The back of the $1 bill shows the seal of the United States. The right-hand circle of that seal shows an eagle. In his talons he holds an olive branch with 13 leaves and berries and 13 arrows.
On the shield are 13 stripes. Above his head are 13 stars. And in his mouth he holds a banner with 13 letters, “E Pluribus Unum.” This is a Latin phrase that means “From many, one” or “out of many, one.” This phrase reveals part of the genius that helped form the foundation for this country. Thirteen separate and distinct states united as one nation without giving up their own unique identities and distinctive strengths and features.
The olive branch symbolizes peace and prosperity — the separate states were to be united in times of peace. The arrows represent war — the states would not fight battles alone but would enter conflicts as a unified group. The shield represents defense — the states would maintain a unified front in defending the nation as a whole. The stars can represent such things as intelligence, light and truth and have been used throughout history to navigate — the states would collectively seek for light and wisdom and direction to chart the best path forward for the benefit of the collective group. "E Pluribus Unum" is a beautifully poetic way to describe the essence of the United States.
This same "E Pluribus Unum" principle holds true for any successful group that comes together under one purpose. It is perfectly manifest in the Godhead. It is also imperative for families and organizations that want to succeed.
When addressing a group of early saints, Paul extended this principle to the congregation in Corinth: “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
Paul then discussed the need for a wide variety of parts in a physical body with statements such as, “If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing?” (1 Corinthians 12:16).
If every member of your congregation had the same abilities and gifts, they would also likely share similar weaknesses and inabilities. We should be grateful when others in our congregation see things from a different perspective than we do. As long as the unifying “Unum” element is seeking and doing God’s will, there is ample room for “Pluribus” approaches and means.
Paul extended this congregational application of oneness to powerfully describe how we should treat those who are struggling or who feel injured. When we break a bone or injure a certain part of our body, we don’t start hitting it or scolding it for getting hurt.
Quite the opposite, we treat it with great gentleness and increased care and attention. After all, we know that broken bones have power to heal over time if we take proper steps to provide a healing environment for them. The parts of the body that need the most attention and care are the ones that hurt the most or the ones that are weakest.
The same is true of individual members of our families and congregations. When a person sins or gets spiritually injured, they hurt and a part of them longs to feel whole again. We don’t encourage healing by heaping further insult or judgment upon them. We can, however, extend a comforting and appropriate arm of support and empathy to help them work through the healing process, knowing that the length of that process may take a long time depending on the degree of injury.
Paul finished his metaphor by saying, "the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:25-27).
It is important to emphasize that the "E Pluribus Unum" principle does not compel sameness. It encourages individuals to seek heavenly direction in developing and building upon their own distinctive gifts and abilities. These are then combined with contributions from other individual members for the benefit of the whole body.
Our efforts to practice the unity principles of "E Pluribus Unum" in our families and congregations are simply preparing us for an eternity of unity — not sameness.
Jesus pled with Heavenly Father that we would all be one as he and his Father were one, “that they also may be one in us” (John 17:21).
Tyler Griffin is an assistant teaching professor in the Department of Ancient Scripture at BYU. His writing reflects his own thinking and does not represent the church, BYU or religious education. He can be reached at Tyler_Griffin@byu.edu