Themes of Conference: I’m Trying to Love my Neighbor
“A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another…” The words echo through the centuries up to the current day and were uttered over the pulpit during conference. In a world full of division and animosity, hatred and exploitation, and the corruption of what love truly is, I was not surprised to hear one of my favorite scripture read yet again. There is a running joke among my loved ones that goes, “Remember who the real enemy is.” I often reflect on that when I find myself unable to love or connect with my peers in the Church. Satan is the true enemy. He seeks to pull apart the truthfulness of the gospel by dividing the saints. But when we choose to stand as one, loving our fellow brother and sisters in the Lord, we choose to thwart Satan’s plans.
In this October conference we were counseled by our leaders to do just such, time and time again. The closing hymn of the final Sunday session was the hymn “Love One Another”. Sister Neil F. Marriot counseled us to reform our hearts. Elder Holland gave us the perfect model of Christlike love in that of our mothers. Elder Montoya counseled us to find compassion one for another. And our beloved Prophet declared “My message to you tonight is straightforward. It is this: keep the commandments.” We know we are commanded to love another, but now you may be asking “Yes, but how?” Here’s a few suggestions to get you started:
Letting Go
The Lord forgives us seventy times seven when we reach out to Him. When we hit our knees in humble prayer, beseeching Him for a second chance or a change of heart, He willingly steps in to forgive and to assist us. Why? Because He loves us. We, as mortal men and women are prone to holding grudges, nursing wounds given to us by others, and taking offense purely because we can. Forgiveness is essential to our development and continuation along the path to exaltation. When we withhold forgiveness, we without love. However, when we chose to let go of anger, hurt, and spite, we open up space in our hearts to love those around us. Some offenses may be slight, and require simply for us to quit dwelling on them. For those offense that run deep, turn to your Savior. “Seek and ye shall find, ask and if shall be opened unto you.”
Showing Charity
Charity, the pure love of Christ is a lofty goal to achieve. And yet, we are commanded to develop it without ourselves. It is easy to gossip, to mumble a complaint about someone else under our breath, to snub or exclude someone. However, if we choose to spread good news, to close our mouths, look for the good in each other, we exhibit charity. Sometimes charity is simply giving someone a break! Give someone the benefit of the doubt! Ask yourself, “How would I want others to respond to me, if I were the one we are finding fault with?” The Lord taught, “If ye are not one, ye are not mine.” Gossip, negativity, and exclusion create division. Loving words and inclusion make us one. It has been said in previous conferences, “I will lift thee and thee lift me and we’ll ascend together.” Choose to lift someone instead of pushing them down. Give up the competition to be or appear better. If you must, stoop down and lift your fellow man from the dirt and offer them the same consolation the Savior gave the woman caught in adultery. “Neither do I accuse thee” can be the greatest words one can hear.
Seeing each other through the Lord’s eyes
Our mortal experience is often one of utter blindness. We are separated from our God. We do not have the bigger picture. This can cause us to see others through a dirty lens. We were counseled in this conference to see other’s the way that Lord does. How do we do this though? Since I cannot even hope to know someone the way the Lord does, when I struggle to find love in my heart for someone, I immediately try to imitate the greatest example of earthly love that I know: my mother. If I were that individual’s mother, how would I respond to their behavior? Patiently, filled with empathy for their struggles, and a selfless desire to serve. I try to treat them as their mother would.
Serving our way to Love
There are times when we encounter individuals who seem to want to make everyone dislike them. My mother wisely taught me as a teenager that everyone we come in contact with only truly wants one thing: to be loved and accepted, despite what their actions may exhibit. I have found when I cannot change how I react to people like this emotionally, I push myself to change my physical actions. Service is the key when all else fails. The Lord spent his time on year going about healing the sick, and ministering to the needy. There are those in our lives who are emotionally in need of love and acceptance. When we serve them, we exhibit our love—or desire to love them. Service unifies and brings us closer to the character of Christ. Service can soften the hearts of those we serve, bringing them closer to Christ as well. It is often through others, that the Lord answers our prayers. Our service may be the answer to the prayer of someone seeking to feel the Lord’s love for them.
When we choose love, we choose God. If we truly seek to be like our Savior and return to our Father in Heaven, we will strive to become more unified as Saints, to love one another, to forgive and show charity for those around us, and to serve the children of God.