As I have loved you, love one another
This new commandment, love one another
By this shall men know, ye are my disciples
If ye have love, one to another.
(Words and Music by Luaciane Clark)
This beautiful song reminds us all of our Lord’s commandment in John 13:34-35: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Many of us were blessed this season with demonstrations of love from our families, friends, neigbors, and even strangers. Often, this love is communicated in acts of service. It is shown in small acts of kindness and consideration. It is seen and felt in the welcoming smiles and warm hugs we receive.
Loving one another can be demonstrated in our willingness to share what we have with one another. Service and the sharing of our talents, resources, and other things we’re blessed with is part of being a Mormon or a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mormons believe that one of the ways we can serve God is by serving our fellow men.
Mosiah 2:17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.
The Church has a world-wide Humanitarian program that has helped thousands of people. Recently LDS Humanitarian Services and its many volunteers helped to clean up homes and farms in Lewis County, Washington in the wake of devastating floods. Over 10,000 cleaning kits were trucked from Salt Lake City to help with this relief effort.
LDS Humanitarian Services responded immediately to help ease the burden felt by victims of a 8.0-magnitude earthquake that struck Peru in August 15, 2007. LDS Humanitarian Services was also on the scene to help those who lost homes in the wildfires that raged in California earlier this year.
This is only a small sampling of the numerous ways in which LDS Humnitarian Services has reached out to our neighbors both in this country and in many other parts of the world as well. The Mormon Religion teaches love to all mankind and LDS Humanitarian Service is an extension of that love for our fellow brothers and sisters. Those of us who consider ourselves to be active and faithful Mormons strive to live our lives so that we can be of service to all our neighbors, be they near or far.
Mormons look to our Savior as the greatest example of service. Reflect for a moment on the example and the lessons he gave us when he washed his disciples feet. There are many lessons that we can take from this simple yet profound act. The one that I’d like to focus on today is that or service. If our Savior, the son of God, can wash his disciples feet and be of service to them in such a way, can we do any less? We may not be required to literally wash each other’s feet but we can be or service to each other in so many ways. We can show our love for all of God’s children in countless ways through the words that we speak and through our actions.
President Thomas S. Monson (first counselor in the First Presidency) taught:
We look to the Savior as our example of service. Although He came to earth as the Son of God, He humbly served those around Him. He came forth from heaven to live on earth as mortal man and to establish the kingdom of God. His glorious gospel reshaped the thinking of the world. He blessed the sick; He caused the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear. He even raised the dead to life.
I am so grateful for the love that has been shown me this season and throughout this year. I’ve been on the receiving end of so many caring acts of kindness and service – from wonderful cousins who opened their home to us, siblings who shared talents and memories with us, and from strangers who offered their seats at a busy airport to a tired family.
I am thankful for my I am thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ, the greatest example of love, service, and forgiveness the world has ever had. I pray that all of us will end this year with the knowledge that we are all beloved children of our Heavenly Father. I pray too that we will all try to live our lives according to His will.
