How My Bishopric’s Handling of Masks Brought Unity to Our Ward

Before I can dive into the topic at hand, I need to give some context: On my mission, I learned a very important lesson a very hard way. After having been in an area for nearly 6 months I was placed into a trio with two elders who did not love the area or want to obey. To say we did not get along would be putting it nicely. During this time I was encouraged by the leaders in the ward to “sacrifice obedience for unity.” It sounded simple enough. Unity is important after all? Right? I mean the Doctrine and Covenants teach that “if ye are not one ye are not mine.” So I tried it out. I tried sacrificing obedience for unity. Do you know what happened? I lost the Spirit. The work started to fail in its progress, and I had depression set in.

Luckily I was transferred out of that area after only six weeks in that trio, but I was still in a funk until I visited Machias Maine, and spent an exchange with Elder Jesse who knew me from before. He realized something was wrong. I explained what happened and what I did, and how I had sacrificed for unity. But that is when it suddenly hit me! I was sacrificing obedience to unify my companionship. But what were we unifying on? Disobedience to God and the Priesthood Keys our Mission President held?!?! Realizing that unity with the Spirit requires obedience to God and that I had sacrificed that when I disobeyed I made a resolve to repent, and always follow my priesthood leaders. What does all of this have to do with the COVID-19 Pandemic and wearing masks? Well, the same mistakes I made are being repeated across the Church.

An uncertain sound

On August 12th, 2021 the First Presidency sent out an official communication, using official channels, and using the header of “Official Church Announcements” urging members to among other things wear masks. For members living in Utah, this was nothing new, we had been asked a year prior to wear masks during a COVID-19 spike by our Area Presidency. Many rejected their call saying they’d obey if the Prophet was to ask… And now the Prophet was asking. The very next day our Stake Presidency sent out a short letter that effectively read, “we are going to follow the Prophet.” And the day after that, our Bishopric sent out a letter stating that they supported the prophet, first presidency, and Stake Presidency and that they were asking all members to set aside personal views on the matter and follow the Stake Presidency and the Prophet.

I did not really think much of the letters at the time, after all, what else could a Stake Presidency or Bishopric say other than follow the Prophet? I kinda assumed every stake and ward would be doing something similar. But that was hopeful thinking. On Facebook, I had friends bragging about how ‘smart’ or ‘awake’ their wards/stakes were and that their leaders were telling them they would not divide the people over something like this. It was crazy to think that they could or would be doing this… Until I realized they were falling for the same mistake I made, they thought they could sacrifice obedience for unity.

In my stake we wear masks, we don’t want to, we don’t agree with everything behind it. But our leaders stood up and made the clear call, “Follow the Prophet!” And we have answered. And the unity in our ward over the issue quite frankly is amazing. I know members of the Bishopric hate masks, but they wear them. I know that members of the ward would rather do a thousand other things, but they sustain the Prophet and their local leaders and follow them. There is a unity that has come in our ward and stake from clear Priesthood Leadership and the call to follow the Prophet.

Now my sister-in-law’s ward took a different approach. They did not make it clear that they were going to be following the Prophet and that they expected all the members to do the same. I do not know if they were trying to ‘not divide’ the people, or simply took a less bold stance about the topic. But the leadership had remained quiet. And this past weekend I listened to some members of her ward relate how the issue is dividing the ward in half. They explained that at a recent activity a sharp argument arose between those who are pro vs those who are anti. The words that kept coming back to my mind as I listened to the byproduct of sacrificing obedience for unity were from 1st Corinthians 14:8 “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” I am thankful that my Stake Presidency and Bishopric sounded the trumpet loud and clear.

It is better to obey than to sacrifice

As I think about the unity in our ward vs the disunity and persecution going on in other wards it saddens my heart to think about this lesson being learned again the hard way around the Church. The concept that you should sacrifice obedience for unity is of the devil. It is NOT doctrinally accurate! In fact, the Bible teaches the exact opposite!

22 …Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…

1 Samuel 15:22-23

Whereas unity for the sake of unity is not a gospel principle, striving for unity with the Godhead is! We are commanded to have unity in the Church, but the price of that unity is obedience. President James E. Faust taught, “What is the cost of discipleship? It is primarily obedience. …may we render obedience and faithfulness unto His commandments and to His living Prophets, so that we fully and willingly pay the price required of His disciples and move forward His work in all the world.”

So a radical idea: if your family is struggling with unity, if your ward/stake is divided over wearing masks, or any other issue, might I recommend obedience as the antidote to your ills? Rather than ignoring the Prophet, or pretending he did not send out the letter in hopes of finding unity in disobedience, let us pay the price of discipleship! As we keep our covenants and follow the Prophets we will find that elusive unity that we seek and that only the Spirit brings. In the words of Orson F. Whitney, “Power dwells in unity, not in discord; in humility, not pride; in sacrifice, not selfishness; obedience, not rebellion” (Life of Heber C. Kimball [1945], 64).

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