Tag: Unity

“And the Lord Called His People Zion”

“And the Lord Called His People Zion”

by Andrea ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

On January 6, 2021, after watching the insurrectionists storm the Capitol Building, I posted something on Instagram about my feelings. I can’t remember if I’ve ever made a political post before on social media, but I felt I had to take a stand against what I saw as an egregious assault on democracy.

I didn’t expect many of my social media friends to like what I said. Many of them have differing political opinions and beliefs than I do, but I feel like there is room for all of our beliefs. Our country is founded on the principles of choice, the right to have and voice an opinion, and the right to dissent. As citizens of the United States, we are fortunate to have a voice and be able to state our opinion on any platform. I expected that some of my friends would disagree with me. What I didn’t expect were personal attacks, which I received, from friends and family. Attacks veiled as “jokes” but filled with mockery and sarcasm. The worst attack came from a so-called friend, who purports to be an active member of the church, that was filled with mockery, belittlement, sarcasm, and bullying.  

I wasn’t personally hurt by the attacks, but I was saddened by them. How has our world come to this? How is it that we get so angry by someone disagreeing with us that we resort to hateful and hurtful remarks?

“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” (Moses 7:18).

In the last General Conference, several talks mention Zion and unity. President Henry B. Eyring tells us that the women of the church are a vital element in the gathering of Israel and establishing Zion (Sisters in Zion). Sister Sharon Eubank states how covenant women have a great influence on those around them. Additionally, she says, “We have power to remove prejudice and build unity” (By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power with God). Elder Quentin L. Cook speaks of unity too. He says, “Righteousness and unity are profoundly significant. When people love God with all their hearts and righteously strive to become like Him, there is less strife and contention in society” (Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity).

In order to establish Zion, I feel we must set aside our anger and discard our contentious thoughts and behaviors. Those feelings cannot coexist in a righteous people. This doesn’t mean that we need to discard our beliefs. Having one mind means opening up ourselves to understanding the mind of another and allowing the Holy Ghost to influence us and change our perspectives, if necessary. It’s coming together and becoming unified in purpose. The purpose of establishing Zion in the last days is to be ready for the coming of the Lord. That should be our focus as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I pledge to make a greater effort to treat others with respect and dignity—even when I disagree with them.

If you would like an idea of the type of unity I am talking about, watch this:

Family Councils Promote Equality in Marriage

Family Councils Promote Equality in Marriage

by Andrea ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

This week I learned about equality in marriage. The Proclamation teaches, “Fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” [i] One great way to have an equal partnership is to have a weekly family council. In this meeting, spouses and families meet together “to discuss family problems, work out finances, make plans, support and strengthen [each other], and pray for one another and for the family unit.”[ii]

Let’s think about how a few of these things promote equality:

First, discussing family problems in family council allows each member of the family to have a voice. For instance, a wife and husband may both be overwhelmed by their many activities. School, work, church callings, cooking, cleaning, and family obligations can be taxing. During family council, they can discuss their many endeavors and seek to find a way to share the load. As they seek each other’s counsel on the matter and make united decisions, their marriage is strengthened.

Family Council

Second, creating and following a budget and going over the budget during family council promotes unity. Since money is one of the largest contributors to marital discord, working out finances together can also strengthen the marriage.  Husband and wife should have an equal say on how money should be spent and saved. They both have an obligation to live within the budget for the welfare of their family. During family council, they go over their expenses from the week before and plan for upcoming expenses. As they prayerfully consider how to allocate their funds, they will have financial peace of mind.

Third, making plans together (especially fun ones) encourages unity. Gone are the days that dad planned the family vacation and mom and the kids went along for the ride. That was my generation. During family council, planning outings and vacations can be a great way to create unity. Plans are formed, assignments are given, and each person contributes. In subsequent family councils, each person reports on how their assignment is going. Encouragement can be given if something difficult arises. Regardless, as both husband and wife work together, the load is equalized and the family is strengthened.

As you can see, family council encourages couples to share responsibilities. It helps them both feel valued and know that their opinion matters. As couples begin to regularly hold family council, they will “be more successful and happy in [their] precious relationships.”[iii]

[i] The Family: A Proclamation to the World. (1995, November). Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://www.lds.org/study/ensign/1995/11/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng

[ii] Ballard, R. M. (2016, May). Family Councils. Retrieved May 25, 2019, from https://www.lds.org/study/liahona/2016/05/saturday-afternoon-session/family-councils.p1?lang=eng

[iii] Ballard, R. M. (2016, May). Family Councils.

Unity

Unity

by Andrea ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Twenty years ago, President Henry B. Eyring gave a talk in General Conference on unity entitled, “That We May Be One.” He reveals that the Savior teaches us through His prayer at the Last Supper, that unity comes from having our natures changed through sanctification and through believing in and being like Him:

“As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

“And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

“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” (John 17:18–21).

President Eyring then explains how keeping the promises we make as we partake of the sacrament helps us to achieve unity.

Discord is the antithesis of unity. It is sown through selfishness and pride. President Eyring states that “It is [Satan] who plants the seeds of discord in human hearts in the hope that we might be divided and separate.” In every relationship, husband/wife, parent/child, employee/employer, etc., the seeds of discord are planted when we seek our own agenda, views, wills, etc., over another’s without listening to or valuing theirs.

If we look back, even to the pre-mortal world, it has always been Satan who planted those seeds. Yet, it has been us, through allowing those prideful and selfish thoughts to fester, that has permitted discord to permeate and ruin our precious and sometimes tenuous relationships. The only way to combat these infectious thoughts and actions is to repent and allow the Savior’s atonement to work within us.

So, what happens if we follow the Savior’s example and discord seems to endure? We “continue in patience” (D&C 67:13). In speaking to priesthood holders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf says that patience, “is a precious and rare virtue.” He further explains that, “Patience is a godly attribute that can heal souls, unlock treasures of knowledge and understanding, and transform ordinary men and women into saints and angels” (Uchtdorf).

I like the idea that patience helps us gain knowledge and understanding and that it transforms us. I have written at length about the importance of seeing things “as they really are” (Jacob 4:13), and viewing ourselves as part of the problem in our relationships. It’s not easy or fun to recognize when I have contributed to disunity in my relationships. Yet, I know that if I do my part by having faith, repenting, being sanctified, and practicing patience, then unity may come.

Unity within marriage, parent/child, work, and church relationships is vital to success. As you and I both well know, discord often interrupts those relationships and puts strain on them. Even when we work hard on repairing them, success isn’t always immediate because there is agency at work. It takes effort on both sides to create unity. When we don’t find immediate success after we’ve done all that we can do, it’s important that we exercise patience and not give up.

I don’t have a story of success to share yet, because there is discord in one aspect of my life that involves many relationships. I don’t have control over the outcome, but I am trying to do my part by following the Savior’s example and exercising patience in the Lord. I know that He can work miracles, and I have hope that unity will not be too far in the distant future.  

Here is a wonderful, short video to watch that was created from Elder Uchtdorf’s talk.

Works Cited

Eyring, Henry B. “That We May Be One”. Lds.Org, 1998, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/04/that-we-may-be-one?lang=eng. Accessed 27 Mar 2019.

Uchtdorf, Dieter F. “Continue In Patience”. Lds.Org, 2010, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/continue-in-patience?lang=eng. Accessed 27 Mar 2019.