Good morning brothers and sisters
Ive been assigned a talk called, love god love thy neighbor.
In Matthew 22:37-40 it says:
And 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.
Loving our neighbors underscores the importance of unity, solidarity, and care for one another. When we extend love and
respect to those around us, we create communities rooted in understanding and acceptance, fostering a world where humanity
can flourish through compassion, tolerance, and harmonious coexistence.
This sounds super easy to follow, but not for all people. Sometimes we completely forget about these commandments and steal
from our siblings, ignore others feelings and just forget to pray. it can be challenging because of addictions, habits, or even
friends. So what does it mean to love god and love your neighbor.
Well elder Andern of the quarem of the seventy spoke about loving your neighbor in general conference last weekend, in this he
spoke of the parable of the good sameritan, he said:
This ministering Samaritan teaches us what it means to “love thy neighbour.”
He saw “a certain man … [who] fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving
him half dead”. The Samaritan “had compassion on him”.
Compassion is an attribute of Christ. It is born of love for others and knows no boundaries. Jesus, the Saviour of the world, is the
epitome of compassion. When we read that “Jesus wept” (John 11:35), we are witnesses, as were Mary and Martha, of His
compassion, which caused Him first to groan in the spirit and be troubled. In a Book of Mormon example of Christ’s compassion,
Jesus appeared to a multitude and said:
“Have ye any that are lame, blind, halt, deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I
have compassion upon you. …
“… And he did heal them every one” (3 Nephi 17:7, 9).
We may ask of our offering, as Andrew the disciple did of the loaves and fishes, “What are they among so many?” (John 6:9). I
assure you: it is sufficient to give or to do what you are able and then to allow Christ to magnify your effort.
These commandments remind us that we are interconnected and should strive to treat others with respect, understanding, and
a genuine concern for their well-being. These two commandments together promote a loving way of life, fostering a sense of
unity, love, and purpose within communities and beyond.
And what does this tell us about loving thy neighbor
It tells us that love is a doing word. When we have compassion for someone like the good Samaritan had, then we reach out and
do something to help them.
Treat every one as a child of god
Show all people love respect and inclusion.
Help them feal heavenly fathers love through you
I know that this church is true and that if we love god and love our neighbor, we can not only make others happy, but god and
ourselves as well. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
