In June 1994, I was anxiously driving back home from work
to watch on TV our national soccer team
play in the World Cup.
Soon after I started my journey, I saw from afar on the sidewalk
a handicapped man quickly rolling forward his wheelchair,
which I noticed was decorated with our Brazilian flag.
I knew then he was also going home to watch the game!
When our paths crossed and our eyes met,
for a fraction of a second, I felt strongly united
with that man!
We were going in different directions,
didn't know each other, had clearly different
social and physical conditions, but our same passion
for soccer and love for our country
made us feel like one in that very moment!
I haven't seen that man since then,
but today, decades apart, I can still see those eyes
and feel that strong connection with that man.
After all we won that game and the World Cup that year!
[LAUGHTER]
In the Church, in spite of our differences,
the Lord expects us to be one!
He said in the Doctrine and Covenants: "Be one,
and if ye are not one ye are not mine."
As we all enter a meetinghouse to worship as a group,
we should leave behind our differences,
including race, social status, political preferences, academic
and professional achievements, and instead
concentrate on our common spiritual objectives.
Together we sing hymns, ponder about the same covenants during
the sacrament, say simultaneously an audible
"amen" after talks, lessons, and prayers--meaning that we
jointly agree with what was shared.
These things that we do collectively
help create a strong sense of oneness
within the congregation.
However, what really determines, solidifies,
or destroys our unity is how we act when we are apart
from our fellow Church members.
As we all know, it is inevitable and normal
that we eventually talk about each other.
Depending on what we choose to say about one another,
our words will either have our "hearts
knit together in unity," as Alma taught at the Waters of Mormon,
or they will erode the love, trust, and the goodwill that
should exist among us.
There are comments that subtly destroy unity, such
as "Yes, he's a good bishop; oh, but you should have seen him
when he was young!"
A more constructive version of this
might be "The bishop is so good, and he
has grown so much in maturity and wisdom over the years."
Oftentimes we put permanent labels on people
by saying something like "Our Relief Society president
is a lost cause; she is so stubborn!"
In contrast, we might say, "The Relief Society president
has been less flexible lately."
[LAUGHTER]
"Maybe she's going through some difficult times.
Let's help her and sustain her!"
Brothers and sisters, we have no right
to portray anybody, especially from our Church circle,
as a badly finished product!
Rather, our words about our fellow beings
should reflect our belief in Jesus Christ and His Atonement
and that in Him and through Him, we can always
change for the better!
Some start criticizing and becoming divided with Church
leaders and members for things that are so small.
Such was the case of a man called
Simonds Ryder, who became a member of the Church in 1831.
After reading a revelation that pertained to him,
he was perplexed to see that his name was misspelled Rider,
with the letter i instead of with the letter y.
His reaction to this event contributed to his
questioning the prophet and eventually led
to the persecution of Joseph and falling away from the Church.
It is also likely that we will all experience some correction
from our ecclesiastic leaders, which
will be a test on how united we are with them.
I was only 11, but I remember 44 years ago,
the meetinghouse where my family attended church was
to experience major remodeling.
Before starting that undertaking,
there was a meeting in which local and area leaders were
discussing how the members would participate
with labor in that effort.
My father, who had previously presided
over that unit for years, expressed his very strong
opinion that this work should be done by a contractor and not
by amateurs.
Not only was his opinion rejected,
but we heard that he was severely and publicly rebuked
in that occasion.
Now, this was a man who was very dedicated to the Church
and also a World War II veteran in Europe,
used to resisting and fighting for what he believed in!
One wondered what his reaction might be after this incident.
Would he persist with his opinion
and continue to oppose the decision already made?
We had seen families in our ward who
had become weaker in the gospel and had stopped attending
meetings because they could not be one
with those who were leading.
I myself also witnessed many of our friends
from Primary not remaining faithful in their youth
because their parents were always finding fault
with those inside the Church.
My dad, however, decided to remain one
with our fellow Saints.
Some days later, when ward members
were gathering to help in the construction,
he "invited" our family to follow him
to the meetinghouse, where we would make ourselves
available to help in any way.
I was furious.
I felt like asking him, "Dad, why in the world
are we going to help in the construction
if you were against having the members do it?"
But the look on his face discouraged me to do that.
I wanted to be well for the rededication.
So, fortunately, I decided to be quiet and just go and help
in the building!
Father did not get to see the new chapel,
as he passed away before the conclusion of this work.
But we in the family, led now by my mom,
continued doing our part until it was finished,
and that kept us united with my father, with the Church members
and leaders, and, most importantly, with the Lord!
Just moments before His excruciating
experiences in Gethsemane, when Jesus
was praying to the Father for His Apostles
and all of us, the Saints, he said, "That they
all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee."
Brothers and sisters, I testify that as we decide to be one
with the members and leaders of the Church--both when
we're assembled together but especially when we are
apart--we will also feel more perfectly united with
our Heavenly Father and the Savior.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.