peace through sins and temptations of a thousand kinds. We pray that the lives of the Saints will be lived in harmony with the ideal set before us by Jesus of Nazareth.

We pray that Satan’s efforts will be thwarted, that personal lives can be peaceful and calm, that families can be close and concerned with every member, that wards and stakes, branches and districts can form the great body of Christ, meeting every need, soothing every hurt, healing every wound until the whole world, as Nephi pleaded, will “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. …

“My beloved brethren,” continued Nephi, “this is the way; and there is none other way.” (2 Ne. 31:20-21.) (“That We May Be One”, Elder Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, May 1976)

Zion is Zion because of the character, attributes, and faithfulness of her citizens. Remember, “the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards, and stakes, we must rise to this standard. It will be necessary (1) to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2) to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3) to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us. We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen-Zion will come only as they happen (“Come to Zion”, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, November 2008).