Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Ulisses Soares, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Elder Ulisses Soares counsels members of the Church to promote respect, unity, and dignity for all of God's children.
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Topics
Embracing Our Spiritual Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Elder Soares emphasizes the importance of seeing each other as spiritual siblings, all children of Heavenly Parents. He encourages us to promote respect and dignity for all God's children.
As disciples of Christ, we are invited to increase our faith in, and love for, our spiritual brother- and sisterhood by genuinely knitting our hearts together in unity and love, regardless of our differences.
We are all begotten spirit sons and daughters of heavenly parents who truly love us and that we lived as a family in God’s presence before we were born on this earth.Key Points:
- We are all spirit children of Heavenly Parents.
- We should promote respect and dignity for all God's children.
- As disciples of Christ, we should increase our faith in, and love for, our spiritual brother- and sisterhood.
- Think of a time when you felt a strong connection with someone as a brother or sister in Christ.
- How has understanding your divine heritage influenced your interactions with others?
- Can you share an experience when you saw someone else as a child of God despite your differences?
Rejecting Prejudice and Embracing Respect
Elder Soares discusses the importance of abandoning prejudice and promoting respect for all of God's children. He shares President Nelson's teachings on this topic and emphasizes the need for individual and collective effort.
The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children.
In reality, human dignity presupposes respect for our differences.Key Points:
- We should abandon prejudice and promote respect for all God's children.
- Respecting human dignity involves respecting our differences.
- Reflect on a time when you had to confront your own prejudices.
- How have you promoted respect for others in your sphere of influence?
- Can you share an experience when you learned to respect and appreciate someone's differences?
Emulating Christ's Example of Love and Respect
Elder Soares highlights Jesus Christ's example of treating all people with love and respect. He shares the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman to illustrate this principle.
Jesus so perfectly exemplified this principle as He “went about doing good” unto all people.
He denied none but treated them with equity and love, for He saw them as His brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the same Father.Key Points:
- Jesus Christ treated all people with love and respect.
- We should strive to emulate Christ's example in our interactions with others.
- Think of a time when you felt Christ's love for all people.
- How have you tried to emulate Christ's example of love and respect in your life?
- Can you share an experience when you saw someone through Christ's eyes?
Promoting Unity and Respect in the Church
Elder Soares discusses the importance of promoting unity and respect within the Church. He uses the example of temple attire to illustrate the principle of equality before God.
As sons and daughters of the covenant, we can help to eliminate this kind of behavior by looking at the apparent differences that exist between us with the Savior’s eyes and based on what we have in common—our divine identity and kinship.
We all come to the temple united in one purpose and filled with the desire to be pure and holy in His holy presence.Key Points:
- We should promote unity and respect within the Church.
- Our divine identity and kinship should guide our interactions with others.
- Reflect on a time when you felt unity and respect within the Church.
- How have you promoted unity and respect in your ward or branch?
- Can you share an experience when you felt the equality of all people in the temple?
Valuing Diversity as Children of God
Elder Soares encourages us to value the diversity among God's children. He uses the metaphor of the Iguaçú Falls to illustrate the unique beauty and unity that comes from our diverse backgrounds.
Despite this, we move forward as God’s children and as brothers and sisters in Christ, without losing our divine connection, which makes us a unique people and a beloved community.
We will surely become instruments in His hands to promote respect and dignity among all His sons and daughters.Key Points:
- We should value the diversity among God's children.
- Our diverse backgrounds contribute to our unique beauty and unity as a community.
- Think of a time when you appreciated the diversity in your ward or branch.
- How has diversity enriched your spiritual community?
- Can you share an experience when you learned something valuable from someone with a different background than you?
