We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey.
We cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all.
Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.
There are many attributes which are manifestations of love, such as kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness. In all our associations, these and other such attributes will help make evident the love in our hearts.
I have wept in the night
For the shortness of sight
That to somebody’s need made me blind;
But I never have yet
Felt a tinge of regret
For being a little too kind.
Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us.
“We must remember that those mortals we meet in parking lots, offices, elevators, and elsewhere are that portion of mankind God has given us to love and to serve. It will do us little good to speak of the general brotherhood of mankind if we cannot regard those who are all around us as our brothers and sisters.” -Spencer W. Kimball
“Charity is the pure love of Christ, … and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” (Moroni 7:47)
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.
When it is necessary for us to reprove another, we afterward show forth an increase of love. (D&C 121:43)
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. It cannot and should not be left to canker, to fester, and ultimately to destroy. Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.
“Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!” -John Greenleaf Whittier
Dale Carnegie, a well-known American author and lecturer, believed that each person has within himself or herself the “power to increase the sum total of [the] world’s happiness … by giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged.” Said he, “Perhaps you will forget tomorrow the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.”
Here is the full talk:https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2014/04/love-the-essence-of-the-gospel?lang=eng
-Sherri Jorgensen
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