The topic I was given is "Love". What is love? One meaning of love is a strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. The other is the love of an object of attachment, devotion, or admiration.
As you know, we love many things in life. We love our families, friends, homes, churches and so on. But do we really understand what true love is?
In the book of Matthew, when Jesus ministered among men, He was asked:
"Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"
Jesus responded:
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
"This is the first and great commandment.
"And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mark concludes the account with the Savior's statement: "There is none other commandment greater than these."
President Monson stated, and I quote:
"We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey.
"Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. The Apostle John tells us, “This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier." [close quote]
Brothers and Sisters, this is true. We cannot fully love God if we do not love our fellow travelers.
About 4 years ago, before I joined the Church. I remember a day I was studying the Book of Mormon. While riding the bus to work, I was pondering the things I have read and I wanted to experience the love God has for me. Although, I wouldn't really comprehend fully, I've asked him to show me this love. As I was on my way to work, I got this strong sensation of love. I began to look around those around me. I saw men, women and children. Big and small. Brown, black and white. I saw them as my brothers and sisters. Even though I did not know any of these people, I had this tremendous love for them. I knew then, God answered my prayers.
John 15 verses 7-13 states:
"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Another experience I would like to share is when I felt discouraged and lost. I felt alone and didn't have anyone to show me the love I was looking for. I kept thinking about the day riding the bus and experiencing that tremendous love God has shown me. I asked him where art thou? Did I do something wrong?
I think there are times that God allows us to feel this way so we can recognize the things around us. Pondering this situation, I was getting my children ready for school. I remember I was helping Emily get dressed and she stopped and said: "Dad, I love you". She then hugged me and that is when I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "I never left you. Behold, your ones".
If you can imagine how I felt that moment. There's no words to explain how I felt. I know there are times we all have felt that God isn't around but let me tell you that He is. He shows His love through his Children. Whether it is through a child, a mother, a father or whomever it may be. He does it through people.
Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the very heart of family life, and yet sometimes it is not. There can be too much impatience, too much arguing, too many fights, too many tears.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Why is it that the ones we love most become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is it that we sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick?” [close quote]
The answers to these questions may be different for each of us, and yet the bottom line is that the reasons do not matter. If we would keep the commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness and respect.
I remember another day, there was a church activity and one of the men was upset with one of his children and asked him: "What are you doing? Do you want me to smack you on your face?" Now, I am not here to judge. One reason is that I'm not perfect myself. But we need to be very careful how we use our words. Yes, there are times we need to reprove our children, but we need to be careful how and when. I'm sharing this with you because I truly feel this is what God wants me to share. He has great concern with our parenting and we need to do better to teach our children the ways of the Lord and not our ways. Believe me, I am not perfect but I do recognize my faults and I do correct them the best of my capabilities.
Mosiah 4:15 says: "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."
I find that hard to accomplish if we are not being a good example ourselves.
Ephesians 5 gives a command for Husbands to love your wife. H. Burke Peterson said:
"Many women carry heavy burdens raising children and attending to household responsibilities. They often accomplish near-miracles in balancing all the demands made upon them. A husband who is critical of his wife and communicates censure for what hasn't been done rather than thanks for what has been done fosters discouragement. But if he will give a word of praise or offer a little help, he will see his wife try ever harder to do her part. Criticism has a negative influence on the feelings of love for and interest in one's spouse. Women need love, affection, and emotional support from their husbands." [close quote]
Women, don't worry. The same command applies to you.
I read a story of a father upon returning home from his day’s work, this father greeted his boy with a pat on the head and said, “Son, I want you to know I love you.”
The son responded with, “Oh Dad, I don’t want you to love me, I want you to play football with me.”
Here was a boy conveying a much-needed message. The world is filled with too many of us who are inclined to indicate our love with an announcement or declaration.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:
"True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Too often expediency, infatuation, stimulation, persuasion, or lust are mistaken for love. How hollow, how empty if our love is no deeper than the arousal of momentary feeling or the expression in words of what is no more lasting than the time it takes to speak them." [close quote]
We must reassure others of our love and the long time it takes to prove it by our actions. Real love does take time. The Lord had the same thoughts in mind when he taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) and “If ye love me feed my sheep” (John 21:16). Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process. Love is not a declaration. Love is not an announcement. Love is not a convenience. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and “If ye love me feed my sheep” are God-given proclamations that should remind us we can often best show our love through the processes of feeding and keeping.
The scriptures are filled with many teachings. One of the teachings found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon is love. We’re taught of God’s and Christ’s love for us, how we should love Them, and also how we should love others. Here are some verse about God's and Christ's love for us:
1 John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
2 Nephi 4:20-21 “My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh”
Here are some verses about having love for others:
1 John 4:18-21 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”
3 Nephi 12:43-44 (you can also find this in the bible) “And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you”
I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s confidence through careless words or actions.
Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements. Again, it doesn’t really matter how small the issue was. Blaming people keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.
"As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Another experience I would like to share is when I felt discouraged and lost. I felt alone and didn't have anyone to show me the love I was looking for. I kept thinking about the day riding the bus and experiencing that tremendous love God has shown me. I asked him where art thou? Did I do something wrong?
I think there are times that God allows us to feel this way so we can recognize the things around us. Pondering this situation, I was getting my children ready for school. I remember I was helping Emily get dressed and she stopped and said: "Dad, I love you". She then hugged me and that is when I heard the voice of the Lord saying: "I never left you. Behold, your ones".
If you can imagine how I felt that moment. There's no words to explain how I felt. I know there are times we all have felt that God isn't around but let me tell you that He is. He shows His love through his Children. Whether it is through a child, a mother, a father or whomever it may be. He does it through people.
Brothers and sisters, some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes. Love should be the very heart of family life, and yet sometimes it is not. There can be too much impatience, too much arguing, too many fights, too many tears.
President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Why is it that the ones we love most become so frequently the targets of our harsh words? Why is it that we sometimes speak as if with daggers that cut to the quick?” [close quote]
The answers to these questions may be different for each of us, and yet the bottom line is that the reasons do not matter. If we would keep the commandment to love one another, we must treat each other with kindness and respect.
I remember another day, there was a church activity and one of the men was upset with one of his children and asked him: "What are you doing? Do you want me to smack you on your face?" Now, I am not here to judge. One reason is that I'm not perfect myself. But we need to be very careful how we use our words. Yes, there are times we need to reprove our children, but we need to be careful how and when. I'm sharing this with you because I truly feel this is what God wants me to share. He has great concern with our parenting and we need to do better to teach our children the ways of the Lord and not our ways. Believe me, I am not perfect but I do recognize my faults and I do correct them the best of my capabilities.
Mosiah 4:15 says: "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another."
I find that hard to accomplish if we are not being a good example ourselves.
Ephesians 5 gives a command for Husbands to love your wife. H. Burke Peterson said:
"Many women carry heavy burdens raising children and attending to household responsibilities. They often accomplish near-miracles in balancing all the demands made upon them. A husband who is critical of his wife and communicates censure for what hasn't been done rather than thanks for what has been done fosters discouragement. But if he will give a word of praise or offer a little help, he will see his wife try ever harder to do her part. Criticism has a negative influence on the feelings of love for and interest in one's spouse. Women need love, affection, and emotional support from their husbands." [close quote]
Women, don't worry. The same command applies to you.
I read a story of a father upon returning home from his day’s work, this father greeted his boy with a pat on the head and said, “Son, I want you to know I love you.”
The son responded with, “Oh Dad, I don’t want you to love me, I want you to play football with me.”
Here was a boy conveying a much-needed message. The world is filled with too many of us who are inclined to indicate our love with an announcement or declaration.
Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:
"True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Too often expediency, infatuation, stimulation, persuasion, or lust are mistaken for love. How hollow, how empty if our love is no deeper than the arousal of momentary feeling or the expression in words of what is no more lasting than the time it takes to speak them." [close quote]
We must reassure others of our love and the long time it takes to prove it by our actions. Real love does take time. The Lord had the same thoughts in mind when he taught, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15) and “If ye love me feed my sheep” (John 21:16). Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process. Love is not a declaration. Love is not an announcement. Love is not a convenience. “If ye love me, keep my commandments” and “If ye love me feed my sheep” are God-given proclamations that should remind us we can often best show our love through the processes of feeding and keeping.
The scriptures are filled with many teachings. One of the teachings found in the Bible and the Book of Mormon is love. We’re taught of God’s and Christ’s love for us, how we should love Them, and also how we should love others. Here are some verse about God's and Christ's love for us:
1 John 4:16 “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him”
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”
2 Nephi 4:20-21 “My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh”
Here are some verses about having love for others:
1 John 4:18-21 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also”
3 Nephi 12:43-44 (you can also find this in the bible) “And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you”
I would hope that we would strive always to be considerate and to be sensitive to the thoughts and feelings and circumstances of those around us. Let us not demean or belittle. Rather, let us be compassionate and encouraging. We must be careful that we do not destroy another person’s confidence through careless words or actions.
Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. In our families, as well as with our friends, there can be hurt feelings and disagreements. Again, it doesn’t really matter how small the issue was. Blaming people keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.
