Nearly a year after the restoration of the Church on April 6, 1830, Joseph Smith and other leaders met with members for a conference on Jan. 2, 1831.

The Church was experiencing its maiden days at the time. Expansion to all continents, countries and climes would occur later. The membership of the Church who gathered for this conference was largely homogenous — folks who spoke the same language, shared a common ethnicity and generally grew up in the same area of the United States. Many were related.

But despite their similarities, the Lord reminded the members of the need to be unified. "I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine" (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27).

To say the membership of the Church has undergone change since 1831 would be a comical understatement. In 2009, some 13 million people from all corners of the globe claim Church membership. They worship in varied languages, belong to different races, cheer for rival sports teams, sometimes support opposing political parties and pledge national loyalty under a host of flags.

Still, the Lord's charge remains the same: "Be one."

It can seem an impossible challenge. How can a worldwide, multilingual membership of millions actually realize unity in a time defined by its myriad fractures?

Paul offered an eternal answer centuries ago. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:26-28).

Through Christ, the Church remains the great unifier. A few years ago, the Church News asked several priesthood leaders in Venezuela how they promoted unity during a period of dramatic national political and economical divisions. The leaders said the Church in Venezuela provided its members with a cohesive, spiritual sense of oneness. The members might have had opposing views on hot-button issues, but they were not discussed inside meetinghouses or at other LDS functions. Church buildings became "political free zones."

"We tell our members to keep their faith and show Heavenly Father that they have faith despite the adversity," said one Venezuelan stake president.

In his April 2008 general conference address, President Thomas S. Monson spoke of the single-minded spirit that was found among the demographically diverse leadership of the Church following the death of President Gordon B. Hinckley.

"A sweet spirit of unity exists among the General Authorities," he said. "The Lord has declared, 'If ye are not one ye are not mine.' We will continue to be unified in one purpose — namely, the futherance of the work of the Lord."

In his October 2008 general conference address, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Twelve said Zion is realized through the character, attributes and faithfulness of her citizens.

Remember, he said, "the Lord called His people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them (Moses 7:18).

"If we would establish Zion in our homes, branches, wards and stakes we must rise to this standard. It will become necessary, (1), to become unified in one heart and one mind; (2), to become, individually and collectively, a holy people; and (3), to care for the poor and needy with such effectiveness that we eliminate poverty among us.

"We cannot wait until Zion comes for these things to happen — Zion will come only as they happen.

"As we consider the unity required for Zion to flourish, we should ask ourselves if we have overcome jarrings, contentions, envyings and strifes (see Doctrine and Covenants 101:6). Are we individually and as a people free from strife and contention and united 'according to the union required by the law of the celestial kingdom?' Forgiveness of one another is essential to this unity.

"Jesus said, 'I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men' " (Doctrine and Covenants 64:10).