Love One Another

Guest Post: A.Faux (Son#1 of S.Faux)

I was watching on Netflix a show on demand called 30 Days. This program usually takes two opposite kinds of people and makes them live together for 30 Days. The episode I watched was an atheist living with a Christian Family.

Members of the Christian family were non-denominational, but they were former Catholics. The atheist woman was a kind mother and wife willing to give this TV show a chance. I was rooting for the Christian Family, not necessarily to convert the atheist, but to show the atheist the love she deserves. But, the Christian members went about their conversation with contentious remarks. The atheist woman eventually said, “I feel intimidation and fear ... .”

I find it sad that Christians who are supposed to love one another (even their enemies) are so unprepared to do so. Yes, I understand we can repent, but repenting is meaningless if you have no intention to do better next time through preparation, even hard work.

As an Institute Teacher I have the privilege of teaching this semester, “Presidents of the Church”. . After each week as I teach about a new President and their testimony of Jesus Christ I say, “You know what, I think President ______ is my favorite President”. What a blessing it is to see that following the Savior can be done, doing the things which HE asks of us can be done. What a blessing it is that we men/women, who stumble and who feel at times the task is impossible, can instead look to a former/current President of the Church and know if he can follow the Savior, even though he too has had trials, then so can I. I will fight my natural temptations and choose to live my covenants!

There is one President that has left a large impression on me: George Albert Smith. Now many people say of Church Presidents that they have traits that the Church needs at the time they serve. Well, George Albert Smith was President of the Church from 21 May 1945 to 4 April 1951. During that time WW-II was ending, the world was on fire, hatred soured souls, and people wanted vengeance. Can you figure out what God’s children needed? They needed to love one another.

George Albert Smith had a personal creed, which I want to live because I believe it will help me love God and my neighbor more fully:

George Albert Smith, Improvement Era, Vol. 5, March 1932, p. 295
I would be a friend to the friendless and find joy in ministering to the needs of the poor. I would visit the sick and afflicted and inspire in them a desire for faith to be healed. I would teach the truth to the understanding and blessing of all mankind. I would seek out the erring one and try to win him back to righteous and a happy life. I would not seek to force people to live up to my ideals but rather love them into doing the thing that is right. I would live with the masses and help to solve their problems that their earth life may be happy. I would avoid the publicity of high positions and discourage the flattery of thoughtless friends. I would not knowingly wound the feelings of any, not even one who may have wronged me, but would seek to do him good and make him my friend. I would overcome the tendency to selfishness and jealousy and rejoice in the successes of all the children of my Heavenly Father. I would not be an enemy to any living soul. Knowing that the Redeemer of mankind has offered to the world the only plan that will fully develop us and make us really happy here and the hereafter I feel it not only a duty but a blessed privilege to disseminate this truth.

I want to live this creed. I believe it will help me love God and my neighbor. I have consciously thought of this and forced myself out of my comfort zone (a lazy zone maybe?). I feel compelled to do so; I want to do so; I choose to do so; and I’m grateful to do so.

I don’t blame the Christian family for stumbling on the TV show. I blame their lack of grounding in the gospel. Now is the best time to make amends. I love you all, and I’ll do my best to be your friend. Love is an action, so be courageous.

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Copyright © 2011 S.Faux (Email: foxgoku54 [at] gmail [d0t] c0m; URL: http://mormoninsights.blogspot.com). Readers may distribute this post for noncommercial purposes provided such distributing is of the entire post, including author's copyright and contact information. All other rights reserved.



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