The Google definition of unity is the state of being united or joined as a whole. Some days our family feels united and some days it feels like there are little mini battles pop up all over the house. I understand that it is completely normal for this to happen. But I do crave more moments of family unity. Those little moments when two siblings offer to help each other out. The moments when we read scriptures as a family. The times where do service as a family. Those are my favorite. Those are the times that my heart feels full.

We live in a world where there is so much tribulation, anger, hatred, poverty, uncaring and war. I crave the moments when I see others caring for one another. When I see someone serving a person that they just met. Those are my favorite moments.

A few weeks ago, I was running in between dropping a kiddo off at a therapy appointment and running to the chiropractor. I had just enough time to run to a store and search for a book that my daughter wanted to read. I was with my oldest daughter. I parked the car, and we got out ready to make a mad dash through the store looking for this book with just the few minutes that we had.

A woman parked in the space in front of us, asked if she had pulled her car up enough. I told her that she had a few more feet if she wanted to pull up more. She was worried that her car would be a problem for others. I told her that even if she didn’t move it up more, it fit perfectly in the spot that she had. She then began to share her story with me. For her privacy, I won’t share the details, but I will say, she became emotional as she shared with me.

I asked if I could hug her, and she said yes. I held her as she cried and then held her hand as she continued to share her stories with me. My daughter wanted to love this woman in some way too. She searched in my bag for my stash of tissues. She was able to find them and offer a tissue to this sweet woman. The woman was so touched by our love for her.

I knew that I wasn’t meant to find a book in the store that day. I knew that I came to this parking lot to meet this sweet woman. I was there to hug her as she cried and hold her hand and just be in the moment with her while she shared the worries, joys, pains, and longings of her life. To give her God’s love for Him.

After spending the same amount of time with her that I would have spent in the store, I gave her my number and we said goodbye. She was surprised that I wasn’t going into the store. I told her that I wasn’t meant to shop there today. Instead, I was meant to meet her. She knew what I said was true. I could see it in her face. She felt it too.

I don’t know if she will ever reach out, but I do know that Heavenly Father put us together that day. Just a sweet moment of connection with a stranger. A stranger who happens to by my spirit sister of a loving Heavenly Father.

This has me pondering on spiritual unity. What amazing and powerful things can be done when we are all united. But even more amazing is the ability to have spiritual unity. What does that even mean?

In the Old Testament, the book of Genesis gives the genealogy of Adam. In this family tree, there is Enoch. “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:22

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he please God.” Hebrews 11:5

The formal or technical definition of translation in Google says the process of moving something from one place to another. We understand that Enoch was translated to be with God again. How did he achieve this?

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for her that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

Enoch decided to listen to God. He did everything that he asked, and he walked with God. God rewarded him greatly; so greatly that he was taken with his entire city, and they did not taste death. Our family had a night where we discussed this together. We talked about how the people of Enoch were of one heart and one mind. They had spiritual unity. They focused on doing what was right, following God’s instructions and serving and loving one another.

How do I know about this City of Enoch? The Church of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth in the 1800’s by a young man named Joseph Smith. He became a prophet. He had modern day revelation that taught us more about Enoch and his City.

“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.” Moses 7:18

What an amazing world we could live in together if we were all able to do this. I don’t think that it will come easily. But I do believe that it will happen one day. I am excited for this time. It will be beautiful.

In our family, we are learning how to become one heart and one mind in our love for serving others. I’m very excited about this. Their excitement to have Open the Sunshine t-shirts makes my heart happy. We also got business cards made with the website for this blog. So that next time we run into a sweet woman that needs to hear God’s love for her, we can give her a card with the link. Then she can read daily to feel His love for her.