Study Guide for "Christ-Centered Unity"

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf teaches that Jesus Christ unites us not only with God but also with one another. Through baptism, covenant discipleship, and the sacrament, we become part of a covenant people who share responsibility for loving and supporting each other. As you study, consider how centering your life on the Savior helps you overcome divisions, strengthen relationships, and make room for others in His Church.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

How does baptism connect us both to God and to a covenant community?
What distinguishes Christ-centered unity from other kinds of unity?
How does Jesus Christ help us overcome differences that seem to divide us?
How can the sacrament strengthen our relationships with fellow disciples?
What small steps toward unity can I take now?

Topics

Walk the Covenant Path Together

President Uchtdorf describes spiritual growth as a gradual process that expands as we follow Jesus Christ and participate in covenant experiences. Baptism begins this path individually, but it also joins us to a worldwide covenant people. Our commitment to follow the Savior includes bearing burdens, offering comfort, and walking together.

Spiritual growth is rarely dramatic at the beginning. Like an exponential curve, it often starts gradually—with loving parents, simple prayers, and small acts of faith.

Through baptism, we become not only covenant individuals but also part of a covenant people.

We show that we do not want to live only for ourselves.

And we want to walk that path together.

How does President Uchtdorf describe the growth that comes through covenant discipleship?
In what ways is baptism both an individual ordinance and a unifying ordinance?
What responsibilities toward others accompany our desire to enter the fold of God?
What small acts of faith help my relationship with God deepen?
How do my covenants influence the way I respond to another person's burdens or sorrow?
Who needs my companionship, comfort, or practical help this week?
How can I approach my discipleship as a shared journey rather than a solitary effort?

Join Christ in Overcoming Divisions

Jesus Christ reaches across cultural, political, religious, and social boundaries to gather Heavenly Father's children. His ministry demonstrates compassion for people whom others exclude or distrust. In contrast, Satan emphasizes differences and promotes isolation, contention, and hatred; covenant disciples join Christ in gathering and uniting God's family.

But the Savior of the world, the Son of God, transcended worldly boundaries and divisions.

He consistently reached out to those who would otherwise be shunned as outsiders.

However, while Jesus Christ is reaching across worldly boundaries to unite Heavenly Father’s family, Satan is seeking to divide us.

And as covenant followers of Jesus Christ, we recognize that we are all brothers and sisters, joyfully participating with Christ in gathering and uniting the great family of God.

What examples from the Savior's ministry illustrate His willingness to cross social boundaries?
How do Satan's efforts differ from the Savior's work of gathering?
How does recognizing everyone as a brother or sister shape our participation in Christ's work?
Which differences do I sometimes treat as barriers to friendship or service?
Who around me seems excluded, and how can I follow the Savior's example in reaching out?
How can I recognize and resist contention or mistrust in my conversations?
What helps me see someone with different beliefs or experiences as a member of God's family?

Anchor Unity in Christ and His Gospel

Unity in the Savior's Church rests on love for God and neighbor, commitment to covenants, and the restored gospel—not on shared politics, culture, or interests. President Uchtdorf points to the Nephites and Lamanites to show how Jesus Christ and His doctrine transform enemies into a covenant people. Drawing closer to Christ brings us closer to one another.

In the Savior’s Church, it is not our political views, culture, or personal interests that unite us.

It is our commitment to our covenants with Jesus Christ and to His restored gospel.

The catalyst for this change was Jesus Christ and His doctrine.

Jesus Christ has the power to change us—you and me—purify us, and unite us. The closer we come to Him, the closer we will come to each other—and the closer we will come to the unity He wants for us.

What foundations distinguish unity in Christ's Church from unity based on shared interests or opinions?
What accounts for the unity among the Nephites and Lamanites after the Savior's ministry?
Why does coming closer to Christ also bring disciples closer to one another?
What does the statement "If we are not one, we are not His" teach about discipleship?
What most strongly shapes my sense of belonging: Jesus Christ and my covenants, or shared preferences and opinions?
How can I strengthen a relationship with someone whose political views, culture, or interests differ from mine?
Where do I need the Savior's power to change my attitudes toward another person?
How can my gospel study help me become more loving rather than more judgmental?

Practice Unity Through Small Christlike Choices

Centering our attention on Christ helps us look on the heart rather than outward appearances. As we practice patience, kindness, forgiveness, and helpfulness, we leave less room for pride and contention. President Uchtdorf teaches that unity requires earnest effort now and that every small step matters, even when perfect unity seems beyond our reach.

When our attention is riveted on Christ, superficial things are hardly worth noticing.

We learn to see as He sees—looking on the heart rather than the outward appearance.

When we try to be a little more patient, a little kinder, more forgiving, more helpful, more neighborly, there will be less room for pride or judgmental attitudes or contention.

Unity won’t magically happen in the next life if we haven’t earnestly tried to learn it here.

Every step we take toward unity matters, however small it may seem.

How does focusing on Christ change the way we see other people?
Which Christlike qualities does President Uchtdorf identify as ways to reduce contention?
Why is it important to learn unity in this life rather than postpone it?
How does confidence in God's power support our efforts when unity seems difficult?
What outward characteristic or superficial difference distracts me from seeing someone's heart?
Which quality—patience, kindness, forgiveness, helpfulness, or neighborliness—most needs my attention?
What small choice can I make today to reduce contention in my home, ward, or community?
What experiences show me that the Savior helps me become more patient or forgiving?
How can I continue working toward unity when progress feels slow?

Renew Covenants Together Through the Sacrament

The sacrament offers a fresh starting point in our relationship with God and in our efforts toward Christ-centered unity. Although we partake individually, we renew covenants alongside fellow disciples, and the prayers refer collectively to all who partake. This weekly ordinance reminds us that we have both the Savior and one another.

My dear brothers and sisters, the sacrament can become a fresh starting point for our personal relationship with God and for a greater Christ-centered unity in our lives.

We partake individually but also as a group.

There is something powerful, something empowering, about renewing covenants with God while surrounded by brothers and sisters who have made or are considering making the same covenants.

The sacrament is a weekly reminder, a sacred reminder, that we are not alone. We have the Savior, and we have each other.

How can the sacrament serve as a fresh starting point for both personal discipleship and unity?
What does President Uchtdorf emphasize about the absence of individual names in the sacrament ordinance?
How does renewing covenants alongside others reinforce our identity as a covenant people?
How can I prepare for the sacrament with both repentance and a desire for stronger relationships?
As I partake, what helps me remember that those around me also seek the Savior's grace?
What resentment or judgment can I bring to the Savior as I seek a fresh starting point?
How can my worship on Sunday influence the support I offer fellow disciples during the week?

Welcome Others and Build Bridges

President Uchtdorf invites everyone to participate in Christ-centered unity and emphasizes that each person's presence matters. He encourages us to come, help, and belong. As we unite in the Savior's name and build bridges instead of walls, our lives, families, communities, and nations experience greater blessings from God's presence.

Wherever you are, I invite you to join the Christ-centered unity we are trying to build. It would be incomplete without you.

Please, come and see, come and help, and come and belong.

I testify that the more united in Christ we are and the more we desire to build bridges instead of walls, the more our individual lives, our families, our communities, and our nations will experience God’s presence and supernal blessings.

May God bless us to unite in the Savior’s name and center our minds, hearts, and lives on Him.

What does President Uchtdorf's invitation teach about each person's place in a Christ-centered community?
What promise does Jesus give to those who gather in His name?
What blessings does President Uchtdorf associate with greater unity in Christ?
Who needs to hear or feel that our community is incomplete without them?
What can I do to help someone come, contribute, and feel that they belong?
Where am I building a wall, and what would building a bridge look like instead?
How do I recognize God's presence in relationships centered on Jesus Christ?