The Love of God

My thoughts on Pres. Uchtdorf's talk "The Love of God"

"Because 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. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk."

How do you get this in your heart when a child's actions are breaking it? (Maybe I shouldn't type this right after a huge argument with that child and a rotten day period, but then again maybe it is like when you say, "I don't feel like praying," that when you need to do it the most.)

I do love this child. I have to or I would have kicked him out by now. I have these arguments with him now because later they will cost one of us a lot more (money, time, energy and love).

Back to the talk...

Why Should I Love God?
Good question. And the other one is "Do I?"

"For what we love determines what we seek."
"What we seek determines what we think and do."
"What we think and do determines who we are--and who we will become."

AMEN! I couldn't say it any better. I think I'm going to print that out and put it up somewhere in my home.

"Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart of misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things."

That is a true statement because of the fall. We can't know love unless we know a broken heart. We can't know peace unless we know strife. I just wish we knew/had more positive and loving times inside my home.

Why does Heavenly Father Love Me?
I wonder that all the time. Why does he love a sinner and good-for-nothing daughter. I know I would have kicked me out long ago. But now that I have children I know why. Breaks my heart thinking about how much hurt I have caused him and how that doesn't matter to him as long as I recognize the pain and sin and change my ways.
I guess that is what hurts my mother heart so much right now. There is no change and only hatred and bitterness toward us. We are ruining his life.
I guess I better hold out that hope that our Heavenly Father has for me for my son.

Love this quote: "Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely."

How Can I Increase my Love of God?
"However, seeking God with all our hearts implies much more than simply offering a prayer or pronouncing a few words inviting God into our lives. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” We can make a great production of saying that we know God. We can proclaim publicly that we love Him. Nevertheless, if we don’t obey Him, all is in vain, for “he that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”"

This goes with the walking and the talking that Elder Bednar talked about. We can't be hypocrites.

As you know I'm running a half marathon in May. There is NO WAY I could run this without putting in all the months of training. There is no way to gain a testimony or keep the commandment but just saying it, you have to put in the months of preparations and training. It is about being consistent with the little things that great things will happen. (I know there is a scripture along those lines, but if I go hunting for it I will get distracted and never get back here.)
My little voice of comfort and hope:
"My dear brothers and sisters, don’t get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible—and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you."

You know I never thought I could run for 30 minutes, and now I'm running for 40 and next week I ramp it up to 60 minutes. Soon I will run 120 minutes (maybe more--don't know how fast I can run 13.1 miles). Little by little I've been able to do it and little by little I will feel his love again and regain that wonderful testimony.

How Can I Hear the Father's Voice?
"As you reach out to your Heavenly Father, as you pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere."

I see him everywhere and now I have to pay attention to his voice. I have heard it a few time (well felt it more than "heard") and I need to do that again. And this is why:
"If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ."
I need to feel that pure love again. I need to feel uplifted. I need to love so I can feel love.

Why is Love the Great Commandment?
"Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder.
Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.
Love is the way of the disciple."

As I ponder that question my answer is because it is about the only thing that we have that wasn't given to us. Our will, our emotions and our actions are the only thing that our Father in Heaven didn't give us. He gives us everything else--even the air we breath, but the only thing we can give him (or others) is our emotions--our love (or hatred), empathy, kindness, etc. It is the greatest commandment because it is the only proof we are truly given our self to Him.