How often have we walked into our Sunday meetings looking for a sanctuary from the world that seems to be troubled, in a state of confusion, and quite volatile and toxic? And yet, we step into a place where one may frequently find something much more challenging: a room full of people who have a wide range of differences. It may be quite tempting to see these differences as hinderances or even obstacles to our own spiritual growth. However, what if such annoyances of our specific wards are actually the very tools God uses to encourage, edify, and strengthen us? And sometimes, these people seemed to rub us the wrong way – you know – sandpaper people.¹

Wait…what? Sandpaper people? Yep, exactly – sandpaper people are those who may rub us the wrong way. You know, the ones that seemingly get under our skin sometimes? The ones we may want to avoid, even at church. And yet, you may be wondering – what is a sandpaper person? And furthermore, what purpose do they serve?

Sandpaper is designed to smooth out and refine surfaces. A sheet, or strip, of paper that is quite abrasive, depending on the grade, where it smooths out rough spots, removes rust or old paint. It is also used to prepare surfaces for painting, staining, and polishing. In essence, sandpaper’s sole intention and purpose is to refine and smooth out the rough edges. And that is exactly what sandpaper do – they smooth out the rough edges and refine us in ways that help shape and transform us into whom our Heavenly Father has called us to become.

Isaiah 48:10 says, “See, I have refined you but not like silver; I have tested you in the furnace of adversity.” And you may be wondering, what does Isaiah 48:10 and sandpaper people have to do with attending Church?

Here is the simple truth: God does not refine us in isolation, nor does He shape us only through peaceful, agreeable circumstances. Instead, our Heavenly Father refines us in the furnace of adversity – and sometimes, that furnace of adversity looks surprisingly ordinary. You know, the person singing loudly behind you during Sacrament meeting. The kids with an apparent case of ants in their pants and parents doing their best to help them practice reverence. Or the person who shows up in jeans and a shirt with no tie. People that somehow do not fit our mold or expectations. Let’s face it – our wards consist of people full of personalities, preferences, quirks, and rough edges that collide with our own.

And this is an uncomfortable and beautiful reality.

Sandpaper people are part of God’s refining fire where we are to come together in unity of faith, common consent, and edifying and strengthening one another in the faith. Not because they are problematic. Not because they may appear less spiritual. And certainly, not because they are annoying obstacles to our worship. Because Our Heavenly Father, in his infinite wisdom, places us in communities where our rough edges meet theirs – and in that friction, something holy happens. Something we may not ever choose, yet something we desperately need.

Elder Patrick Kearon opened up the Saturday Morning Session of General Conference with a message titled About His Business” regarding how our service is a choice, an offering to God and a blessing. He appears to reframe the local ward, not as a social club for the like-minded individuals. Instead, he provided insight on how this may be a divine place of fellowship. A place where the friction of serving people who are “very different to us” creates the heat necessary to forge Christlike virtues – charity, meekness, and forgiveness – that simply may not be developed in isolation. If you’ve ever struggled to find your place in a diverse congregation, you are not failing the test; you are finally in the right place.

I want to take a moment and walk with you as we bridge the gap between modern apostolic counsel and ancient scripture. To understand how The Body of Christ requires every different member to function – and the reason our growth depends on the person sitting three pews away.