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Elder D. Todd Christofferson: ‘One in Christ’

‘Becoming one in Christ happens one by one — we each begin with ourselves’

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke during the Sunday morning session of the April 2023 general conference. He spoke about achieving unity in a contentious world. Following is a summary of what he said.

Elder Christofferson’s talk summary

At the end of the Last Supper, Jesus Christ offered a sacred Intercessory Prayer, “Holy Father, keep through thine own name [mine apostles] whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are” (John 17:11). He then expanded it to include all believers. 

“Where God prevails in all hearts and minds, the people are described as ‘in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God’” (4 Nephi 1:17).

Paul offers a key to how unity can be achieved in a contentious world: “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. … for ye are all one in Christ” (Galatians 3:27–28).

It’s an effort that starts individually. “Becoming one in Christ happens one by one — we each begin with ourselves.”

Putting on Christ includes “making His ‘first and great commandment,’ our first and greatest commitment” to love God. 

“Unity with our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ grows as we heed the second commandment … to love others as ourselves.”

Unity is more than agreeing that everyone do their own thing — it’s having a common cause. 

“Unity does not require sameness, but it does require harmony.”

Notable quotes

“Becoming one in Christ happens one by one — we each begin with ourselves.”

“To ‘put on Christ’ certainly includes making His ‘first and great commandment,’ our first and greatest commitment, and if we love God, we will keep His commandments.”

“Unity with our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ grows as we heed the second commandment — inextricably connected to the first — to love others as ourselves.”

See the full text of Elder Christofferson’s talk: ‘One in Christ’

Who is Elder Christofferson?

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles | The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
  • Elder D. Todd Christofferson has been a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles since April 5, 2008. He was called as a General Authority Seventy in 1993 and served in the Presidency of the Seventy from 1998 until his call as an Apostle.
  • In 1968, he married Kathy Jacob. The two met at a football game — at the time, he had been helping with crowd control, and she was a Cougarette. They are the parents of five children.
  • From 1975 to 1980, Elder Christofferson practiced law in Washington, D.C., after serving as a law clerk to U.S. District Judge John J. Sirica during the trials and other proceedings known as Watergate (1972-1974).

What has Elder Christofferson done recently?

Read more of Elder Christofferson’s general conference addresses, or follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

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