Edified: Insights for LDS Women
Episode 29  "Creating Oneness By Union of Feeling"
Season 2
29 NOV 2020

A few years ago, Elder Bednar taught us that the strength of a rope relies on the union of individual threads which, on their own may not be strong, but when twisted together, they become exceptionally strong. When I think about the word, unity, I think of teamwork and strength. Interestingly, by definition, the word unity means “wholeness; oneness; and the state of being one.” But it can also mean “harmony, singleness, and an absence of diversity.” That kind of catches my attention, because we’re taught that diversity is a strength and should be celebrated. A closer look, however, reveals that diversity in our roles and gifts are a necessary part of creating a union of feeling. That sounds counterintuitive at first, but not when we consider the strength that comes through the unique gifts that each of us contributes to the Lord’s work. It’s not diversity in gifts and strengths that divides us. Rather, it’s diversity in character that keeps us from becoming truly unified. 

So how then does diversity in our roles and gifts help us create a union of feeling?

The perfect example of this is the Godhead. Each member of the Godhead has unique roles, but when it comes to character, they are the same. Perfectly unified. They are one. One in mind. One in heart. One in purpose. In a sense, we can see how their perfect unity is part of their power--that same power we are told we can obtain if we develop a union of feeling with the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. This means molding our character to theirs. It means doing all we do in the Name of Jesus Christ. It means our mind is the mind of Christ; our words are the words of Christ, and our heart is the heart of Christ. And it means our eye is single to the Glory of God.

That’s a pretty tall order, isn’t it?

In her conference talk, "By Union of Feeling We Obtain Power With God," Sister Sharon Eubank makes the point that our differences cause great divisions among so many and we are surrounded by opposition. In her questioning and searching, she came up with three suggestions to help us be more unified with others: 

1.  Have mercy -- Become free in imparting mercy to each other.  Mercy is that it is a gift. It’s a gift we receive from the Lord, and it’s a gift we have the power to give to others. 

2.  Learn how to make our boat swing. “Swing” is something magical that occurs “when all in the boat are rowing in such perfect unison that not a single action is out of sync. Only then will it feel as if the boat is moving on its own. Only then does pain entirely give way to exultation. Good ‘swing’ feels like poetry.” 

3.  Learn how to clear away the bad as fast as the good can grow, and she used the allegory in Jacob 5 to illustrate this. It’s all about the messy work of caring for the vineyard. She said, “Unity doesn’t magically happen; it takes work. It’s messy, sometimes uncomfortable, and happens gradually when we clear away the bad as fast as the good can grow.” 

Be part of a collective force that changes the world for good. We have unlimited potential to change society. And as we seek "union of feeling," we will call down the power of God to make our efforts whole. 

Do One Thing

Cheer someone on who is trying to use their spiritual gifts to light the world. Celebrate their wins with them. Comment on their social media posts and let them know you value their light.

Resources

Sharon Eubank's "By Union of Feeling"
Music "Keys of Moon, Be Inspired" free music download
Follow on IG @melinda.r.morgan