The Blessings of Unity

The Blessing of Unity

O.k., to start off, let’s have some good news updates that was shared with us. Kelsey Carbine is now in Young Women; the Earls are now able to move back into their house thanks to their attorney and the news press that they had on Saturday; and for the missionary updates…Elder Jared Fowler is now home…Welcome home Elder Fowler. Elder Douglas Harker will be coming home on October 27th, 17 days (not that I’m counting or anything), Elder Vince Darly will be coming home on December 1st and Elder Daniel Ribble will be home on December 18th. Moms and dads, looks like everybody will be home for Christmas. Isn’t that a Christmas song, “I’ll be home for Christmas” sung by Bing Cosby? I think that’s all of the good news. Feel free to comment on the blog if I’ve missed any.

Sunday, being Fast Sunday, we had our monthly Presidency message by Sister Gaye Page and the name of her discussion was “The Blessings of Unity”. She begins with the questions of, what does Unity mean? Some of the answers that the sisters said were a common purpose where people come together, having peace, having a one heart and one mind, and a bond. President David O. McKay says, “…Harmony, goodwill, peace, concord, mutual understanding – express a condition for which the human heart constantly yearns.” The opposite of unity then would be, anger, not being at peace, having conflicts and friction in our lives and so on. In John 17:11, 20 and 21 it reads, 17: “And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.” 20: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;” 21: “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.” Our purpose is to have more unity in our home, in our neighborhoods, in our work places or wherever we abide. Now that is not always easy, is it? Having to deal with other people alone is difficult, especially when they don’t believe in the same thing as we do. People who don’t like us and try to make our lives difficult, trying to have unity in those situations is not easy. We read in Matthew 12:25, “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:” Back biting, fault finding, making slandering remarks is not creating unity. We become divided and apart. In D&C 38:20 we read, “And this shall be my covenant with you, ye shall have it for the land of your inheritance, and for the inheritance of your children forever, while the earth shall stand, and ye shall possess it again in eternity, no more to pass away.”

Are we one with our families? Are we one with our neighbors? So how do we become unified? Sister Page leaves us with five steps in how we can become unified?
1) Learn the doctrine – Mosiah 18:21;
2) Eliminate a contention – 3 Nephi 11:28-29;
3) Forgive others – D&C 64:8-9;
4) Watch over and strengthen each other – Do our visiting teaching!;
5) Sacrifice – Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven.

Sister Page’s closes the discussion with the final remark, “Unity in the church leads to prosperity.”

Having unity in our homes and in our lives is so important. It can also be the most difficult thing to accomplish too. We can’t control others or their actions. We can only control ourselves and the comments and actions that we make. I know that I struggle with this in my house and I’m sure I am not the only one who struggles with it. It is important that we try and practice unity with everyone that we encounter in our lives. We need to pray for the strength and the will to do so. We can’t do it alone. We all need each other. With this blog, sisters, we have the opportunity to share our thoughts and comments and experiences with others. Your stories and insights of how you tackled your struggles becomes another sister’s strength. We never know whom we help by sharing our experiences...just knowing that somebody else is or has gone though what we are ‘kind of’ going through is so helpful, so please comment on our blog.

Join us for our next discussion next week lead by Sister Marietta Sperry, “The Church of Jesus Christ Today” lesson #17. Take some time and read ahead.

Enjoy, and thanks for reading. Until next time….

Kelly