LOVE, THE GREATEST FOUR LETTER WORD EVER!

Since today was Ward Conference in the Price Hills Ward, we were favored with a guest teacher in Relief Society. Sister Dana Muranaka, from the Stake Relief Society Board taught the "Teaching for our Times" lesson. The message Sister Muranaka presented was on LOVE. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave messages on love at the last General Conference. President Uchtdorf's talk was entitled, "The Love of God" and Elder Oaks titled his talk, "Love and Law."

President Uchtdorf stated that, for the most part throughout the world, people of our faith are viewed as friendly neighbors with loving families who don't drink or smoke. We are people who attend Church for three straight hours, we call each other brother and sister, our children sing of trees that produce popcorn and streams that talk. However, above all, we should strive to be known as a people who are "true disciples of Jesus Christ." We achieve that by loving the Lord with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. In addition, we love our neighbors as ourselves. Because love is the greatest commandment, it ought to be at the center of all we do. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. President Uchtdorf outlined: (1) Ways for us to become true disciples of Jesus Christ. (2) He taught us why we should love God. (3) He explained why Heavenly Father loves us. (4) He instructed us on how we can increase our love of God. (5) He stated how we can hear the Father's voice. And finally, (6) he enlightened us on why love is the greatest commandment.

Elder Oaks specifically taught us that although God's love for us is a "perfect love," it does not supersede His laws and His commandments. God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son (John 3:16). He loves us so much that he "spared not his own Son, but delivered Him up for all of us (Romans 8:32). His love for us is unconditional; however, His blessings for us are not unconditional. He will not excuse us from obeying His laws and His commandments. In order for us to enjoy all He has in store for us, we must obey his laws, keep his commandments, and honor our covenants with Him. "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundation of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." (D&C 130:20-21) Elder Oaks reminded us that, "the kingdom of glory to which the Final Judgment assigns us is not determined by love, but the law that God has invoked in His plan to qualify us for eternal life, which is the greatest of all of God's gifts to us."