The Great Commandment

A man once asked the Master, "which is the great commandment on the law?" To which Jesus replied, "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" (Matt 22:36-39).

Since that profound yet simple statement, many apostles and prophets have expounded on this first and great commandment. In October 2007, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, apostle of the Lord, gave a talk entitled, "The Great Commandment." Said Elder Wirthlin:

"Love is the beginning, the middle, and the end of the pathway of discipleship. It comforts, counsels, cures, and consoles. It leads us through valleys of darkness and through the veil of death. In the end love leads us to the glory and grandeur of eternal life."

Indeed, on the great commandment of love hang all the law and teachings of the prophets. Everything we do in this life should be fueled and motivated by charity, by the pure love of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3; Moroni 7:47).

Later this week I will post about charity becoming who we are, not just what we do. Today, read this article. Elder Wirthlin offers many wonderful teachings about developing this Christlike love for our Heavenly Father and those around us.

Jeremy