LOVE AS CHRIST
What kind of love did the Savior exemplify? What do I need to do in my
life to catch hold of his pure love for others? How do I seek after the gift of
charity? What changes do I need to make in how I think, act, speak or feel to
be more in alignment with the charity that the Savior had?
Luke 10:27
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Love God wholly, holding
nothing back – heart, soul, strength, and mind
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Mark 10:21
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The Savior overlooked
personal imperfections and loved people
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Luke 6:35
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Act toward all people
(even enemies) with love & generosity. The Lord is kind to the unthankful
AND to the evil.
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1 Corinthians 13:4
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The Savior had charity
and was kind, patient, gloried in the success of others and sought to build
up others rather than self.
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1 Corinthians 16:14
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No matter what you are
doing, it should be done with charity
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2 Nephi 26:30
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It is a commandment to
have charity. With charity we save not only ourselves but we reach out to
save all mankind.
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Mosiah 4:16
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Take care of the needs of
others freely- expecting nothing in return.
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Moroni 7:46-48
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Charity endures forever.
We are to pray for the gift of charity then we become TRUE followers of
Christ and BECOME LIKE him & be made pure.
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Moroni 8:17
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All people are equally
worthy of God’s love. They are all ALIKE TO HIM and can all partake of
salvation.
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Moroni 10:21
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We must develop love of
God in order to have a place in his kingdom.
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D&C 121:45
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We need to be
compassionate, faithful, think well of others as we seek to have charity in
our lives.
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1 John 3:17
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Have compassion for the
needy or we don’t have the love of God in us.
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LOVE AS CHRIST QUOTES
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES
Colossians 3:12–14
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charity is the bond of perfectness
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Alma 34:28–29
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our prayers are vain if we do not act
charitably
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1 Corinthians 12:29–13:3
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definition of charity
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THE SAVIOR’S LOVE
“The final and crowning
virtue of the divine character is charity, or the pure love of Christ[1].
If we would truly seek to be more like our Savior and Master, then learning to
love as He loves should be our highest goal… The world today speaks a great
deal about love, and it is sought for by many. But the pure love of Christ
differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish
gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of
others.”[2]
“The life of the Savior
reflects His pure love for all people. He even gave His life for us. Charity is
that pure love which our Savior Jesus Christ has. He has commanded us to love
one another as He loves us. The scriptures tell us that charity comes from a
pure heart[3].
We have pure love when, from the heart, we show genuine concern and compassion
for all our brothers and sisters.”[4]
“The Savior was our
example of how to feel toward and treat others. He despised wickedness, but He
loved sinners in spite of their sins. He had compassion for children, the
elderly, the poor, and the needy. He had such great love that He could beg our
Heavenly Father to forgive the soldiers who drove the nails into His hands and
feet[5].
He taught us that if we do not forgive others, our Father in Heaven will not
forgive us[6].
He said: “I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good
to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you. … For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?”[7].
We must learn to feel toward others as Jesus did.”[8]
“Charity is the pure
love of Christ.” The Savior exemplified that love and taught it even as He was
tormented by those who despised and hated Him… Sometimes the greatest love is
not found in the dramatic scenes that poets and writers immortalize. Often, the
greatest manifestations of love are the simple acts of kindness and caring we
extend to those we meet along the path of life. True love … is eternally
patient and forgiving. It believes, hopes, and endures all things. That is the
love our Heavenly Father bears for us… Even when we make mistakes, we hope
others will love us in spite of our shortcomings—even if we don’t deserve it…
His love is such that even should we give up on ourselves, He never will. 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 Christlike love. There is no pain it cannot soften, no bitterness it
cannot remove, no hatred it cannot alter… Without charity—or the pure love of
Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes
vibrant and alive.”[9]
“…the most important
attribute of Heavenly Father and of His Beloved Son that we should desire and
seek to possess within our lives is the gift of charity, “the pure love of
Christ” (Moroni 7:47). From this gift springs our capacity to love and to serve
others as the Savior did.”[10]
“Jesus’ love was inseparably connected to and
resulted from his life of serving, sacrificing, and giving in behalf of others.
We cannot develop Christlike love except by practicing the process prescribed
by the Master… Charity is not just a precept or a principle, nor is it just a
word to describe actions or attitudes. Rather, it is an internal condition that
must be developed and experienced in order to be understood. We are possessors
of charity when it is a part of our nature. People who have charity have a love
for the Savior, have received of his love, and love others as he does.”[11]
“When this pure love of Christ—or
charity—envelops us, we think, feel, and act more like Heavenly Father and
Jesus would think, feel, and act. Our motivation and heartfelt desire are like
unto that of the Savior.”[12]
THE POWER OF and NEED FOR CHARITY
“The more we allow the love of
God to govern our minds and emotions—the more we allow our love for our
Heavenly Father to swell within our hearts—the easier it is to love others with
the pure love of Christ. As we open our hearts to the glowing dawn of the love
of God, the darkness and cold of animosity and envy will eventually fade. As
always, Christ is our exemplar. In His teachings as in His life, He showed us
the way. He forgave the wicked, the vulgar, and those who sought to hurt and to
do Him harm… The pure love of Christ can remove the scales of resentment and
wrath from our eyes, allowing us to see others the way our Heavenly Father sees
us: as flawed and imperfect mortals who have potential and worth far beyond our
capacity to imagine. Because God loves us so much, we too must love and forgive
each other.”[13]
“When hard trials come, the faith to endure them well will be there,
built as you may now notice but may have not at the time that you acted on the
pure love of Christ, serving and forgiving others as the Savior would have
done. You built a foundation of faith from loving as the Savior loved and
serving for Him. Your faith in Him led to acts of charity that will bring you
hope.”[14]
“I consider charity—or “the pure love of Christ”—to be the opposite of
criticism and judging... I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when
we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity
that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient… There is a serious need for
the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who
are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in
action. The need for charity is everywhere… Life is perfect for none of us.
Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the pure
love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May we
recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which
come her way, and may we strive to do our best to help out.”[15]
“When something is over and done
with, when it has been repented of as fully as it can be repented of, when life
has moved on as it should and a lot of other wonderfully good things have
happened since then, it is not right to go back and open some ancient wound
that the Son of God Himself died to heal. Let people repent. Let people grow.
Believe that people can change and improve. Is that faith? Yes! Is that hope?
Yes! Is that charity? Yes! Above all, it is charity, the pure love of Christ.
If something is buried in the past, leave it buried. Don’t keep going back with
your little sand pail and beach shovel to dig it up, wave it around, and then
throw it at someone, saying, “Hey! Do you remember this?” Splat!”[16]
“We have greater responsibilities than ever before to make our homes
such as will radiate to our neighbors harmony, love, community duties, loyalty.
Let our neighbors see it and hear it. … God help us as members … of the Church,
to radiate … Love … , Charity, … and Service!”[17]
“It is by the Holy Ghost in you that others may feel the pure love of
Christ and receive strength to press forward.”[18]
FINDING AND FEELING THE
PURE LOVE OF CHRIST
“One way we can become charitable is by studying the life of Jesus
Christ and keeping His commandments. We can study what He did in certain
situations and do the same things when we are in the same kinds of situations.”[19]
“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.”[20]
“Most of all, you should pray to be filled with the love of Christ.
This love is given to those who ask for it with all of their heart (see Moroni
7:47–48). Tasting this love is a major part of your conversion because once you
have felt your Savior’s love for you, a love for Him and for your Heavenly
Father will grow. You will want to do what They ask. Go often to your closet,
your secret place, your wilderness. Ask God to bestow upon you the pure love of
Christ. Sometimes fasting will help.”[21]
“By assigning our women to do visiting teaching, we give them the
opportunity to develop the pure love of Christ, which can be the greatest
blessing of their lives”[22]
“Faith is rooted in Jesus Christ. Hope centers in the Atonement.
Charity is manifest in the ‘pure love of Christ.’ These three attributes are
intertwined like strands in a cable and may not always be precisely
distinguished. Together they become our tether to the celestial kingdom”[23]
“A key principle: the power to endure in living righteously comes as we
receive the love of God, which is “most joyous to the soul”[24].
We experience His love as we yield our hearts to Him[25],
place the affection of our hearts on Him forever[26],
and love Him with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength[27].
This love—charity—will be bestowed upon all who are “true followers” of Jesus
Christ[28].
As we live righteously and walk humbly, the love of God will refresh our souls
as living water in a parched desert and fuel our ability to endure to the end.”[29]
“For true charity to blossom in their hearts, women must combine their
innate compassion with faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement.”[30]
“Charity begins at home. The single most important principle that
should govern every home is to practice the Golden Rule—the Lord’s admonition
that “all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so
to them” (Matthew 7:12). Take a moment and imagine how you would feel if you
were on the receiving end of thoughtless words or actions. By our example, let
us teach our family members to have love one for another.”[31]
“As man first immerses his thoughts in love and conveys those feelings
to God, man, or self, a magnified portion of that attribute will surely follow
from the Spirit. That is true of all godly attributes. Righteous feelings
generated by a man seem to precede the increase of those feelings from the
Spirit. Unless you are feeling love, you cannot convey true love to others. The
Lord has told us to love one another as He loves us, so remember: to be loved,
truly love.” [32]
“Like faith, Christlike love is a gift of the Spirit, is granted
upon the principles of personal righteousness and in accordance to our level of
obedience to the laws upon which it is predicated. And like faith, love must be
exercised to grow.”[33]
LOVE AS CHRIST - ADDITIONAL NOTES
[1] Moroni 7:47
[2] Ezra Taft Benson, Godly Characteristics of the Master,
Ensign, Nov 1986
[3] 1 Timothy 1:5
[4] Gospel Principles, Chapter 30: Charity
[5] Luke 23:34
[6] Matthew 18:33–35
[7] Matthew 5:44, 46
[8] Gospel Principles, Chapter 30: Charity
[9] Joseph B Wirthlin, The Great Commandment, Ensign, Nov
2007
[10] M Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service,
Ensign, May 2011
[11] C Max Caldwell, Love of Christ, Ensign, Nov 1992
[12] M Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service,
Ensign, May 2011
[13] Dieter F Uchtdorf, The Merciful Obtain Mercy, Ensign,
May 2012
[14] Henry B Eyring, Mountains to Climb, Ensign, May 2012
[15] Thomas S Monson, Charity Never Faileth, Ensign, Nov
2010
[16] Jeffrey R Holland, The Best is Yet to Be, Liahona,
January 2010
[17] David O McKay, Radiation of the Individual,
Instructor, Oct. 1964, 374
[18] D Todd Christofferson,
The Power of Covenants, Ensign, May 2009
[19] Gospel Principles, Chapter 30: Charity
[20] Dieter F Uchtdorf, The Love of God, Ensign, Nov 2009
[21] D Todd Christofferson, Becoming Converted, Ensign,
June 2011
[22] Barbara Winder, in Daughters in My Kingdom, page 120
[23] Russell M. Nelson, A More Excellent Hope, Ensign, Feb.
1997
[24] 1 Nephi 11:22–23
[25] Helaman 3:35
[26] Alma 37:36
[27] Moroni 10:32
[28] Moroni 7:48; see also vv. 45–47
[29] Marcus B Nash, Cultivating Righteousness, Ensign, Aug
2008
[30] Daughters in My Kingdom, Chapter 10, Live Up to Your
Privilege
[31] M Russell Ballard, Finding Joy Through Loving Service,
Ensign, May 2011
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