the Essence of the Gospel

Happy Easter week to you! I wrote a little about Easter previously here and here.

(For you readers unfamiliar with General Conference, it is 10 hours of church in one weekend that happens twice a year, broadcast from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints headquarters to around the world. If that sounds crazy, technological developments have made it possible for us to participate in Conference from virtually anywhere, which means many of us watch most of it at home on the couch in our pajamas. Not too bad. The messages are published and available online at www.lds.org or in print and we can study these messages throughout the year. Indeed, these messages from prophets and apostles constitute new scripture for us to enjoy. I love to make these a part of my personal scripture study.)

General Conference was a couple weeks ago. One of the first talks I like to go back to right away is from the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, from Sunday morning. This time President Monson centered his message around one of my favorite passages of scripture, Matthew 22: " 'Master, which is the great commandment in the law?' Jesus said unto him, '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. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.' "

 When I hear (or read) the Savior declare in no uncertain terms what the most important commandment is, I listen up. Especially when He follows it up saying that the entire gospel centers on this principle.

Says President Monson: "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."

If the commandment is to love our neighbors, and the prophet specifically mentions these five attributes, I take note that these are things which are lacking in society and that we should really focus on. This doesn't need to be just a rehash, something we've heard a hundred times that is next in the queue. It may not be new, but this is relevant and what we need to work on now.

I'm not going to write a whole sermon now on each of these five points he mentioned (kindness, patience, selflessness, understanding, and forgiveness), but I do want to emphasize making these attributes a priority. He also mentions being considerate, sensitive, compassionate, and encouraging. Not only are these manifestations of love, but by practicing these principles the love of Christ will grow within us. "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).

A favorite parable of mine is the parable of the sheep and the goats. Jesus taught: "Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying: Lord, when saw we thee... and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:34-40).

It is so easy to judge people and decide that they deserve what they get. It is natural to hold on to grudges. Or, like in the story of the Good Samaritan, we think we are simply too busy with other worthy things. But what do these people need and what we can do? It doesn’t have to be a big thing, but often there is something we can do. Brighten someone’s day. Make someone happy instead of just proving a point. President Monson reminds us, “Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us."

A mother of one of my closest childhood friends has been one of the best examples of love and charity in my life. It may be a little surprising at first glance. She is definitely not a soft woman; she is strict, loud and outspoken. She works hard but never had much money or nice things. But she is caring, considerate, selfless, and compassionate. Here’s one example. I was a pretty dopey kid and involved in too many activities. My parents were very busy and often would expect me to rescue myself, “figure out a way to get home.” I dreaded that, because I hated to mooch or inconvenience other people, but I seemed to always be in a situation requiring it. Even though my friend’s mom also worked and they lived five miles away from my home, she was always willing to help me out and go far out of her way to give me a ride from school or baseball practice or anything else, even without any notice. If they were there, I don’t recall her ever saying no (or complaining about the trouble). That may seem small, but it wasn’t small to me because that is what I needed most. That is just one of many examples. Her husband was no different but it is she that really sticks out in my memory. Because of her example, I have tried to always be available for others in a similar way.

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith…, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-2). Love (kindness, patience, et al.) may seem like such a basic thing but I believe it is needed now as much as ever and is lacking in society. Kindness is one of the most underrated attributes on the planet. It doesn’t just mean doing nice things, it also is being a friendly person. I know the people I like to be around are kind. Think of how different life would be if people were a little bit more kind, patient, and friendly! Each of us can have a part in improving that.

President Monson stated: "Love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar. His life was a legacy of love." I believe one of our personal missions on earth is to become more like Jesus. One way we can do that is by developing and demonstrating more love and charity throughout each day.