Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
By Jim Greer
LW contributor
In the October 2020 General Conference, Sister Sharon Eubank of the Relief Society described how we can come to a feeling of union and power with God. She recalled how the saints worked to build the Nauvoo Temple, as the prophet Joseph preached mercy to the Relief Society. He was preparing the sisters for the unifying covenants of the temple.
“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.” Joseph continued, “It grieves me that there is no fuller fellowship— if one member suffers, all feel it—by union of feeling we obtain power with God,” Eubank says she asks herself, “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?”
In answer to her questions, she offered three suggestions.
First, she quoted Jacob 2:17: “Be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.” She recommended that we emphasize mercy over substance. “Be free with your mercy that they may be rich like unto you.”
Joseph’s instruction continued, “The nearer we get to our heavenly father, the more are we disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls—to take them upon our shoulders and cast their sins behind our back. If you would have God have mercy on you, have mercy on one another.”
Eubank challenges that we not judge one another and “keep each other’s names safe and give the gift of mercy.”
Second, Eubank spoke of how in the sport of rowing, there is something called “swing,” which occurs when all row in perfect unison and every movement is in sync. As the rowers sacrifice their independence, they combine their capabilities with their teammates and coalesce as one. In these instances, differences turn into advantages. The boat seems to move on its own, as pain gives way to exultation.
Third, the allegory of the olive tree tells how the tree became corrupted and produced wild fruit. His servants begged the Lord to spare the tree a bit longer. He instructed them, “Clear away the bad according as the good shall grow.” The servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them. Although establishing unity is messy and uncomfortable, with the help of the Lord, we clear away the bad as the good grows.
We all may be somewhat bruised in the pruning process. But Christ’s mercy is always available. He lovingly gives it, asking that we share it with others, that we may be one.
