Love and Belonging
Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults
Sunday, November 19, 2023
Elder Quentin L. Cook: The question about love and belonging is closely related to facing life and faith challenges. Mary, would you address this important question?
Sister Mary Cook: We are all children of God, and we belong to the Lord’s restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. No matter our different situations, we all belong.
It is clear in the scriptures that God loves all His spirit children and all are alike unto God and all belong.
In 2 Nephi 26:33 it reads, in part, “He inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; … and all are alike unto God.”
Because we are all God’s spirit children, we have a spiritual identity, and we sing of this in “I Am a Child of God.”1
Years ago, when we lived in the California Bay Area, young adults and older youth sang and participated in the Oakland California Temple pageant titled “And It Came to Pass.” One song was about our spiritual identity. It was titled “Who Am I?” It asks the questions “Why are we here?” and “Where are we going?”
The song ends with this powerful answer:
This is who I am.
My spirit lived with my Father before the earth was formed.
I chose the path to follow when my first estate was done.
I came to earth for a body created like my Father
To unite my spirit and body to make my soul divine.
This is who I am:
I am a child of my father … in heaven.
This is who I am. …
I am a child of God.
Everyone who participated had a witness of the Spirit that they were singing truth.
Elder Cook: Last month, Mary and I were in Ephesus in Turkey with mission leaders for much of Europe. The Apostle Paul had lived and taught there. One of his epistles to the Ephesians contains a powerful declaration: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.2
We all belong!
Sister Cook: A. A. Milne wrote a book about a golden, honey-loving bear called Winnie-the-Pooh.
On a walk with his friend Piglet, Piglet asks Pooh, “How do you spell love?” Pooh answers, “You don’t spell it. You feel it.”
In the scripture study app in the Gospel Library, the overview for “Love” reads, “Love is a feeling of deep devotion, concern, and affection. The greatest example of God’s love for His children is found in the infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ. Love for God and fellow men is a characteristic of disciples of Jesus Christ.”3
In John 3:16 we read, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
When Jesus Christ came to this earth in the meridian of time He taught us:
“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 neighbour as thyself.”4
We show our love for God the Father and Jesus Christ by keeping Their commandments. This is our work.
We show our love to all of God’s children by ministering to them and actively living the gospel—by doing missionary work as we love, share, and invite others to “come unto Christ.” We show our love for family by keeping our temple covenants and doing temple work for our ancestors.
Now, be honest with yourself. Ask: Do my actions show my love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ? Am I helping others around me to believe? If I were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict me?
The poem “Outwitted” by Edwin Markham reads:
He drew a circle that shut me out—
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
Let us be true disciples and peacemakers. Let the pure love of Christ dwell in our hearts as we show by our actions our love for God and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.
Elder Cook: I have asked Elder and Sister Gilbert to address the next two questions:
First, How can we strengthen life planning and life balance? And, second, How do we stand for truth in these complex times?