The Great Commandment

The Great Commandment

Discuss: What best defines us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Elder Wirthlin's teachings. In his October 2007 General Conference address, Elder Wirthlin taught that at the time Jesus walked the earth, the Pharisees tried to trick him with a question they thought was impossible to answer: "Which is the great commandment in the law?" This had been the subject of great debate and those Pharisees had made a list of over 600 commandments.

When the Savior responded, his answer dismayed them because he had identified their biggest weakness. He said"

"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matt. 22: 37-40)

Can you think of examples where people have shown this type of love?

Two examples.

In his address, Elder Wirthlin gave a couple of stories. One was about a 14 year old boy that did not have anywhere to stay when he came to Nauvoo looking for his brother. It was winter and the boy did not have money or friends. When he asked about his brother, he was taken to a large house that looked like a hotel and was cared for. When he tried to leave the next day during a storm, the man of the house told him to wait for a while until a team of horses came. The boy responded that he did not have money, but the kind man said it would be taken care of. This man was none other than the prophet Joseph Smith.

Joseph Smith was asked one time why he had so many followers. His reply was simple. He said that it was because he possessed the principle of love.

Another example taught by Elder Wirthlin was of an elderly man who started painting his wife's finger nails as she became increasingly blind. For five years he painted her nails because of the joy it brought to her.

Ask: Can you think of another story of someone who showed charity?

On our mission, I often quote President Benson to the missionaries. "When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that very moment God will endow us with power." To this quote, Elder Wirthlin gave another dimension in his talk. "When we love the Lord, obedience ceases to be a burden and becomes a delight." He explained that when we love the Lord, we seek less for things that benefit us and turn our hearts more toward blessing the lives of those around us.

So, Elder Wirthlin gives us the answer to the question: "what quality defines us as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?

Answer: We are a people who love the Lord with all our hearts, souls and minds, and we love our neighbors as ourselves. He said this is our signature as a people.

Look at the picture of the Savior.

When He meets with us on that final day, he will not ask us about our Church callings or about our things we have acquired or even about our accomplishments. He will ask if we have "ministered to the sick, gave food and drink to the hungry and succor to the weak. When we reach out to the least of these our brethren, we have done it unto Him." (Matt. 25:31-40)

Activity:

Can you make plans tonight to help someone you know? Can you visit someone that is sick, elderly, or in need of help?