Together as One

Some challenges in this life are meant for one individual, a small number, many, or even an army. When groups work together as one with Gods’s guidance and support, amazing things can be accomplished.

Lifting and Acting Together as One

Many of us remember with joy and a touch of amusement Dieter F. Uchtdorf‘s account of working with his German brethren to move a grand piano out of chapel into the “adjoining cultural hall.”

They tried everything they could think of, which included lining up by “strength, height, and age,” but that “gravity-friendly instrument” wouldn’t budge. Then one brother spoke, “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.” Elder Uchtdorf reported, “the piano rose from the ground and moved into the cultural hall as if on its own power.”

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, we are taught that we are to put our efforts together as one, as the close-standing piano movers did, and that we need to be together in Christ. If the piano needs to be moved, He will help us understand how to do it.

Elder Gerrit W. Gong has taught that individually we all have “foibles and imperfections.”

Yet we all have something needed to contribute. Our journey to God is often found together. We belong as united community—whether confronting pandemics, storms, wildfires, droughts or quietly meeting daily needs. We receive inspiration as we counsel together, listening to each person . . . and the Spirit.

He concluded, “We find and deepen our personal relationship with God, our Father, and Jesus Christ.”

Anticipating and Preparing

Whenever I talk with one of my friends or children who may be struggling, the first thing I ask them is if they are doing the basics. Are you saying your prayers every day? Are you reading your scriptures every day? How about listening to General Conference talks?

Sometimes by just following those easy-to-follow commandments we gain spiritual strength and belief in ourselves to obey the Lord’s commandments. Our focus is on being one with Christ. When we become one with Christ, that makes it easier to become one with each other in serving Him.

The Lord will build on that foundation. Elder Neil L Anderson assured, 

“Whom the Lord calls, the Lord qualifies” [quoting President Monson]. I know this is true, and it gives me hope looking beyond my own inadequacies. I know that when we are on the Lord’s errand, he will be with us, he will strengthen us, he will build our capacities.

Following God’s Direction With Precision

One of the most striking calling-qualification instances in  the Old Testament is the calling and instruction of Gideon to save Israel from the Midianite army, which held them captive (see Judges 6,7). An angel appeared and greeted Gideon, “The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.”

Valour?! Gideon and his family were poor and little-noticed, and at the time Gideon was threshing wheat in a spot hidden from the Midianites. The least likely thing he could consider for himself was to become a warrior. But God promised, “Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.”

The Lord knew who Gideon really was and that if He called and instructed carefully Gideon would follow faithfully. To prepare Gideon, the Lord gave some commandments that were specific and easy to accomplish. After doing what the Lord asked him, Gideon gained confidence that he could obey what the Lord commanded.

Once Gideon was able to be together as one with the Lord, He willingly accepted what the Lord asked him, though it seemed most strange to him. The Lord was having him reduce, not increase or instruct his army. As Gideon gathered his 32,000 to go against the massive number of Midianites, God began telling him to send men home. God wanted everyone who participated, saw, or learned about this operation to have no question of the power behind the delivery.

After the Lord had given ways to select 22,000 people to send home, He commanded Gideon to have everyone drink from a stream, keeping with him only those who cupped their hands when drinking.

With these remaining 300 men, the Lord was ready to show His power. Each of the 300 was commanded to stand in a strategic place selected by the Lord surrounding the camps of the Midianites. They were given specific instructions that might have shocked some of them. But they performed each movement, together as one.

Only the Lord could bring down a massive conquering army with 300 men standing in carefully selected places around the camp blowing trumpets, breaking pitchers, displaying lanterns, and proclaiming “The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon.” Chaos came, and the confused Midianites fled.

President Thomas S Monson told us that we need to stand in our places and obey the Lord, as Gideon did. He emphasized that as we serve in the Lord’s Kingdom each contribution is important. Remember, Gideon still needed 300 men, and they had to be absolutely capable and willing to function together as one.

There are things that I can do that some of you cannot. There are capabilities and experiences that some of you have had that I could not use to help move the work forward. Each one of your experiences and gifts are so important to use for the good of the Lord’s work on the earth today. In early sections of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us that if we have no more than a desire to serve, we are called to the work.

May we each accept our calls and work together as one with each other and with the Savior to do the work where and how He needs and wants us to contribute. If we are one with Him, then we are one with each other and can accomplish things that might make even Gideon’s 300 stand in awe!