- May 15, 2005
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I am not sure if I have posted this before or not...I think I may have, but I can't find it...so I'll post it anyway. 
As recently as a couple of years ago, I failed to understand how to love God. How can one experience "warm, fuzzy feelings" towards an invisible being? It baffled me. Then, as I began reading more of the Scriptures, and gradually grew in my faith as a result, I came to the conclusion that love is not about feeling as much as it is about DOING.
As Jesus Christ said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
What was responsible for my initial, false impression of love?
Well, consider this. Our society places a great deal of emphasis on "feelings" in regards to love. This is also the society in which the divorce rate exceeds 50%. How exactly can two people truly love each other, and yet so casually throw aside their marriage vows? The answer is simple: our society does not know what love is truly about. Only the Scriptures, the Words of God, contain true insight into the nature of love.
Again, to quote the Savior: "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Here it is demonstrated that love goes hand-in-hand with obedience. If we truly love the Lord, we will do as He commands us to do; that is to say, we will unconditionally follow His Will.
Now in regards to marriage. For a husband to truly love his wife, he must sacrifice himself for her well-being. He must surrender his self-ambition, and if needed, his own life, for the well-being and safety of the more fragile sex.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25)
Likewise, for a wife to truly love her husband, she must respect her husband, and submit unto him just as she submits to God.
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)
So you see, by applying the Scriptures, a more complete picture of love is revealed. Love is not about "warm fuzzy feelings." Love is about sacrifice, and love is obedience.
Once I reached this conclusion, I realized that loving God is actually quite simple: all that is required is doing what He asks us to do. To make matters simpler, He has provided the Holy Ghost to strengthen us, day by day, month by month, year after year. The Holy Ghost will never forsake us.
By His own love for mankind, God has enabled us to love Him, and to command that same love towards others as well.
As recently as a couple of years ago, I failed to understand how to love God. How can one experience "warm, fuzzy feelings" towards an invisible being? It baffled me. Then, as I began reading more of the Scriptures, and gradually grew in my faith as a result, I came to the conclusion that love is not about feeling as much as it is about DOING.
As Jesus Christ said: "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
What was responsible for my initial, false impression of love?
Well, consider this. Our society places a great deal of emphasis on "feelings" in regards to love. This is also the society in which the divorce rate exceeds 50%. How exactly can two people truly love each other, and yet so casually throw aside their marriage vows? The answer is simple: our society does not know what love is truly about. Only the Scriptures, the Words of God, contain true insight into the nature of love.
Again, to quote the Savior: "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching."
Here it is demonstrated that love goes hand-in-hand with obedience. If we truly love the Lord, we will do as He commands us to do; that is to say, we will unconditionally follow His Will.
Now in regards to marriage. For a husband to truly love his wife, he must sacrifice himself for her well-being. He must surrender his self-ambition, and if needed, his own life, for the well-being and safety of the more fragile sex.
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it." (Ephesians 5:25)
Likewise, for a wife to truly love her husband, she must respect her husband, and submit unto him just as she submits to God.
"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." (Ephesians 5:22)
So you see, by applying the Scriptures, a more complete picture of love is revealed. Love is not about "warm fuzzy feelings." Love is about sacrifice, and love is obedience.
Once I reached this conclusion, I realized that loving God is actually quite simple: all that is required is doing what He asks us to do. To make matters simpler, He has provided the Holy Ghost to strengthen us, day by day, month by month, year after year. The Holy Ghost will never forsake us.
By His own love for mankind, God has enabled us to love Him, and to command that same love towards others as well.
