Eyring - Our Hearts Knit as One - October 2008

President Eyring addresses the topic of unity.  Unity brings us together in an effort to find joy in the service of others.

• We know from experience that joy comes when we are blessed with unity. We yearn, as spirit children of our Heavenly Father, for that joy which we once had with Him in the life before this one. His desire is to grant us that sacred wish for unity out of His love for us. He cannot grant it 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.

He speaks of several principles of the gospel that lead to greater unity:

• One of those principles 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.
  
• A second principle to guide our progress to become one is to be humble. Pride is the great enemy of unity. You have seen and felt its terrible effects.
  

He speaks of the need for people to be less contentious.  We need to have a spirit of peace and understanding if we are to be united.  He specifically addresses the need for us to be peacemakers.

• To be that peacemaker, you need to have the simple faith that as children of God, with all our differences, it is likely that in a strong position we take, there will be elements of truth. 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.
  

Differences among us can be viewed as opportunities when we involve Christ in our lives.

• 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.

He speaks of one final principle necessary for us to be united with each other.  He discusses the need to be patient with out church leaders and they can and will make mistakes.  But as we turn to the Lord, we will be blessed to find common ground and have our hearts softened against those that irritate and hurt us.

• It is to speak well of each other. I can promise you a feeling of peace and joy when you speak generously of others in the Light of Christ.
  

Finally, he talks about the results of being united with one another.

• With the unity I see increasing, the Lord will be able to perform what the world will think as miraculous. The Saints can accomplish any purpose of the Lord when fully united in righteousness.
  

Unity is a principle of heaven.  We need to find common ground so we can get along and help each other along the path of life.  I am glad we have prophets and apostles who speak about us coming together instead of trying to divide us for their personal gain.  In the world around us, we need make examples of people trying to divide us among sex, age, race, political choices, etc.  It is refreshing to hear words of our prophets that bring us together and unite us in our efforts to all try to return to our Heavenly Father.