Editor’s note: “The Spoken Word” is shared by Lloyd Newell each Sunday during the weekly Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square broadcast. This will be given Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023.
For generations, people who want to live in harmony with others have been guided by a well-loved saying: “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity.”
It’s not hard to agree with such eloquent wisdom. What’s hard is separating the essentials from the nonessentials. But there are at least a few essentials that seem beyond question. Every person you meet — everyone who lives on this beautiful planet with you — is worthy of respect and compassion.
We are all children of God, and because of that we each have inherent worth. It follows, then, that one of the essentials is the need to be unified in loving one another. As human beings, we are more alike than we are different.
As to nonessentials, we could think of many: tastes in food or music, preferences in activities and personalities. Although we value our similarities, it’s our differences that give richness and depth to our relationships. If we were all the same, there would be nothing to learn from each other. This is why we cherish individuality and honor the God-given liberty to choose.
And lastly, in all things and at all times, we need charity. After all, what good are unity and liberty if people don’t love one another? Unity would be hollow, and liberty would become selfishness. The Apostle Paul put it this way:
“Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; … is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; …
“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
“Charity never faileth” (1 Corinthians 13:2–8).
Unity happens when people interact charitably with each other. And liberty works best when inspired by charity. In other words, if we want unity in essentials and liberty in nonessentials, then we need, in all things, charity.
Tuning in …
The “Music & the Spoken Word” broadcast is available on KSL-TV, KSL Radio 1160AM/102.7FM, KSL.com, BYUtv, BYUradio, Dish and DirectTV, SiriusXM Radio (Ch. 143), the tabernaclechoir.org, youtube.com/TheTabernacleChoir and Amazon Alexa (must enable skill). The program is aired live on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. on many of these outlets. Look up broadcast information by state and city at musicandthespokenword.com/viewers-listeners/airing-schedules.
