"That They May Be Made Perfect in One"

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment. that ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 14:10-12)

There is unrest in the world we live in. There isn't a lot of joy going around in that great, round collective community we live in. There is violence, there is sickness, there is poverty. There is suffering in all its many forms. The greatest attention, at least in the United States, has been given to particular issues that have divided us. Whatever your position is on these events, there are undeniable, objective facts:

There has been death.
There has been suffering.
There has been hate.

This, of course, is nothing new. It is a natural characteristic of a fallen world to have death and suffering. But our reaction to such events, especially among those of us who have such a knowledge of Christ's gospel as we do, can be different in an important way. My purpose in writing here is not to change anyone's opinion about recent events and what should be done about them. My purpose is to leave a reminder of the great commandment that Christ gave us to love one another, and why He has given it to us. I bring up recent events and the subsequent reactions not to stir anything up any way or the other, but as an example of how a disciple of Jesus Christ can apply charity and understanding to such a situation.

As the scripture above points out, "abiding in His love" is conditional. Certainly His unconditional love is just that--unconditional--but receiving all the blessings that He would have us receive because of that love is conditional on our obedience. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love," the Savior said. The prophet Alma took it a step further, detailing the attributes that are necessary to receive those highest of blessings. He said,

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest." (Alma 13:28-29)

And so the details of that commandment become clear. If we will humble ourselves and keep the commandments, there are certain attributes that should show forth. In particular, Alma notes faith, hope, and charity. That charity--that "love of God"-- must always be in our hearts. We are commanded to love all. Not just those we agree with. Not just those who share our opinion about things. No, we are commanded to love all. That was part of the covenant we made when we stepped into that baptismal font.

Now it is certainly true that we are all different. That is abundantly clear. And it's certainly true that love doesn't mean we have to agree on things. Any married couple can testify of that. But love does require us to not let our disagreements divide us. It requires us to take a step back and consider others' opinions. It requires us to avoid unrighteous judgment at all costs. It requires us to let others believe what they will believe without thinking less of them. Just as Christ's love for each and every one of us is unconditional, so our love for everyone must unconditional. We may not agree with people's demonstrations or their stands or their values or their protests.

But we are required to love them.

What I have noticed is that lately our disagreements have not been in the least bit civil. There has not been an attitude of "agree to disagree." There has been little love. The reaction to a difference of opinion has been contention and hate and division. This is one of the great victories of Satan in these latter days. That we have gotten to the point where we can so easily turn against each other must be one of the adversary's proudest accomplishments. But it was our Dear Savior's prayer, just prior to His greatest show of His love for us, that we not be divided, but one. 

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us...I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou has loved me." (John 17:21,23)

Our Savior would have us been one in mind and purpose because this is the entire purpose of our coming to this earth in the first place. Our goal is ever to become as He is and to qualify for the great eternal blessings that he has promised. But how can we become as He is if we cannot keep ourselves from engaging in the division and the hate that the world is stirring up in these latter days? How can we love others if we are constantly looking for ways to make our point at the expense of others? How can we love others, and be made perfect in one together, if we--those who are to be the light to the world--are contributing to that great divide that is growing with every new polarizing world event?

The simple answer is that we can't.

I would like to leave an invitation as I close. Social media is the great device of this division. The advances that we've seen in social media technology can and should be used to unite, inspire, and uplift those around us, and yet we've seen that in great measure it has done just the opposite. It has divided and put down. My invitation, therefore, is that we as disciples of Jesus Christ be mindful of what we post and what we tweet and what we share. Before posting anything regarding politics or any polarizing event of the day, ask yourself:

Will this post help to bring people together or contribute to the great divide?

It is one thing to express an opinion. It is another entirely to do so in a way that vilifies another person or group of people or their opinion. It was Christ who taught: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:1-2). And eighteen centuries later, He taught, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10).

As disciples of Christ, our standard for our treatment of others is higher. Much higher. There will always be someone who does or thinks or says something you don't agree with. Let it go. Look past their actions and their opinion and see them for the child of God that they are.

Black, white, brown, grey, gay, straight, cop, protester: we are all children of God, and He loves us all the same. Let us be one, and not divided.