I’m in a choir at church, and today while we were practicing I was reminded of the joy that comes when we work in harmony. It makes what would normally be difficult, fun.

Here’s what I mean:

In 2019 I raced the Crusher in the Tushar, a 70 mile gravel race in Beaver Utah. With 10,000 feet of climbing it’s one of the tougher races around here. While racing I distinctly remembering looking down at my Garmin and noticing for the first time how far we had gone. We were already 50 miles in just over 3 hours. I remember being shocked at the progress. I was shocked because I often train alone, or in a small group, and it would have taken much longer to cover that terrain if I was alone, but because I was seeking the same objective as hundreds of other racers, we were able to work together and progress more quickly than I otherwise would’ve been able to.

This also happened at the Belgium Waffle Ride Cedar City, a 130 mile gravel race. The start is flat, and fast. I remember flying through the dirt roads next to I15, only being able to see the back tire of the rider in front of me. We had 100’s of people ripping together, a mix of full pros, and amateur racers. We were averaging 25-30 mph and it felt easy, you just had to hang in the draft of the group.

In Choir the peace and beauty of a good harmony is wonderful. Everyone in sync, the notes just roll out. You no longer have to think, it just works.

It’s what happens when people are unified, and when they’re hoping to achieve something.

People in the ancient Americas experienced this, “And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.” 4 Nephi 1: 15-17

The people were experiencing great happiness, even the greatest of all people because they are unified, they were in one the children of Christ. Working towards a great goal, being heirs to the kingdom of God.

This brought harmony, peace, and joy. And life simply worked.