# Final Version Good afternoon, brothers and sisters. Lately, while Tori is putting our youngest Jane down, our little girls have been obsessed with the Ladder Day Kids videos on YouTube. A common request is a video about the Title of Liberty. Ellie always gets caught up on and asks, why did he rip his shirt? I made the mistake of saying he took it off to write on it. A response to which they proceeded to remove the pajama shirts we had just worked to get them in and run around saying liberty. When I told my mom I was speaking on unity, she pointed me to a BYU devotional address by Elder Stevenson from January of this year titled “Banners for Discipleship.” I don't know if she pointed me to his devotional about flags because of the "banner of peacemaker" unity section or because of the girls' pajama shirt banners that I had just told her about, but either way, Elder Stevenson's address shaped much of what I’ll share today. From our assigned topic of President Eyring's leadership message in the last leaders general leadership conference. President Eyring taught, “Unity is essential in decision-making in the Church.” He said, “Wherever we serve and lead in the Lord’s Church, we can be blessed by following His counsel and example and thereby gain the power that comes by applying the principle of unity.” With that in mind, I feel impressed to attempt to answer the following question: How can we be united as a family, ward members, countrymen, or a worldwide church when conflicting nations, social groups, personal convictions, or moral interpretations differ and cause discord? Today, we will explore how unity in Christ brings power and how we can overcome differences by becoming the peacemakers President Nelson recently invited us to be. ### Point 1: Unity in Christ and His Gospel (4-5 minutes) In The Church of Jesus Christ, we’re taught that all things are done by common consent. We sustain leaders, make decisions in councils, and minister together—not because we’re identical, but because we’re one in Christ, one in His gospel, and one in purpose. [[D&C 38#27|Doctrine and Covenants 38:27]] says, “If ye are not one, ye are not mine.” That’s a high bar! As Tori just mentioned, think of the City of Enoch, a people so unified that the Lord called them Zion. In [[Moses 7#18|Moses 7:18]], we read, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” Their unity wasn’t just agreement—it was a shared love for God and each other. They were so united that the entire city was lifted up to dwell with Him. That’s the power of unity in the gospel! While it's inspiring to think of the City of Enoch, what about us here and now? We’re not the perfect Zion we strive for yet—our differences can feel like walls between us. ### Point 2: Overcoming Discord Through Peacemaking and Building Bridges (6-8 minutes) Unity can feel challenging when differences arise—whether in our families, wards, or even online with friends or countrymen. But President Nelson has taught us that we have a choice. He said, “Contention drives away the Spirit—every time. … Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always.” Peacemaking isn’t just avoiding conflict—it’s actively building bridges to those who see the world differently. Elder Stevenson, in that devotional my mom pointed me to, gave us a practical way to do this. He quoted President Nelson: “If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help. Building bridges of understanding requires much more of you, but that is exactly what your friend needs.” Elder Stevenson explained that this means showing “fundamental respect for the human dignity of every soul.” Think about that—building a bridge doesn’t mean abandoning your beliefs; it means reaching out with respect and patience, even when it’s hard. This idea of bridge-building runs deep. In another address, President Nelson said, “The best is yet to come because the Savior is coming again. … The Lord is hastening His work and urging us to build bridges of understanding rather than walls of contention.” He’s asking us to be builders—builders of connections that span divides. Imagine applying this in your life: instead of arguing to win, you listen to understand. Instead of shutting down a conversation, you ask questions to see where someone’s coming from. That’s what peacemaking looks like—it’s deliberate, it’s thoughtful, and it takes effort. And here’s where it gets practical. Elder Stevenson also talked about listening—truly listening—not just to reply, but to connect. He said we should practice traits of understanding, and that starts with being active listeners. How often do we half-listen, distracted by our phones or planning our next point? Listening is bridge-building in action. It’s pausing before you respond, maybe even repeating back what you’ve heard to show you care. “So you’re saying this matters to you because…” That small act can turn a potential argument into a moment of unity. President Nelson once added, “As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are to be examples of how to interact with others—especially when we have differences of opinion. … One of the best ways we can show our love for God is how we treat His children.” Building bridges isn’t just about fixing discord—it’s about showing love, even to those who curse or hate us, as the Savior taught. It’s choosing to see others as God sees them and extending a hand across the divide. That’s how we overcome differences and become one. He also said, “As we share our positive experiences in the gospel with others, we wave the ensign of the Restoration.” He added, “Sharing isn’t about selling the gospel. … God doesn’t need you to be His sheriff—He wants you to be His sharer.” So, what do we love about His gospel? I'll share what I love: I love the peace of Christ’s Atonement that heals us, the hope of eternal families, the joy of serving together, and especially the strength of living prophets. How great a blessing is the promise that God knows us by name? That's just some examples, but let the spirit guide you what to share—not to convince but to connect—helps us overcome discord and build unity. ### Point 3: The Power of Unity in Service (5-6 minutes) Elder Eyring said, “The power of unity can multiply the results of our efforts in every service we give in the Church.” I’ve seen this firsthand. Working at a construction company hired by the Church to build Temples and, in this case, a Temple Visitor Center, I’ve seen firsthand how councils are where inspiration and unity emerge. I’ve watched talented professionals bring different ideas, pray together, and find revealed solutions. It’s not about efficiency—it’s about unity. But unity doesn’t mean being pacifists who roll over and abandon our beliefs—President Nelson called for peacemakers, not pacifists. Take Captain Moroni in Alma 46. He raised the Title of Liberty, a banner of faith and freedom, and rallied the people to defend their beliefs. They fought for what mattered, united under that banner, but they did it with love for God and each other, guided by the Spirit. Peacemaking and standing firm aren’t opposites—they harmonize when we serve with the right heart. When we serve together—cleaning the chapel, teaching, ministering, or reaching out—the Lord magnifies us. That’s unity’s power. ### Point 4: Becoming One with the Savior (3-4 minutes) Elder Eyring taught, “When we are unified with one another in service, we cannot help but become increasingly unified with our Savior.” That’s the real power—it draws us to Him. When we set aside differences to lift others, we feel His love. Elder Stevenson, in the devotional, referenced Martin Luther King Jr.'s rendition of the story of Good Samaritan. Martin Luther King Jr. said the priest and Levite asked, “If I stop to help, what will happen to me?” The Samaritan asked, “If I don’t stop, what will happen to him?” That shift—from self to others—that's the unity we're striving for. It’s what makes us peacemakers. ### Conclusion (2-3 minutes) Brothers and sisters, I testify Jesus Christ lives and restored His Church through Joseph Smith. I love Him, and this new to us ward family we're beginning to get to know. Unity isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. As Elder Eyring said, “We can choose to become one in the Lord’s service.” Let’s raise the ensign of peacemaker—praying in councils, loving through differences, and sharing what we love about the gospel. Choose peacemaking. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen. #### Notes [[Sacrament Talk AI Tests - The Power of Unity 2025-03-30]]