I hope this post lifts you up spiritually as you engage mentally and emotionally with all the thoughts and feelings that were shared in Relief Society on Sunday. The purpose of this blog is to lift you up spiritually and to keep you filled in or reminded of our weekly lessons. Quotes in Italics are from the manual, scriptures are hyperlinked and comment by the group have a pink heading.
Unity in the Church:
John 17:19-21
"If we have division in our midst; if we be divided either spiritually or temporally, we never can be the people that God designs us to become, nor can we ever become instruments in His hands of making the world believe that the holy Priesthood has been restored, and that we have the everlasting Gospel."
What does the word Unity mean to you?
Dictionary:
unity between alliance members: harmony, accord, cooperation, collaboration, agreement, consensus, solidarity; formal concord, concordance. ANTONYMS: strife, discord.
How can we develop unity in the ward?
Jenya talked about how unity is often found in friendship and fellowship. She mentioned that going to activities such as the ward campout that took place a few weeks ago is a great way to get to know people and connect with them on a more personal level, versus only seeing them at church. She also pointed out that her branch back in Russia was very close nit and unified because they spent time outside of church together most nights of the week! Friendships last beyond ward boundaries.
She also pointed out that often we are not unified or friends with others because we haven't given each other a chance. She shared that at work a new lady started up working there who had big hari, sparkles everywhere and listened to country music - which is nothing like herself! They seemed to be opposites, but as they started talking they became the best of friends. Jenya pointed out that if we don't give people a chance to be our friends because they don't look or act like us, we are the ones missing out!
Some of the comments made by the group:
- Serving others improves love and unity. Never suppress a generous thought! If you think of doing something nice for someone, follow through and do it.
- One sister likened unity in the ward unto Project Runway group challenges. She said that when contestants in a group only focused on themselves and their own ideas, then the project turned out terribly, but when the contestants cam together and relied on each others' strengths, then the project turned out to be great.
- This in turn brought up the point that the individual contribution made by a single ant or bee is very small ( 1 bee only contributes 1 teaspoon of honey in it's life time), but the sum total of all the work that is done together by the group is very great! The same could be said of a ward. We all have a role in the church with our individual callings. Our contributions may be small, but the total of all our efforts can turn out to be huge!
- Christ uses our love for Him to love others. the more we love our Saviour the more we have the capacity to love others.
"Should there not be union in the family? … Most assuredly there should. And why should any man be satisfied, why should any husband and father of a family rest satisfied until he effects a perfect union, that is, just as far as a perfect union can be accomplished?"
How would you describe perfect unity in the home?
Unity Comes from Love
"We talk considerably in regard to the principle of loving our neighbors as well as we love ourselves; we talk about it and we sometimes think about it, but how much do we really enter into the spirit of these things, and see that the difficulty lies within ourselves? We must understand that we have got to act upon certain principles by which we can bind ourselves together as a people, to bind our feelings together that we may become one, and this never can be accomplished unless certain things are done, and things that require an exertion on our part."
Doctrine and Covenants 64:8-9
Comments Made by the Group:
- Forgiveness leads to more love and frees us up to feel good feelings.
- When we do not forgive one person, these negative feelings hinder our other relationships. Kate Livingston shared an experience of her friend who was angry at her mother for many years. She realized the bad feelings harbored for her mom was getting in the way of having great relationships with others. She forgave her mom, and was married shortly after, free of her burden of anger and grudge.
- One sister says she likes the phrase "I refuse to soak in the sauna of self pity." She pointed out that when you do, you get pruney and it's just not good :) Very cute way of putting it..
- Think of why Christ told us to be like children. They always forgive and love unconditionally.
- Focus on acquiring each others positive aspects in marriage. Help each other grow and progress, and be positive!
- And finally, everyday is a new day to start over and try again!
Blessings of Unity
"The voice of the Almighty called us out from the midst of confusion, which is Babylon, to form a union and a lovely brotherhood, in which we should love one another as we love ourselves. When we depart from this purpose, the Spirit of God withdraws from us to the extent of that departure. But if we continue in the extent of those covenants which we made when we received the Gospel, there is a corresponding increase of light and intelligence, and there is a powerful preparation for that which is to come. And because of our faithfulness and our adherence to the covenants we have made, the foundation upon which we stand becomes like the pillars of heaven—immovable."
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