Unity revisited

 

photo by Olisaknit, Etsy (https://www.etsy.com : accessed 24 January 2022)

I awoke with a heavy heart following events of the past couple of days, and this blog post I wrote last year came back to mind. Here we are nearly a year later, and it often feels like the divisiveness has only continued to escalate. So many I care about are feeling hurt and pain. Pondering on this, the words of a song came to mind this morning.

It’s like a symphony

Just keep listening

And pretty soon you’ll start

To figure out your part

Everyone plays a piece

And there are melodies

In each one of us

Oh, it’s glorious1 

Music speaks to my soul, and I love the symphony analogy used in this chorus. The word symphony derives from the Greek word symphonia, which means agreement or harmonious sound.2 The whole point of a symphony is bringing various musicians and instruments together to create something beautiful. There are times when small solos enhance the piece, but generally, the best symphony is one where each musician focuses on the success of the whole performance without a thought to individual acclaim.

Human nature often finds us trying to be a soloist - trying to stand out. We find ourselves comparing and judging those around us. However, our greatest joy comes from unity, not from personal excellence. Just like a symphony, we see the greatest peace, joy, and contentment when we focus on the whole performance and not just our own.

This morning I was reminded that the gospel word that captures these ideas is Zion. Zion is a condition of the heart and spirit.3  It is having “one heart and one mind” with those around us.4 In other words, it is working together for the success of the whole performance. We know from scripture that Enoch and his people accomplished this:

And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion.5 

As a society, they were filled with love, selflessness, and concern for each other. I do not think our modern society as a whole can accomplish this. But I believe it is possible for small pockets, and most certainly for individuals, to achieve it. President Henry B. Eyring taught, “God will help us see a difference in someone else not as a source of irritation but as a contribution. The Lord can help [us] see and value what another person brings which [we] lack.”6 

It is not something that just happens but is a process that requires time – a becoming, if you will.7 Building Zion starts with the individual. It means trying to find our individual part in the symphony and helping others do the same. It is only when we seek “the interest of [our] neighbor” that “the sounds that are in [our] hearts” begin to soar.8 9   


________________________

1 David Archuleta, “Glorious,” Meet the Mormons, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 2014.

2 Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphony : accessed 24 January 2022), “Symphony,” rev. 18:13, 20 January 2022.

3 The Doctrine and Covenants (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013), D&C 97:21.

4 The Pearl of Great Price (Salt Lake City, Utah: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2013), Moses 7:18.

5 The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:69.

6 Henry B. Eyring, “Our Hearts Knit as One,” Church of Jesus Christ  (https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2008/10/our-hearts-knit-as-one : accessed 24 January 2022), General Conference, October 2008.

7 The Pearl of Great Price, Moses 7:21.

8 The Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 82:19.

9 David Archuleta, “Glorious.”




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