Young men and young women walk through Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier in Chicago
Have you ever had a hard time feeling unified with other members of the Church? The Saints in Rome who lived during Paul’s time came from a variety of backgrounds and cultures. At times they had disagreements and tensions with each other. In response, Paul encouraged them to “be of the same mind one toward another” (Romans 12:16). This lesson can help you find ways to become more united with members of the Savior’s Church.
Identifying principles. When students learn to identify gospel principles in the scriptures, they can become more familiar with truths that will lead them to the Savior. Identifying gospel principles takes thoughtful effort and practice. As students identify these principles, restate these truths clearly and simply to help students remember them in the future.
Student preparation: Invite students to read Doctrine and Covenants 38:27 and think about why the Lord would want members of His Church to be united.
Possible Learning Activities
We can all be united
Share the following scenario with the class, or share another story or example that illustrates a similar challenge.
Micah and his family were baptized three years ago. It has taken some time for Micah’s family to adjust to a new way of life as members of the Church, but they received strong social support and acceptance from the members of their branch. Recently, Micah’s father accepted a new job, and his family moved to a different area. Micah has attended church and youth activities in his new ward for a few weeks, but he is having a hard time feeling accepted there. The youth seem nice, but most of them seem to be longtime members of the Church, and Micah wonders if they might judge him for his imperfections and inexperience with the Church.
What advice would you give Micah to help him with this situation?
What advice would you give to the youth in Micah’s new ward?
Paul wrote his epistle to the Romans during a time when Church members from different religious and cultural backgrounds began worshipping together. There were times when these Saints disagreed with each other or unfairly judged other Church members whose choices differed from theirs. One of the lessons we can learn from Paul’s teachings in Romans 12–15 is that although we all have differences, members of the Church can strive to be united through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
What can make it difficult to feel united with other members of the Church?
Invite students to think of their preparation for class before asking the next question. It may also help to have them read Doctrine and Covenants 38:27 aloud.
Why do you think it is important to the Lord that the members of His Church be united?
Think about how connected you feel with people in your ward or branch, your seminary classmates, or other members of the Church. During this lesson, think about how you can become more united with other members of the Savior’s Church.
Paul’s teachings about unity
Display the following sets of verses for students to study. It may be helpful to assign each set of verses to a small group of students.
To help students further internalize what they are studying, consider inviting them to choose one verse or phrase and create a visual representation to illustrate what that verse teaches. For example, students could draw a picture or make a collage that represents the verse.
Invite the students to share what they learned from their studies. If students created a visual representation, invite them to share it with others. Use questions like the following to have a meaningful discussion about unity.
What did you learn from the verses you studied that can help you become more unified with others?
How can making efforts to be unified with others help us become more like Jesus Christ?
What experiences from your life or the lives of others have shown you the importance of being unified with other Church members?
Consider watching the video “A Friend to All” (4:01), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org. In this video, Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described some of the experiences his family had when they were new members of the Church. As you watch, think about how you can better support and befriend fellow Church members.
What stood out to you from Elder Soares’s message? Why?
Applying what you have learned
Think about what you have learned and felt about unity as you have studied today. Take a moment to make a plan about how you will incorporate these teachings into your life. Write down a goal about how you will strive for unity in one or more of the following settings:
With members of your Young Women class or priesthood quorum
With members of your seminary class
With other members of your ward or branch
It may also help to write down any obstacles you face in achieving your goal. How can you overcome those obstacles? How can the Lord help?
Invite a few volunteers to share their plan with the class. Look for ways to praise them for their ideas, and encourage the students to follow through with their plans. Testify of the truths that have been discussed today.
Commentary and Background Information
What can we learn from the challenges the Church faced in Rome during Paul’s time?
Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
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Elder Quentin L. Cook
Our Church culture comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the Romans is profound. …
… Paul admonishes the Jews and the Gentiles to keep the commandments and love one another and affirms that righteousness leads to salvation.
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.
What can happen as we make efforts to be unified members of the Savior’s Church?
Elder Jorge T. Becerra of the Seventy taught:
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Elder Jorge T. Becerra
In each ward and branch we need everyone—those who may be strong and those who are perhaps struggling. All are necessary to the vital edification of the entire “body of Christ.” I often wonder who we are missing in our various congregations that would strengthen us and make us whole.
Sister Sharon Eubank of the Relief Society General Presidency shared the following account:
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Sister Sharon Eubank
In 1842, the Saints were working hard to build the Nauvoo Temple. After the founding of the Relief Society in March, the Prophet Joseph often came to their meetings to prepare them for the sacred, unifying covenants they would soon make in the temple.
On June 9, the Prophet “said he was going to preach mercy[.] Supposing that Jesus Christ and [the] angels should object to us on frivolous things, what would become of us? We must be merciful and overlook small things.” President Smith continued, “It grieves me that there is no fuller fellowship—if one member suffer all feel it—by union of feeling we obtain pow’r with God” [“Minutes and Discourse, 9 June 1842,” 61, Joseph Smith Papers] .
That small sentence struck me like lightning. By union of feeling we obtain power with God. This world isn’t what I want it to be. There are many things I want to influence and make better. And frankly, there is a lot of opposition to what I hope for, and sometimes I feel powerless. Lately, I have been asking myself searching questions: How can I understand people around me better? How will I create that “union of feeling” when all are so different? What power from God might I access if I am just a little bit more unified with others?
“To Love Them All” (3:22), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Elder Patrick Kearon of the Presidency of the Seventy speaks about inclusion and friendship in the Church.
“Till We All Come in the Unity of the Faith” (2:21), available on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Brother Ahmad S. Corbitt of the Young Men General Presidency speaks about the growing diversity that exists in the Church.
Supplemental Learning Activities
God expects us to dedicate our lives to Him and refrain from conforming to the world
To teach this truth found in Romans 12:1–2, bring to class two containers of different shapes and a cup of water. Pour the water from one container to another, pointing out how the water conforms to the shape of the container.
Explain that in this demonstration, the water represents people, and the containers represent different worldly beliefs and practices. Invite students to respond to this question: “What dangers can come from continually conforming to worldly beliefs and practices?”
Alternative lesson beginning: broom object lesson
Bring a broom to class, or display a picture of one.
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A broom in a room at Cove Fort, Utah.
Have a discussion about the efficiency of using a broomstick to clean a floor. What would happen if you tried to clean with a single bristle? Invite students to consider what the many broom bristles bound together can help us understand about unity.