Monday, June 24, 2013

President's Weekly Letters #41


MECHANICS OF LOVE

I will admit, this is a strange title.  Love comes from the heart so it seems disrespectful to reduce it to the mechanics of how to create it.  The past Zone Conference theme was; “Love God, love the People and love the Work”.  Love is the big “Why” of missionary work.  The “Why” motivates us to use the “How’s” that propel us toward turning our VISION into a reality.  As you grow and develop your love for God, people and the work, it becomes a motivating basis in your daily work and you will realize stronger personal conversion and more success.  With new emphasis on the “Why”, you should still maintain and continue to improve your skill with using the many methods of missionary work, the “How’s”, learned over the past several months.  So, with more focus on Love, do not forget the How’s.  All parts of the body are necessary. (1 Cor. 12)

Everybody has an analytical and an emotional side to their brain.  My analytical tends to overpower the emotional.  Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)  Because of my dominant analytical, I personally have, at times, found this concept of love to be somewhat abstract. The statement is inspiring but I can find it difficult to simply read and then go flip a switch to turn on the love.

Some of what love does for us is:

LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR
“…perfect love casteth out all fear.” (Moroni 8:16, 1 John 4:18)

LOVE QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE WORK
“…charity and love… qualify him for the work.” (DC 4:5)

LOVE  PRODUCES POWER IN THE PRIESTHOOD
“…power…of the priesthood…by love unfeigned” (DC 121: 41)

Love is closely connected with Charity in the scriptures.  The Bible Dictionary states that Charity is, “The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; but the pure love of Christ.  (BD, p. , Mor..7:47)

Description of CHARITY:
Scripture Terms:                                                         Present Day Terms:
suffereth long                                                  Patient, endures sacrifice
kind                                                                 Kind
envieth not                                                      No envy
not puffed up                                                  No pride
seeketh not her own                                        Not selfish
not easily provoked                                        Patient, slow to anger
thinketh no evil                                               No evil thoughts
rejoiceth not in iniquity                                  No joy in evil (Eph.4:29)
rejoiceth in the truth                                       Joy in truth (DC93:24,39)
beareth all things                                             Bear the burdens that are placed on you
believeth all things                                          Believe in Jesus Christ
hopeth all things                                             Hope for a better world (Ether12:4)
endureth all things                                           Enduring to the end

In studying various Handbooks of Instruction, I came across the following physical methods to develop love for people.  These practical steps actually help me to exercise and develop the emotional side so feeling love for people comes more natural.  A few years ago after giving a lesson about Charity, I consciously followed these steps as I interacted with people all the next day.  The first stranger I met was a great test.  He was one of these guys with body piercings.  It was actually strange to focus my love for him while seeing a large bolt with a threaded nut sticking out of his cheek and mouth; so much for not prejudging people.  However, the experiment was a remarkable success. My love for these people immediately increased.

Here are the physical steps: 

BRIDAL ALL YOUR PASSIONS:  
“…see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love…”
(Alma 38:12)
All, desires, appetites and passions must be kept within the bounds the Lord has set.

IN YOUR BRAIN:
Let love toward them fill your thoughts

IN YOUR EYES:
Look in their eyes and see their heart
Look for the good
Visualize them in white being baptized, serving in the church or another noble cause

IN YOUR VOICE:
Express your love for them
Express confidence in them
Complement them

IN YOUR HEART:
Feel your love for them
Be sensitive and open to the promptings of the spirit
President Robinson

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