Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity

Quentin L Cook

Oral Presentation

Unity is enhanced when people are treated with respect, regardless of their outward chariteristics.

As leaders we are not under the illision that interactions in the past were peacefull, christlike, and welcoming.

Our faith teaches we are all children of God and loved.

Being rightous is not dependent on each of us having blessing in our life at this time. We may not be married with children.

Rightous will dwell with God in Happiness.

Contrast from scared scriptures. 200 year now and then. (4 nephi)

We can be a force to lift and bless. Commit to live rightously and unifited.

Unity and Diversity are not oppisites.

Race is not a dividing factor on our records. Geography and Lanuange are how we divide our Wards.

Constitution and related documents were inspired of God. “established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles.”

“Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.”

” Therefore, it is for this purpose have I established the constitution of this land, by the hands of ise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.” 1833

rejoice in the intercessory prayer. Oneness is what Christ prayed for before his trials.

leave behind cultrual items that conflict with the gospel of Christ.

Written Talk highlights

Righteousness and unity are profoundly significant.

Doctrine and Covenants 38:27 Doctrine and Covenants

27 Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine.

The account of General Kane

Thomas Kane’s service in behalf of the members has consistently been portrayed “as an act of selfless sacrifice by a young idealist who witnessed the injustices inflicted upon a persecuted religious minority by a cruel and hostile majority” (introduction to Elizabeth Wood Kane, Twelve Mormon Homes Visited in Succession on a Journey through Utah to Arizona, ed. Everett L. Cooley [1974], viii).

In 1872, General Kane, his talented wife, Elizabeth Wood Kane, and their two sons traveled from their home in Pennsylvania to Salt Lake City. They accompanied Brigham Young and his associates on a trek south to St. George, Utah. Elizabeth approached her first visit to Utah with reservations about the women. She was surprised by some of the things she learned. For instance, she found that any career by which a woman could earn a living was open to them in Utah.3 She also found Church members were kind and understanding with respect to Native Americans.4

During the trip they stayed in Fillmore at the home of Thomas R. and Matilda Robison King.5

See Lowell C. (Ben) Bennion and Thomas R. Carter, “Touring Polygamous Utah with Elizabeth W. Kane, Winter 1872–1873,” BYU Studies, vol. 48, no. 4 (2009), 162.

Elizabeth wrote that as Matilda was preparing a meal for President Young and his company, five American Indians came into the room. Although uninvited, it was clear they expected to join the company. Sister King spoke to them “in their dialect.” They sat down with their blankets with a pleasant look on their faces. Elizabeth asked one of the King children, “What did your mother say to those men?”

Matilda’s son’s reply was, “She said ‘These strangers came first, and I have only cooked enough for them; but your meal is on the fire cooking now, and I will call you as soon as it is ready.’”

Elizabeth asked, “Will she really do that, or just give them scraps at the kitchen-door?”6

Matilda’s son answered, “Mother will serve them just as she does you, and give them a place at her table.”

And so she did, and “they ate with perfect propriety.” Elizabeth explained that this hostess rose 100 percent in her opinion.7

See Kane, Twelve Mormon Homes, 64–65. It is noteworthy that many Native Americans, including several chiefs, became members of the Church. See also John Alton Peterson, Utah’s Black Hawk War (1998) 61; Scott R. Christensen, Sagwitch: Shoshone Chieftain, Mormon Elder, 1822–1887 (1999), 190–95.

Unity is enhanced when people are treated with dignity and respect, even though they are different in outward characteristics.

Rightousness includes living God’s commandments

Doctrine and Covenants 105:3–5 Doctrine and Covenants

3 But behold, they have not learned to be obedient to the things which I required at their hands, but are full of all manner of evil, and do not impart of their substance, as becometh saints, to the poor and afflicted among them;

4 And are not united according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom;

5 And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

Rightousness Qualifies us

It qualifies us for the sacred ordinances that constitute the covenant path and blesses us to have the Spirit give direction to our lives.

See Alma 36:30; see also 1 Nephi 2:20; Mosiah 1:7. The last part of Alma 36:30 Alma 36:30 Book of Mormon

30 But behold, my son, this is not all; for ye ought to know as I do know, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land; and ye ought to know also, that inasmuch as ye will not keep the commandments of God ye shall be cut off from his presence. Now this is according to his word.

1 Nephi 2:20 Book of Mormon

20 And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

Mosiah 1:7 Book of Mormon

7 And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.

Alma 36:30 Book of Mormon

Rightousness not dependent on Blessings

Being righteous is not dependent on each of us having every blessing in our lives at this time. We may not be married or blessed with children or have other desired blessings now.

We are promised never ending happiness Mosiah 2:41. President Lorenzo Snow (1814–1901) taught: “There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow [2012], 130). See also Richard G. Scott, “The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness,” Ensign, Nov. 1996, 75.

Mosiah 2:41 Book of Mormon

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow The Joy of Living the Great Plan of Happiness October 1996 general conference

Unity

Unity is also a broad, comprehensive term but most certainly exemplifies the first and second great commandments to love God and love our fellowmen.

1 John 5:2 New Testament

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

200 years contrast

The context for my message is the contrast and lessons from sacred scriptures.

It has been 200 years since the Father and His Son first appeared and commenced the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1820.

There was also 200 years after Christ taught the people in the Land of Nephites.

With respect to unity, 4 Nephi reads, “There was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.”15

Unfortunatly a dramatic change destroyed rightousness and unity.

In this dispensation, although we live in a special time, the world has not been blessed with the righteousness and unity described in 4 Nephi. Indeed, we live in a moment of particularly strong divisions. … We can be a force to lift and bless society as a whole. At this 200-year hinge point in our Church history, let us commit ourselves as members of the Lord’s Church to live righteously and be united as never before.

President Russell M. Nelson has asked us “to demonstrate greater civility, racial and ethnic harmony and mutual respect.”

Russell M. Nelson, in “First Presidency and NAACP Leaders Call for Greater Civility, Racial Harmony,” May 17, 2018, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org; see also “President Nelson Remarks at Worldwide Priesthood Celebration,” June 1, 2018, newsroom.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Wards and branches in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are determined by geography or language,19 not by race or culture. Race is not identified on membership records.

Doctrine and Covenants 90:11 reads, “Every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel … in his own language.” Accordingly, language congregations are usually approved.

Doctrine and Covenants 90:11 Doctrine and Covenants

11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Our relationships between people are taught by Nephi

2 Nephi 26:33 Book of Mormon

33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

US Constitution

In our doctrine we believe that in the host country for the Restoration, the United States, the U.S. Constitution21 and related documents,22 written by imperfect men, were inspired by God to bless all people.

Doctrine and Covenants 101:77 Doctrine and Covenants

77 According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;

Doctrine and Covenants 101:79–80 Doctrine and Covenants

79 Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.

80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood.

Saviors intercessory Prayer

I rejoice in the Savior’s Intercessory Prayer recorded in the Gospel of John. The Savior acknowledged that the Father had sent Him and that He, the Savior, had finished the work He was sent to do. He prayed for His disciples and for those who would believe in Christ: “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.”29 Oneness is what Christ prayed for prior to His betrayal and Crucifixion.

Church Cultures

Our Church culture comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is profound.31 The early Church in Rome was composed of Jews and Gentiles. These early Jews had a Judaic culture and had “won their emancipation, and began to multiply and flourish.”32

The Gentiles in Rome had a culture with a significant Hellenistic influence, which the Apostle Paul understood well because of his experiences at Athens and Corinth.

[Paul] chronicles pertinent aspects of both Judaic and Gentile culture that conflict with the true gospel of Jesus Christ. He essentially asks each of them to leave behind cultural impediments from their beliefs and culture that are not consistent with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul admonishes the Jews and the Gentiles to keep the commandments and love one another and affirms that righteousness leads to salvation.

Paul admonishes the Jews and the Gentiles to keep the commandments and love one another and affirms that righteousness leads to [salvation.][34]

[34] https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/rom/13?lang=eng “Romans 13”

The culture of the gospel of Jesus Christ is not a Gentile culture or a Judaic culture. It is not determined by the color of one’s skin or where one lives. While we rejoice in distinctive cultures, we should leave behind aspects of those cultures that conflict with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our members and new converts often come from diverse racial and cultural backgrounds. If we are to follow President Nelson’s admonition to gather scattered Israel, we will find we are as different as the Jews and Gentiles were in Paul’s time.