Farewell Talk

The love of God

Good morning everyone! As you all know I have been called on a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have been assigned to labor in the Brazil, Manaus mission! Manaus is located in northwestern Brazil right on the Amazon River in the middle of the rain forest! I leave in 10 days and I couldn’t be more excited to get down there and start serving!

I received my call about 4 months ago, and it has been a long 4 months! I have seen many of my friends leave on missions and many have gone back to school. not having enough time to finish a semester of school before I leave, I stayed home and prepare for my mission. It’s been pretty fun hanging out with my family, but not gonna lie its been a little lonely at times.

However this time of loneliness is where I have studied the scriptures and prayed harder than I have ever before. These past few months I have really felt and have begun to understand how much God loves me, and all of us his children!

God loves us and As disciples of Christ, we are to love God, lets back up a little bit,

: how do we become true disciples of Jesus Christ?

In John 14:15 it reads

If you love me keep my commandments

Colossians 2:6 it reads:

6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him

That seems pretty simple! If we just keep God’s Commandments then we will be true disciples of Jesus Christ!

unfortunately sometimes, a lot of times, life gets in the way and it's hard to keep the Commandments and to be a true disciples of Jesus Christ all the time. How can we keep our priorities straight and our focus on becoming disciples of Jesus Christ?

Well, in Matthew 22 verse 37 through 39 it reads

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

We can keep our lives and focus by remembering these two great commandments. If we Center our lives around these commandments everything else will fall into place. Love is the great commandment; all that we do in our family our callings our life should reflect it.

Love unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance and respect. It’s the source that overcomes hate.

Pres. Uchtdorf a counselor to the president of our church said:

“When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as Disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our heavenly father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather then a burden.”

So we know in order to be true Disciples of Christ we must love God but why? Why do we need to love God?

Does our Heavenly Father need us to love him to continue being God? No! The amount we love or don’t love Him wont change who he is, his role or his power.

So why are we commanded to love him?

President Uchtdorf explains it simply:

“For what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. What we think and do determines who we are and who we will become”

Are we just creations of our Heavenly Father? NO! let me explain with an example:

: a painter paints a beautiful picture, that picture is the creation of the painter. But does the Picture have the potential to one day become a painter like his creator? No.

Now lets take a mother and father who have a child, the difference here is their child has the potential to become like his father and mother because he is not just a creation but is the child of the parents.

Just like the child in the example, we are all Children of our Heavenly Father not just Creations. We have the potential to become like our heavenly father. We have the potential to love greatly just because of our heavenly father- he has infinite love, and as his children we are able to achieve that same love as well! How cool is that!?

From love comes the hardest and happiest moments.

Misery is accompanied by loving the wrong things—While joy comes from loving good things, and the greatest of all good things is God.

He loves us so so much! He created this beautiful earth for us to live in; he gave us our bodies and has given us the ability to choose for ourselves, he has given us families and the ability to live with them forever. He gives us joy, comforts us in our sorrows, enlightens us, guides us through the tough times, and ALWAYS answers our prayers. He is ALWAYS with us and ready to help us—we just have to look for him.

If those aren’t reasons enough to love him, John put it simply: 9 We love him, because he first loved us.

So why does God love us?

In Isaiah 54:10 it reads

10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.

And jeremiah 31:3 it says

3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Our Heavenly Father has always loved us and always will. We are all his children and he will love us all unconditionally. A father loves his children no matter what, and just like fathers on earth our Heavenly Father will love us always and will always love us perfectly.

In 1Samuel 16:7 it reads: But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

God doesn’t love us based on what we look like or our actions or who we are, he loves us based on who he knows we are and who we one day can become.

An incredible example to me of this kind of love was my sophomore year early morning seminary teacher. Seminary is a 6am scripture study class that highschoolers go to EVERY morning before school. This teacher I had loved every student in her class with the most genuine love any of us had ever felt. She didn’t care what we did, what we looked like, or if we were only half awake during this 6am class, she saw us as children of God, she saw our potential and loved and treated us like the people we had the potential to become. She gave us a hug on our way out of class every day and would always tell us “Have a good day being you” Because she really knew who and who’s we where. I try my best everyday to love people the way she loved people. She is the greatest example to me of unconditional love and because of her love; we were all able to get a glimpse of how much our Father in Heaven loves us. And I still feel her love everyday. I hope when I’m in Brazil that I can help the people there see and understand how much God loves them, by my love for them, just as my seminary teacher did for me.

God truly loves us all—even those who don’t love him, those who have lost their way or have gone astray—There is ALWAYS hope! No matter how many mistakes you’ve made, no matter our sorrow or distress, God will always be waiting with open arms for us to turn to him, repent and be made clean! That’s why he set up the atonement for us! He sent his son to atone for our sins so we can repent and be made clean no matter the mistakes or issues in your life. He created a way for all of his children to return to him because he loves us so much.

However we have to do our part in order to receive help from God.

In Doctrine and Covenants 88: 63 it reads

Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

SO how can we draw near and increase our love of God?

Well in john 4;8 we learn that 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. So the closer we get to God the Greater love we will experience. So how can we get closer to God? He’s not here on the earth so how can we draw near to him? Well in Romans 5:5 it reads And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. So even though God is not on the earth, the Holy Ghost is and that’s how God brings his love unto us. By seeking the spirit we can grow closer to our Heavenly Father and feel His greater love.

We are promised in Jerimiah 29:13 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. If we search for God with all our heart we WILL ALWAYS find Him. What does it mean to search for God with all our heart? It doesn’t mean just praying to him, or just saying we have faith in him.

John 5;3 Says: 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. And 2 John 1:6--6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. We must act in faith, keep his commandments and live righteously.

Simply saying, that we know God without obeying him is not showing our Love.

In 1 john 2:4 it says He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. And Isaiah 29:13 13 ¶Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

When we truly love God we will keep his commandments and in result will grow closer to him. We cant just draw near to him with our lips with our hearts far from him, in James 2:26 it says 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

When we feel Gods love for us we desire to be more pure and holy—and seek to be righteous, not out of fear but by our earnest desire to become more like our Father because we love him.

Earlier I talked about how our Heavenly Father ALWAYS answers our prayers. So how can we hear the answers? How can we hear The Fathers voice? There are many ways:

The first is Through the scriptures: a little quote I remember from seminary is “if you want to talk to God, pray, if you want God to talk to you read the scriptures.”

A few weeks after receiving my call, I was feeling a bit scared to go on my mission. I was worried about the language, teaching people, being in a different country, I was just very worried about all I was expected to do as a missionary and wasn’t sure I could do it. I was reading the scriptures and read in the Doctrine and covenants section 84 verse 88 which reads: And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up. This scripture gave me so much comfort and helped me realize that im not doing this alone, I couldn’t do this alone, and really was an answer to my prayers.

Another way is through our living prophets and apostles. Every 6 months we get to hear from them in General Conference. This opportunity to hear from these prophets’ seers and revelators who are called of God allows you to receive answers from God through the speakers.

Three years ago on October 6 During General Conference the president and Prophet of our church Thomas S. Monson announced the lowering of the missionary age for young women from 21 to 19. I had thought a little bit about a mission before this historic event, but not seriously, I was only 17 and 21 seemed like FOREVER away. However this change in age requirements came as a HUGE blessing and answer to my prayers. My senior year of High School was tough and stressful, trying to figure out where to apply to schools and ultimately what I wanted to do with my life. I felt like there was something missing and I couldn’t figure out what that was. When the age was lowered I knew that I should take this opportunity to serve the lord. I knew that this was what was missing and was exactly what the lord needed me to do. I didn’t feel like I should go on a mission because I know the scriptures really well, because I don’t. I didn’t decide to go because I’m a really good teacher and good at explaining things, because I’m not. I don’t speak Portuguese and I know that this is going to be so hard. But I’m doing this because I know the Lord needs me to serve, and that with His help he will lead me to those prepared to hear this message and bring them unto Christ.

In the temple is another way we can hear our father’s voice. I have had the opportunity to serve in the Newport Beach Temple on Thursday and Saturday nights for the past 3 months. There I have felt the spirit stronger than I have ever before. The temple is where I have felt the most love and comfort from my Father in Heaven and have received answers to my questions and where my worries have vanished.

Out in nature is a place where we can Hear God. When we are in His creations we feel closer to Him. This past summer I had the opportunity to study abroad in meso America. The times that we were given to sit and ponder in beautiful gardens surrounded by incredible ancient American ruins were the most beautiful and spiritual moments. Everything seemed more clear and simple, we had no distractions, we just sat and admired God’s creations and could easily feel his love for us.

Another way we can Hear Gods voice and feel his love is through Children. I have had the opportunity the past few months to teach the 5 year olds of our ward. Being with them and seeing their sweet spirits is such a testimony of the love of God. But especially when we are in singing time is when I feel the spirit the most. You cant help but just feel the spirit and Gods love for ALL his children When they are all singing together.

These things may not be obvious in our lives, but as we try and look for these things in our lives we will feel more and more loved by our Heavenly Father.

So in closing, Why is love the great commandment?

Well God’s love is the message of his plan of happiness for us! Which allows us to be forgiven of our sins, repent and be made clean so that we can live with our Heavenly Father, and our families for eternity!

All of this is possible because of Gods love and the Atonement of Jesus Christ

John 3:16 says 16 ¶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God loves us so much that he sent his son to die that we can live forever.

That is the Greatest expression of love ever!

in Matthew 22 verse 37 through 39 it reads

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

If we follow these laws and love our Heavenly Father and our Neighbor with all our Heart soul and mind, all else will fall into place.

Uchtdorf said: “Love is the guiding light that illuminates the disciple’s path and fills our daily walk with life, meaning, and wonder. Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. Love is the way of the disciple.”

I know that God knows each of us personally. He loves us unconditionally. He hears and answers our prayers. He sent his son to die for us because he loves us so much he wants a way for us to return to him. He wants us to obey and draw near to him so he can help us and dry near unto us.

I hope and pray that I will be able to help the people of Manaus come unto Christ and really feel the Love that God has for them, his children. I know that God loves me, and wont leave me alone while I am serving. There is no possible way I could do this without him and I’m so excited, nervous and ready to trust in him to help me accomplish the things he needs me to do.

I know that this church is true. I know the joseph smith was a prophet, and that through God restored Christ’s church to the earth. I KNOW that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and Know that it can help ANYONE through ANY troubles they’re going through! I know that Thomas S. Monson is a living Prophet on the earth who receives revelation for our church in these latter days! I know that we are all children of God, and that he loves each and every one of us. I know that the plan of salvation is real and because of it we can all return and live with our families forever and with our heavenly father.