Pres. Nelson and 4 Nephi Zion (The Eyes of Faith!™ 2025-08-09 #38)

Pres. Nelson and 4 Nephi Zion (The Eyes of Faith!™ 2025-08-09 #38)
I'd like to talk about a message that will transform your ward, your family, and even your workplace. It's a message form Pres. Nelson, October 2024. Month of conference, so may have been overloaded. I consider it the missing talk from conference, or after-credist scene, or hidden track on CD.
RMN and Zion October 2024
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2024/10/03-a-pattern-for-unity-in-jesus-christ?lang=eng
A Pattern for Unity in Jesus Christ
See divisions in ward, along political lines, economic lines--it's coming
Use 4 Nephi Zion as basis to fix words, and families, social media and workplace
Principles
Conversion
In 4 Nephi 1:1, we read: “The disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And [people] did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins.”
Covenants
The record in 4 Nephi goes on to state that those who came to the Church and repented of their sins “were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost” (4 Nephi 1:1). They had entered into a covenant—a special, binding relationship—with God.
Listen to other Christians, and how they talk about covenants
Confirmed by an holy ordinance. Moses 5:59
Receive by covenant. D&C 84:40
Fairness, Equality, and Helping the Poor
The account in 4 Nephi continues: “There were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another.
“And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift” (4 Nephi 1:2–3).
Justice
Commutative justice
Procedural Justice
Distributive justice
Obedience
The next lesson from 4 Nephi comes in this simple expression: “They did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God” (4 Nephi 1:12).
Control issues
Want reality to function a certain way that is, well, unreal.
Meeting Together
Next, we learn that the people in 4 Nephi “[continued] in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord” (4 Nephi 1:12).
First hour cowering, then scramble out the door like the building is on fire. If that's the best they can do, I'm grateful. But we all do better.
JS Manual apostasy and not attending meetings.
Family and eating dinner together, Sunday lunch, family meetings: Come follow me, family home evening, family councils
Love
The record in 4 Nephi then gives us what is perhaps the grand key to all of this—the thing without which real unity is not attainable: “There was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people” (4 Nephi 1:15).
Pray for charity for family members, ministering assignments.
Charity for people at work. RMN April 2025: Charity and Virtue
Divine Identity
Finally, the people in 4 Nephi exhibited a sign of unity that deserves our attention: “There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God” (4 Nephi 1:17).
Be One
God has invited all to come unto Him. There is room for everyone. We may differ in our cultures, politics, ethnicities, tastes, and many other ways. But as we unite in Jesus Christ, such differences fade in their significance and are superseded by our overriding desire to be one—so that we may be His.
Conclusion
Take to heart the lessons taught in 4 Nephi. As each of us strives to incorporate these essential elements of unity into our lives, it may be said of us, as it was of them, “Surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God” (4 Nephi 1:16).
Considering that promise, is is worth it? Sure?
Pray for the gift of spirit of wisdom to implement. Can have good idea that is implemented or executed badly. Incremental approach. Get spouse on-board, then children, starting with oldest.
"Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption" ( Alma 12:32)
Context before Commandments
D&C 121 principles "thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever. (46)
That is how Christ would do it--and that's the point