Our worldwide church requires each of us to realize that we are greater than our differences.
Less than 30 years ago, the Berlin Wall was the ultimate physical symbol of division and uncertainty. Today, that physical boundary has been torn down. But we regularly need to cross cultural boundaries to interact with individuals all around the world through the Internet. With these boundaries, it may be difficult to understand how we can share faith and strength.
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, explains that even with our differences, a global society will be successful if it is based on God’s laws. It is our responsibility as members of the Church to look past differences and see others as children of God—to be examples of Christ and invite others to do the same.
—Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Uchtdorf emphasizes that there should be a clear distinction between our “cultural and other preferences and the gospel of Jesus Christ.” That is, it does not matter where faithful members of the Church are located, what government rules them, or what culture they belong to. What matters is that we break down our personal Berlin Walls and live the gospel together.
The Church is not an American church but one that puts aside our differences to unite children of God throughout the world.
Read President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s full article, “The Church in a Cross-Cultural Wowe are all brothers and sisters and that we should treat each other with love.rld.”
Source: Religious Studies Center
—Sam Lund, Mormon Insights
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I think this is a big issue in the Church today. It is hard as human beings to look past our differences, but as a Church we need to be accepting of all people and their differences.