President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
The Message
President Uchtdorf taught that Jesus Christ brings people together across differences. Through our covenants, we become not only individual disciples but part of a covenant people who bear one another’s burdens, mourn together, comfort one another, and walk the path of discipleship together.
Our differences do not have to divide us. As we center our lives on Jesus Christ and become more patient, kind, forgiving, helpful, and less judgmental, we move closer to Him—and closer to one another. Every step toward unity matters, however small.
Start the Conversation
Read the summary of the message and the Try This at Home ideas with your family. Then say “Let’s choose one small way we can build a bridge instead of a wall this week.”
Try This at Home
Find What You Share
Think of someone who seems very different from you. Instead of beginning with the differences, find three things you have in common. They might be experiences, hopes, worries, interests, responsibilities, or simply the desire to be loved and understood.
Make Room at the Circle
Notice someone at church, school, work, or in the neighborhood who seems to be on the outside. Do one small thing that says, “There’s room for you here.”
Get Curious Instead of Certain
When someone has an opinion or experience you don’t understand, ask a sincere question instead of immediately explaining your own position. Try: “Tell me more about that.”
Build One Bridge
Think of someone with whom there has been distance, disagreement, or awkwardness. Don’t try to solve everything. Take one small step toward connection such as a greeting, kind message, invitation, apology, compliment, or conversation.
Notice the Sacrament Differently
President Uchtdorf pointed out that the sacrament prayers are offered for “the souls of all those who partake.” During the sacrament, notice the people around you and remember: We are doing this together.
Find It in the Scriptures
Read Doctrine and Covenants 38:27, which President Uchtdorf used: “If ye are not one ye are not mine.” Ask: What is one thing that helps people become “one” without requiring them to become exactly alike?
Choose Your Own
Choose another part of President Uchtdorf’s message your family would like to live together this week.
Looks for What Connects You
When you encounter someone whose beliefs, personality, background, opinions, or choices are different from yours, notice where your attention goes first. If your mind immediately starts cataloguing the differences, pause and ask: “What do we share?” Find one thing before continuing. You don’t have to erase a disagreement or pretend differences don’t matter. You’re simply training yourself to see a person before a position. And once we see the person, it becomes easier to respond with curiosity, patience, kindness, and love.
Check Back In
At the end of the week, talk as a family about what you noticed. Did you discover something you shared with someone you thought was very different from you? Did asking a question instead of giving an opinion change a conversation? Did you notice anyone who needed to be included? Was there a bridge that was difficult to build? Did focusing on Jesus Christ make any difference in how you saw another person? Did your experience help you understand what President Uchtdorf means by Christ-centered unity?
No grading. No guilt. Just notice what happened.
