I would like to share some of my thoughts on President Eyring's talk last October (2008), entitled
Our Hearts Knit as One.
"The Lord Jehovah will return to live with those who have become His people and will find them united, of one heart, unified with Him and with our Heavenly Father." - President Eyring
I have typically thought of the Lord's people as some discrete group, that may differ based on the context. It is interesting that President Eyring indicates that the Lord will come to "those who have become His people." This poses the question, What must we do to qualify ourselves as His people? President Eyring offers an excellent explanation. The Lord "will find [His people] unified, of one heart, unified with Him and with our Heavenly Father." If we want to become the Lord's people, we must be unified with each other, with the Lord, and with our Heavenly Father. Just as Christ is unified with the Father. This is the unity that will ultimately establish Zion.
"And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.": - Moses 7:18
In
Mosiah 18:22 we read that Alma's people "became the children of God." How did they become the children of God?
"Everything Alma and his people were inspired to do was pointed at helping people choose to have their hearts changed through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That is the only way God can grant the blessing of being of one heart." - President Eyring
Alma loved the Savior. Alma loved his people. He wanted them to experience the joy and blessings of becoming a child of God.
"That is why Alma commanded the people to teach faith and repentance. That is why my children came to expect in every lesson in family night that I would find a way to encourage someone to testify of the Savior and His mission. Sometimes the parents did it. On our best nights we found a way to encourage the children to do it, either by presenting the lesson or answering questions. When testimony about the Savior was borne, the Holy Ghost verified it. On those nights we felt our hearts being knit together." - President Eyring
Our families can be united as we teach and practice faith in Jesus Christ and repentance through His atoning sacrifice. Together we will help each other along the path to become the children of God.
