Unity and Love in the Church
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be in his heart; evil surmising will find no room there; hatred cannot
exist. The heart in harmony with God is lifted above the annoyances
and trials of this life. But a heart where the peace of Christ is not,
is unhappy, full of discontent; the person sees defects in everything,
and he would bring discord into the most heavenly music. A life of
selfishness is a life of evil. Those whose hearts are filled with love of
self will store away evil thoughts of their brethren and will talk against
God’s instrumentalities. Passions kept warm and fierce by Satan’s
promptings are a bitter fountain, ever sending forth bitter streams to
poison the life of others....
Let each one who claims to follow Christ esteem himself less
and others more. Press together, press together! In union there is
strength and victory; in discord and division there is weakness and
defeat. These words have been spoken to me from heaven. As God’s
ambassador I speak them to you.
Let everyone seek to answer the prayer of Christ: “That they all
may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee.” Oh, what unity
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is this! and says Christ: “By this shall all men know that ye are My
disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
When death claims one of our number, what are our memories of
the treatment he has received? Are the pictures upon memory’s walls
pleasant to reflect upon? Are they memories of kind words spoken,
of sympathy given at the right time? Have his brethren turned away
the evil surmisings of indiscreet meddlers? Have they vindicated his
cause? Have they been faithful to the inspired injunction: “Comfort
the feeble-minded, support the weak”? “Behold, thou hast instructed
many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.” “Strengthen ye the
weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a
fearful heart, Be strong, fear not.”
When he with whom we have associated in the church is dead,
when we know that his account in the books of heaven is fixed, and
that he must meet that record in the judgment, what are the reflections
of his brethren as to the course they have pursued toward him? What
has been their influence upon him? How clearly now every harsh word,
every unadvised act, is called to mind! How differently they would
conduct themselves if they had another trial!
The apostle Paul thanked God for the comfort given him in sorrow,
saying: “Blessed be ... the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in