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
LOVE QUALIFIES YOU FOR THE WORK
LOVE PRODUCES POWER IN THE PRIESTHOOD
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
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
