Lesson 39  - For the Perfecting of the Saints 

Attention activity: 

If yea are not one yea are not mine.  Show the class a frayed piece of rope.  Discuss with them how each individual strand by itself is weak... but together they are strong.  This is a classic example of how together we are stronger than we are alone... as a church, as a couple, as a family.  As you discuss some of these principles... break one of the strands of rope showing how we can be weak alone.

Atonement - 

The atonement is the means by which we can become at one with God.  The atonement makes us not only one with God but can also make us one with other people.

In His intercessory prayer, Christ asks the father:  “that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” and “that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:21, 23). In this plea, we see that the Atonement is to operate not only for helping us become one with God, but also moving us to become one with the people in our own lives.

Who are we supposed to be one with?

God, Spouse, Family, Church Members, etc.

During Paul's time the Gospel had been sent to the Jews originally... and then sent to the Gentiles.   They were Joining the church in-mass and were to become "One" with the Jews in the Gospel.  The Saints of Paul’s day faced some especially difficult obstacles as they sought to live in unity and love with these two groups. No groups were more disparate than Jews and Gentiles. The Jews believed that Gentiles were created to fuel the fires of hell, there was no salvation or hope for them. They were not to eat with Gentiles or sleep in their houses. Contact was to be avoided as much as possible. The Gentiles equally despised the Jews for their exclusiveness.  This would cause a severe social crisis to these individuals who were told to become "One" with people who were just a short time ago almost enemies. Now, they are told to be a unified congregation.To teach the Ephesians about this unity, Paul uses the metaphor of the temple and the balustrade (see Ephesians 2:11–18).

The temple had a variety of walls/boundaries of separation that blocked access to specific areas of the temple.  First there is the outer wall - this wall had a 4 1/2 foot railing on top of it that warned Gentiles to not enter on pain of death. This creates the court of the Gentiles or outer court.  Then there was the court of the Women - only Jews could enter here both men and women.  Then there was the Court of Israel where the Men could enter and interact with the Priests.  Then there is the Court of the Priests.  This was the area where the Priests/Levite would perform the sacrifices/gifts as described in the Law of Moses for the people.  Then there was the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place.  The most holy place was to be entered only once per year by the high priest and that only after Sacrificing and purifying himself. Each of these walls were there to keep people in their proper place. Paul repeatedly mentions the image of unity between the former Jews and Gentiles. He speaks of “abolish[ing] . . . enmity” (Ephesians 2:15), making “both one” (Ephesians 2:14), making of “twain one new man” (Ephesians 2:15), and “reconciling] both unto God in one body” (Ephesians 2:16).  These images seem to correlate to the creation story and how Adam and Eve were commanded to be one flesh. The word for “one” is the Hebrew word ehad. It does not reflect cardinal numbers, like one, two, three, and four. Rather, the word ehad reflects unity. It is like one cluster of many grapes or the two blades of one pair of scissors. The image here is of two former enemies so united in heart and walk that they enter the temple together as one, ehad, to worship God.  What a beautiful but difficult to implement image!

Paul References the Separation of the Temple Veil - Torn at death of Christ - Symbolism of All have access to God now.

Paul further taught that the Gentiles are also fellow heirs with Christ as were the Jews. Eph 3:5-6
He also speaks of this in Hebrews 9:7-9, 23-28 - Christ sacrificed himself once and entered into the holy place that all may have access to God.
But through his death, Jesus rent that partition, signifying, among other things, that all people could reach God’s presence (Jesus in the Temple Ensign - April 1991 search for term veil to find reference)

Paul teaches of unity in the Church in Doctrine, Practices, Ordinances. 

(Eph 4:4-6)
There is one Lord, one Faith, one baptism
One God the Father of all 

Unity with our leaders

In the Church of Jesus Christ we have stewardships/callings that allow us to exercise each individuals gifts. Just as all are not alike in knowledge so are we not alike in gifts of the spirit.
Paul Teaches us this in these verses (Eph 4:11-16).  Through these callings/stewardships we can be protected from every wind of doctrine, and sleight of man whereby we may be deceived.  This also allows us to truly be unified and that the scripture isn't of private interpretation but can be authoritatively interpreted through the Prophet of the Church thus allowing true unity to be possible.

We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive church - the same callings/stewardships and gifts that were present during the time of Christ as well as now.

Unity with our leaders

: - 1983 Ensign - April - Unity: Marion G. Romney
Some members assume that one can be in full harmony with the spirit of the gospel, enjoy full fellowship in the Church, and at the same time be out of harmony with the leaders of the Church and the counsel and direction they give. Such a position is wholly inconsistent, because the guidance of this Church comes not alone from the written word but also from continuous revelation, and the Lord gives that revelation to the Church through his chosen prophet. It follows, therefore, that those who profess to accept the gospel and who at the same time criticize and refuse to follow the counsel of the prophet are assuming an indefensible position. Such a spirit leads to apostasy. It is not new. It was prevalent in the days of Jesus and in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Unity in the Church

This unity was not optional! D&C 105:3-5, Math 5:23-24
This is also taught in our temples today.  We are to first be reconciled to brother/sister/spouse then come to the temple and offer our offerings.

Who are we to be unified with? Lets look at each of these individually - as Paul speaks of them

1. We are individually to be unified with God

    (Eph 5:1-20)

2. We are to be unified with others

    (Eph 5:21)

3. We are to be unified with our spouse in the proper way 

   (Eph 5:22-33)

4. We are to be unified with our children in the proper way

    (Eph 6:1-4)

5. Servants are to serve their masters properly without rebellion

    (Eph 6:5-9)

Each in the proper way and in the proper order.

We are to be unified with God: