Unity

Just before the Savior carried out the Atonement, He
prayed for His disciples, whom He had sent into the world to
teach the gospel. He also prayed for those who would believe
in Him because of His disciples’ words. He pled for unity:
“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 17:21).
From this prayer we learn how the gospel unites us with
Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and with each other. When
we live the gospel, receiving the saving ordinances and keeping
our covenants, our natures are changed. The Savior’s
Atonement sanctifies us, and we can live in unity, enjoying
peace in this life and preparing to dwell with the Father and
His Son forever.
The Lord has said, “If ye are not one ye are not mine”
(D&C 38:27). You can seek and promote this standard of
unity in your family and in the Church. If you are married,
you and your spouse can be unified in purpose and action.
You can allow your unique qualities to complement one
another as you face challenges together and grow in love and
understanding. You can also be unified with other family
members and with members of the Church by serving
together, teaching one another, and encouraging one another.
You can become one with the President of the Church and
other Church leaders as you study their words and follow
their counsel.
As the Church grows throughout the world, all Latterday
Saints can be united. Our hearts can be “knit together in
unity and in love one towards another” (Mosiah 18:21). We
appreciate cultural diversity and individual differences, but
we also seek the “unity of the faith” that comes when we follow
inspired leaders and remember that we are all children of
the same Father (see Ephesians 4:3–6, 11–13).
See also Love; Marriage; Obedience; Service; Zion