“Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself,” Liahona, September 2014, 10–11
What We Believe
Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself
“As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.” —President Thomas S. Monson
When a lawyer asked Jesus which of the commandments was the greatest, He could have chosen any of the many commandments from the Old Testament, from the law of Moses, or from the Ten Commandments. Instead, He summarized all of the commandments in these two:
“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” (Matthew 22:37–39).
As President Thomas S. Monson taught last general conference, keeping one commandment helps us keep the other: “We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. … We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier” (“Love—the Essence of the Gospel,” Liahona, May 2014, 91).
Developing charity—Christlike love for others—will improve our relationships, help us serve willingly, and fit us for eternal life (see Moroni 10:21). Charity is a spiritual gift that we can pray for and live for; it is “bestowed upon all who are true followers of … Jesus Christ” (Moroni 7:48). It is the “more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31) spoken of by the Apostle Paul and includes being kind, patient, humble, meek, hopeful, and generous (see 1 Corinthians 13).
Life is the perfect laboratory to develop charity. The Savior’s teaching called the Golden Rule can guide our actions: “All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them” (Matthew 7:12). All of us are imperfect, yet we all desire to be treated kindly despite our shortcomings.
Consider these teachings from President Monson regarding the many ways we can show love to others:
“Some of our greatest opportunities to demonstrate our love will be within the walls of our own homes.”
“When it is necessary for us to reprove another, we afterward show forth an increase of love” (see D&C 121:43).
“Forgiveness should go hand in hand with love. … Blame keeps wounds open. Only forgiveness heals.”
“Love is expressed in many recognizable ways: a smile, a wave, a kind comment, a compliment.”
“Other expressions may be more subtle, such as showing interest in another’s activities, teaching a principle with kindness and patience, visiting one who is ill or homebound.”
From “Love—the Essence of the Gospel,” Liahona, May 2014, 91–94.
Illustrations by David Habben