Love - the Essence of the Gospel
Have you ever prayed to love someone? As a teacher in elementary school, I often prayed to love my students. Not a hard prayer for Heavenly Father to grant. I was always seeking the kind of love that would just naturally flow out of me. I wanted to give without thought, because I cared for the child so much.
The following is taken from a talk by our Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, entitled, ‘Love-the Essence of the Gospel’.:
My Beloved brothers and sisters, when our Savior ministered among men, He was asked by the inquiring lawyer, ”Master, which is the great commandment in the law?”
Mathew records that 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 neighbor as thyself.”
Mark concludes the account with the Savior’s statement: ”There is non other commandment greater than these.”
We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers in 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. Actually, love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar.I now often pray to love the sisters in the ward. I pray for the ones I know well, and the ones I only know by name. As we serve we learn to love, but I also need to pray to love those I serve. I need the kind of love that flows out of me without thought or judgment. I think we all do. Heavenly Father always answers our prayers. Sometimes we need to be constant in our prayers because we are flawed and need his continual strength. Pray for those you love and for the ability to love.
Birthdays
8 Jenny Maxwell
8 Debra Miskimon
8 Jerry Whiting
9 Jennie Sleight
12 Martha Cardon
19 Margaret Agnew
20 Rachel Mason
23 Kathy Conley
25 Sabrina Hankal
Lesson Schedule – (Gordon B Hinkley)
Feb 5 Presidency message Jan Welling
Feb 12 #3 “Cultivating an Attitude of Happiness and a Spirit of Optismism”
Feb 19 #4 “The Pioneer Heritage of Faith and Sacrifice”
Feb 26 “The Souls Sincere Desire” by Carol McConkie AND “The Lord, Jesus Christ, Teaches Us to Pray” by Juan A Uceda
Upcoming Events
Feb 15 Ward Temple Day
Feb 25 Stake Women’s Conference 9-1
Mar 9 Relief Society Meeting
Other Opportunities
Feb 2 Lady’s Night Out at 8 pm at Malone’s (64th & Indiana)
Feb 9 Book Group 7 pm at Stacey’s “The Opposite of Loneliness” by Marina Keegan
Feb 21 Lunch Bunch at 11:30 at KFC on 58th
Wednesdays 9 am Playgroup
Saturdays 8 am basketball Stake Center
Mon & Wed 9 am Aerobics
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