It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. “This is the first and great commandment.” 4 Coupled with the second great commandment-to love our neighbor as ourselves 5-we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.īecause love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” He said. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? Is there a constant compass that can help us prioritize our lives, thoughts, and actions? This was one of the Savior’s criticisms of the religious “experts” of His day, whom He chastised for attending to the hundreds of minor details of the law while neglecting the weightier matters. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.” One person’s good idea-something that may work for him or her-takes root and becomes an expectation.
Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles-many coming from uninspired sources-complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. 2īut this may present a problem for some because there are so many “shoulds” and “should nots” that merely keeping track of them can be a challenge. The Savior Himself provided the answer with this profound declaration: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” 1 This is the essence of what it means to be a true disciple: those who receive Christ Jesus walk with Him.
The first question is: How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ? Today I would like to share with you some thoughts and impressions that have come as a result of that inquiry.
We might also be known as a people who attend church every Sunday for three hours, in a place where everyone is a brother or a sister, where the children sing songs about streams that talk, trees that produce popcorn, and children who want to become sunbeams.īrothers and sisters, of all the things we want to be known for, are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ? Since our last general conference six months ago, I have pondered this and similar questions. Some have images of clean-cut missionaries, loving families, and friendly neighbors who don’t smoke or drink. Although there will always be those who stereotype the Church and its members in a negative way, most people think of us as honest, helpful, and hardworking. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continually growing and becoming better known throughout the world.
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