Jesus Said Love Everyone

“Jesus said love everyone. Treat them kindly too. When your heart is filled with love, others will love you.”

Those are the words to a song we teach our youngest children in Primary. It’s a peaceful song, full of hope. It is the opposite of what I’ve been hearing about in the news lately in Charlottesville, Virginia. I started to describe the tragedy and the ache in my heart made the rest of this article impossible to write. So I am going to let you look it up in the news. Needless to say, it is heartbreaking.

Hatred brings pain.

Why do people hate each other? When I think about why I hate spiders, I am first reminded of how afraid I am of them. I once had to kill a very large spider and I nearly had a heart attack! It makes me wonder if people hate others because of fear.

I know that anger is a secondary emotion. You always feel something else first. (fear, embarrassment, hurt) Is it possible that hate is also a secondary emotion?

We are born full of love, full of potential. In this crazy world, sometimes we have to diligently work to keep that love in our hearts. By following the teachings of Jesus Christ we can remain focused on what matters. And we can keep our homes a place where Christ, and all good things, are welcome.

This morning I read a statement released by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, August 13, 2017. It was so inspiring that I have to share it with you.

“It is with great sadness and deep concern that we view the violence, conflict, and tragedy of recent days in Charlottesville, Virginia. People of any faith, or of no faith at all, should be troubled by the increase of intolerance in both words and actions that we see everywhere.

Gordon B. Hinckley

More than a decade ago, the late Church President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) addressed the topic of racism when speaking to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He powerfully and clearly taught this principle:

“No man who makes disparaging remarks concerning those of another race can consider himself a true disciple of Christ. Nor can he consider himself to be in harmony with the teachings of the Church of Christ.”

For members of the Church, we reaffirm that teaching today and the Savior’s admonition to love our neighbor.

Our prayers are with those who are suffering because of this intolerance and hatred. We pray for peace and for understanding. Above all, we pray that we may treat one another with greater kindness, compassion, and goodness.”

We must protect our innocent children and our families from the anger and hatred being spewed across the world. We should not blame others for our problems.

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

We can take a lesson from peach trees. They can be brutally pruned and afterward produce the best fruit. This tragedy can be a time of pruning. It can be a chance for us to examine our own hearts and cut out the overgrowth that would weaken us.

We can work harder to be loving and be accepting of those who are different from us. Because Jesus taught us to love our neighbor, to be kind. Let us be more as He taught us to be.

About Patty Sampson
Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.