Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin on demonstrating love for the Lord

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917-2008) served as a Seventy from 1976 to 1986, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles from 1986 until his passing in 2008 at age 91.

"Do you love the Lord?

"Spend time with Him. Meditate on His words. Take His yoke upon you. Seek to understand and obey, because 'this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments' (1 John 5:3). When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden. Obedience becomes a delight. When we love the Lord, we seek less for things that benefit us and turn our hearts toward things that will bless and uplift others.

"As our love for the Lord deepens, our minds and hearts become purified. We experience a 'mighty change in ... our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually' (Mosiah 5:2).

"Brethren and sisters, as you prayerfully consider what you can do to increase harmony, spirituality, and build up the kingdom of God, consider your sacred duty to teach others to love the Lord and their fellowman. This is the central object of our existence. Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive."

- Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The Great Commandment," Ensign, Nov. 2007, pp. 28-31
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What does it really mean to love the Lord? How is that kind of emotion expressed or manifest in our lives? Elder Wirthlin gives some thought-provoking suggestions.

• "Spend time with Him." If we love someone, we naturally want to do this, We should spend time conversing, listening, feeling.
• "Meditate on His words." Studying and pondering the scriptures and modern inspired teachings should be a natural and pleasant activity.
• "Take His yoke upon you." Try to live, act, and serve as He did and does.
• "Seek to understand and obey." The natural outgrowth of study is the change of behavior as we attempt to conform in our lives to the things He teaches.

Elder Wirthlin's promise is inviting: "As our love for the Lord deepens, our minds and hearts become purified." We become changed people; our hearts and desires are purified. And this second promise is even more glorious: "Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
May 28, 2016