Joseph B. Wirthlin: Quoting Paul, who wanted to show the saints at Corinth “a more excellent way,’ Do you remember the words he wrote next? “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity,” he told them, “I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 12:31; 13:1).) Paul’s message to this new body of Saints was simple and direct: Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity. . . even if you have faith to move mountains, without charity it won’t profit you at all. (1 Cor. 13: 1-2). . . .
In 1840 the Prophet Joseph sent an epistle to the Twelve wherein he taught that “love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (HC, 4: 227). . . Love is the beginning, the middle and the end of the pathway of discipleship. . . . Many asked why he (JS) gained so many followers and retained them. His answer: “It is because I possess the principle of love.” (HC 5: 498).
True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us. . . . We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities. The means of this refinement is our Christ-like love.. . .
Brethren and Sisters, as you prayerfully consider what you can do to increase harmony, spirituality, and build up the kingdom of God, consider your sacred duty to teach others to love the Lord and their fellowman. This is the central object of our existence. Without charity–or the pure love of Christ– whatever else we accomplish matters little With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive. . . .
returning to my original question, What quality defines us best as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I would answer: we are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. . . At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. he will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. (See Matt. 25: 31-40). . .
The Savior’s love for us was so great that it caused ‘even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of the pain, and to bleed at every pore.” (Doc. & Cov. 19:18). . . . This is the transforming power of charity. . . new commandment . . . He gave to them the grand key to happiness in this life and glory in the next. Love is the greatest of all the commandments – all others hang upon it. . . . will most improve our lives. . . . I pray that our hearts may be filled with that love and that we may reach out to our Heavenly Father and to others with new vision and new faith. . . discover a greater richness in life. -- Ensign, November, 2007, J. B. Wirthlin, “The Great Commandment,” p. 28.
In 1840 the Prophet Joseph sent an epistle to the Twelve wherein he taught that “love is one of the chief characteristics of Deity, and ought to be manifested by those who aspire to be the sons of God. A man filled with the love of God, is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race.” (HC, 4: 227). . . Love is the beginning, the middle and the end of the pathway of discipleship. . . . Many asked why he (JS) gained so many followers and retained them. His answer: “It is because I possess the principle of love.” (HC 5: 498).
True love lasts forever. It is eternally patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the love our Heavenly Father bears for us. . . . We see ourselves in terms of yesterday and today. Our Heavenly Father sees us in terms of forever. Although we might settle for less, Heavenly Father won’t, for He sees us as the glorious beings we are capable of becoming. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of transformation. It takes us as men and women of the earth and refines us into men and women for the eternities. The means of this refinement is our Christ-like love.. . .
Brethren and Sisters, as you prayerfully consider what you can do to increase harmony, spirituality, and build up the kingdom of God, consider your sacred duty to teach others to love the Lord and their fellowman. This is the central object of our existence. Without charity–or the pure love of Christ– whatever else we accomplish matters little With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive. . . .
returning to my original question, What quality defines us best as member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? I would answer: we are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. . . At the final day the Savior will not ask about the nature of our callings. he will not inquire about our material possessions or fame. He will ask if we ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry, visited those in prison, or gave succor to the weak. (See Matt. 25: 31-40). . .The Savior’s love for us was so great that it caused ‘even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of the pain, and to bleed at every pore.” (Doc. & Cov. 19:18). . . . This is the transforming power of charity. . . new commandment . . . He gave to them the grand key to happiness in this life and glory in the next. Love is the greatest of all the commandments – all others hang upon it. . . . will most improve our lives. . . . I pray that our hearts may be filled with that love and that we may reach out to our Heavenly Father and to others with new vision and new faith. . . discover a greater richness in life. -- Ensign, November, 2007, J. B. Wirthlin, “The Great Commandment,” p. 28.
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