January 2, 2026

Moses 7:18 "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."

It is not just any singular heart or mind that makes a people God's. Unity without God 's will, His heart and mind, is peace without purpose, and I don't think "peace" would even be the right word, because how can it be if we are not aligned with The Prince of a Peace?

In speaking to Abraham, Jehovah (Jesus Christ) said of all God's children in the premortal life "we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them".

All things - not just some, not just the things we agree with or the things we like the most. We are here to see if we will seek the Lord's will and obey it, and in so doing receive joy. But what if we fall short? What then? Just like the children of Israel bitten by fiery serpents that guaranteed a sure death, we too perish spiritually as the venom of sin decays our connection to God. But if we look to the Lamb of God, who was raised up like the brass serpent, we can be healed, and try again, and strive, until through the grace of our Savior we can be of one heart and one mind with Him.