How many people advocate there are differences between people, upholding the belief that he or she does things differently, how each learn differently and understands differently. Are these claims speaking of the ways of God or just man?
Jesus Christ clearly said that he and his Father are one. The Book of Mormon and the Bible describes this type of unity as one mind and one heart. The Bible speaks of having one mind together. With all these counsels from God about unity, what then of these differences that people so wantonly declare for themselves or others to create separation between each other?
It is true that each person is different. Even with similarities, there are still differences, but God does not teach differences, God teaches unity. True, we are to respect differences between us, even Jesus Christ was different from the Father as the Holy Ghost is different also. All of these are real persons as you and I, yet these three are “one” according to the word of God.
People’s ideas and beliefs about differences also reins strong in attitudes toward God’s word as the belief that people will “interpret” things differently, believe differently etc. Can this thinking lead anyone to God’s teachings about unity and one mind?
Jesus clearly said he and his Father are one. He did not speak of differences or different interpretations, he spoke clearly of unification, where he and his Father understand the same thing, know the same thing, live by the same principles, perceive the same way, have the same goals, abide in each other. The principle of unity is imperative to be a Christian, so much so that God made it the second commandment, which is to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). Can you see the principle of unity in that scripture, or do you still want to keep to differences and separation? To divide yourself from your neighbor, would this not be the same as saying to divide from others as you divide from yourself?
Jesus understood and knew the same thing as the Father in heaven, there were no differences in his thoughts, words and actions. He spoke as if he is the Father because he and the Father are one. This is the underlying principle in D&C 1:38, “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” It is also the same when a faithful person speaks the spiritual truth as given to him by God, what he says is of God and whether God says it or his servant, it is the same. The idea of “interpretation” and “differences” does not exist in it.
Yet people want to maintain differences and interpretations making no effort to develop unity. To learn and become unified can only occur by the hand (Spirit) of God and not by their own efforts or desires.
God once said in the Old Testament, “lean not to thy own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5), here God spoke of dispensing with our perceptions and beliefs about differences and learn unity. By our own understanding, which is also by private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20), unity cannot exist.
God’s word, his principles, his truth is what determines unity, it is not by our own ideas of differences. The unification Jesus spoke of with Heavenly Father included learning, understanding and knowing eternal truth and principles in the same way as Heavenly Father so we can think, choose and act as him. We cannot become perfect as him without it and it is impossible to be “one” with heavenly Father without knowing, doing, seeing, understanding in accordance to the same eternal truths and principles.
This says, when God teaches each of us his truths, his principles, his spiritual laws, he teaches us in accordance to those same truths, principles and laws. What a person learns by the Spirit is in accordance to the scriptures and in accordance to all that God is. When God changes a person who progresses by God’s ways, be assured that what that person has learned and how he learned, will be in accordance to God and it is that which makes that person more unified. This says that God uses tools, methods and ways that promote and support unity with him. He knows what we need and what we need to do. All methods from God are for our spiritual benefit, training and spiritual preparation and since God is universal so are his methods. That is the power of unity, it applies to everyone, no matter the difference. Therefore, a method God uses to teach one person here, will be the same method valuable to another over there. If a person denies this universal (unification) way of God, they will find themselves divided from God, which is then, a sure way to loose exaltation.
Applying this to other things God has said to us, such as not to sin, not to be wicked, there too are things that will cause division because of pride, selfishness, self-justification etc. To these things God tells us to be humble and to be as a child (teachable), then that person has a good chance to dispense with his/her ideas of differences and division, while learning how to unify in thought and spirit and not loose their own personage (identity as a child of God).
Differences between people have no bearing on anything when it comes to God. Sure, a person may have different experiences and may appear to take a different direction in the world, but that makes no difference to God.
God does not teach differences, he teaches unity and when God provides counsel to one person, be assured that what God gives in his counsel is the same thing that God will give to another when he counsels them. Make no difference to it.
If a person is so determined to hang on to differences, then such a person does not seek unity with God neither with others and will likely not learn from God, because they want to hold to their differences as their personal identity and self of self-importance. This only will cause them to fail to understand God and his ways, for God’s principles of unity gives us personal power in our lives. A power that is seen in united families or families that work together as one. Do you now see the importance to Family in God’s word and teachings? IS it any wonder that God created one church (one family) and many churches (many denominations) are not of God? Is it any wonder that Satan works so hard to break families up and destroy the spirit of family? Satan is clearly against unification. How Satan is so knowing of God’s principles of unity, why is it so hard for people to see this? Does Satan have their tongue, leading them to think, believe and choose against unification?
Differences does not support and build unification. Despite differences, God helps us learn how we can become unified. To learn this we must seek unity in our hearts and mind, not differences.
Jesus Christ surely carries different things from Heavenly Father, that is the singularity God creates in all of us, making each of us unique, but this is never a block or barrier to God’s unity in truth and we should never make it one.
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