As we approach mid February our minds are turned to love. We think first of our spouses, our children, perhaps extended family members. But do we remember the strangers around us, our spiritual brothers and sisters?
In a talk given in April of 1999 by Robert J. Whetten of the Second Quorum of the Seventy, he spoke of the role that love plays in the life of a true follower of Christ. He said, "Alone in that upper room with the eleven, Jesus [used the] last teaching moments of His mortal ministry to teach: 'A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you...By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.'" John 13:34-35
How exactly do we go about loving one another?
Elder Whetten gave us some insight when he said, "Jesus' unconditional love for us motivated His atoning sacrifice for our sins....How He lived His life is the example we should follow. His way should be our way. 'Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.' 3 Nephi 27:27 He showed us that we must go about doing good, that the spiritual and physical welfare of our fellowmen is as important as our own and that we should show genuine concern and compassion for all of our Heavenly Father's children."
Elder Whetten encouraged us to try every day to follow the Savior's example. He said, "Love must be exercised to grow....As we deny ourselves and reach out to serve others, the Spirit will refine us and teach us and we will come to learn what Paul meant: 'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.' Ether 12:34 Our compassionate service to others will grow into diving love and change us, 'and when he shall appear we shall be like him.'" Moroni 7:48
"As His true followers, the Savior wants us to love others as He loves them - more unconditionally, more purely, more perfectly."
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