Devotional Highlights: Kevin J. and Peggy S. Worthen

Can't be sure what the future will bring.

But we are cautiously hopeful

that things will be better,

even though we know the turbulent times still lay ahead.

In a recent message from President Russell M.

Nelson,

he shared with us a remedy

to help us through the turbulent times we are sure to face.

That remedy is the healing power of gratitude.

It is a remedy that can truly fill us with hope.

A lot can happen in the last two innings of a baseball game.

Similarly,

the pandemic experience is not over for us.

The need to adhere to the guidelines is more important than ever.

Because of your good work last semester,

we are ahead,

and if we stay ahead,

if we finish strong,

we can like the home baseball team,

end the game one half inning early.

If on the other hand,

we lose focus and let down our guard,

the virus may overtake us,

requiring us to go extra innings or worse to cancel the game.

The seventh-inning stretch can therefore not only rejuvenate us,

it can also remind us of the need to continue on,

the need to persevere.

The word "persevere" has a deeper meaning than we may realize.

President Nelson recently shared with us that one of

the Hebrew meanings of this theologically significant name, Israel, is

let God prevail.

Another Hebrew meaning of that name

given to Jacob after his wrestle

is persevere

or he perseveres with God.

This

linguistic connection between persevere and Israel

reminds us that difficult tasks like persevering through a pandemic

are easier when we involve God in the process.

Given the centrality of unity to our eternal destiny,

it's not surprising that on the last evening of his mortal ministry,

the Savior prayed to his heavenly Father on behalf of his beloved disciples,

asking that they may be one

"even as we are one,"

that they may be made perfect

in one.

The positive impact of unity on individuals and

society is demonstrated by scriptural examples of societies

that achieved an extraordinary level of unity.

These include the descendants of Lehi in the

American continent after the visitation of the Savior.

The members of the early church in the

Middle East shortly after the savior's mortal ministry there,

and the ancient people of Enoch.

In each of these situations,

the members of the society had their hearts knit together in unity and in love

to such an extent that they could be described as being of one heart.

Speaking of those who had reached this level of unity,

Mormon observed,

"Surely there could not be a happier people among all the

people who had been created by the hand of God."

"In this church we have need of every member,

and we pray,

as did Paul when he wrote to the church in Corinth,

'that there should be no schism in the body;

that the members should have the same care one for another."

and whether one member suffer

all the members suffer with it;

or one member be honored,

all the members rejoice with it.'"

That same principle applies with full force to the university community.

When we welcome and value the gifts,

talents,

experiences, and perspectives of all of God's children

who are engaged in our common enterprise,

we will not only more fully reach our individual

potential but we will also be more united.

Elder Bruce C. Hafen offered a simple analogy to explain

how bringing together those with diverse gifts,

personalities, and experiences

can produce an enhanced

and enriched form of unity.

For me,

he said,

"the ideal metaphor is a musical one."

With our many voices we could all sing in unison,

in harmony,

or in dissonance.

Of these three,

he said,

"I prefer harmony because it enables a variety of voices to blend into a fuller,

richer sound than mere unison."