“Divided into Classes”

The people who interacted with Jesus for three days in Bountiful were changed forever. After His departure, “They taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another” (3 Nephi 26:19). Within two years, all of the people in the land had been converted to God.

…and 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

How do you develop a sense of unity like that? One key is to prioritize people over things. The fact that they had “all things common” among them indicated that they valued one another more than they valued physical possessions. Or we might say that they valued one another’s welfare and happiness more than they valued their own status or supremacy.

How did it fall apart? Those attitudes actually changed rather suddenly:

In this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.

And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ.

4 Nephi 1:24-26

Elder Ulisses Soares observed:

The world in general is polarized by strong divisions, accentuated by racial, political, and socioeconomic lines. Such divisions sometimes end up influencing people’s way of thinking and acting in relation to their fellow beings. For this reason, it is not uncommon to see people characterizing the way of thinking, acting, and speaking of other cultures, races, and ethnicities as inferior, making use of preconceived, mistaken, and often sarcastic ideas, generating attitudes of contempt, indifference, disrespect, and even prejudice against them. Such attitudes have their roots in pride, arrogance, envy, and jealousy, characteristics of a carnal nature, which are totally contrary to Christlike attributes. …

Have you ever pondered on how the principle of respect for human dignity and equality is demonstrated through the simple way we dress in the house of the Lord? We all come to the temple united in one purpose and filled with the desire to be pure and holy in His holy presence. Dressed in white, all of us are received by the Lord Himself as His beloved children, men and women of God, progeny of Christ. We are privileged to perform the same ordinances, make the same covenants, commit ourselves to live higher and holier lives, and receive the same eternal promises. United in purpose, we see one another with new eyes, and in our oneness, we celebrate our differences as divine children of God.

“Brothers and Sisters in Christ,” General Conference, October 2023

Today, I will strive to overcome attitudes and behaviors which create or perpetuate divisions. I will remember the holy unity we experience as we worship together in temples, and I will strive to emulate the disciples of Christ in ancient America by valuing people over things and our collective happiness over my status.