Two types of Unity

I gave a small devotional thought at girls camp on Tuesday night. We were to discuss unity. I have been pondering on it for a bit and got some ideas from Jeffrey. There are two types of unity and we usually talk about the first type more than the second.

The first type of unity is that a prophet or leader gets a revelation or idea and then everyone follows and decides to agree with him. Lots of good things can happen when we rally and follow someone with great ideas.

The second type of unity is like Nephi's. His father gets a revelation and Nephi wants to have his own confirmation from the Lord. So he asks God if he can have a confirmation of what his father is saying and he gets his own answer. All the Lehi's sons are then told they need to go back to Jerusalem and get the brass plates from their uncle Laban. They all follow the prophet. They go back to Jerusalem and try to get the plates. First, they ask and get rejected mightly, then second they use their creativity and take up all the gold and silver they had left behind to buy the plates - and get mightly rejected again that they have to run for their lives. At this point, there is a strong difference in following the prophet.

I have often asked myself why Nephi was so strong and straight and knew what had to be done and had a fixed purpose. His brothers had given their best efforts but were ready to go back and tell their father, sorry it can't be done. Nephi KNEW individually and for himself the why of his father's revelation.

Blind obedience is not seeing eye to eye, it is not going to be of aid and help in navigating life's perils and tribulations. Each of us will need to talk with God ourselves and teach our children to have a one on one communication to God and not through us as their parents and not just as leaders of a church. If we are communicating directly with God we will be getting the same messages that the prophets and hopefully parents are telling us.