-this is
a FUNDAMENTAL question that each of us must come to know, not only
intellectually but deep in the core of our soul. Do we know the meaning of the tree? Do we understand what is meant by “the love
of God”?
"...it is
the love of God..."
-How does God show his love to
us?
giving
us the Savior/Atonement
giving
us the Holy Ghost
-what is
“the love of God”? Can we express it,
explain the breath and depth of its reach, describe how it has effected and
changed us, describe what it means to mortal man –to our interactions, our
relationship, our future?
“which sheddeth
itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men”
-this
is the influence that, without consciously recognizing it, provides an
underlying spirit of life, peace, happiness, goodness and optimism in the souls
of mankind. It is the invisible
contextual backdrop of humanity. It is
the balance to the devilish impulses of the flesh (pessimism, hopelessness,
selfishness, aggression, etc.). The
opposite of a general sense of love that permeates the world and exists in the
hearts of mankind would be a gnawing despair.
Such does exist at times within individuals and societies. The generator of such a spirit is usually
wickedness, individual or collective.
Despair can, just as realistically as love, sheddeth itself abroad in
the hearts of the children of men.
“it is the most desirable above all things”
-what
is it that the human soul yearns for? In
this thing there is a great battle between the natural man –the desires of the
body/our “animal” or carnal natures- and the spiritual/eternal man –the desires
of our spirits/our divine natures. The
carnal man yearns for the things of the physical world: wealth, fame, comfort, ease, fulfillment of
physical appetites. The spiritual man
yearns for this one thing above all else:
to receive and then to spread the love of God. This hunger rests at the core -deep within- of men and women. We want love.
We want to go back home to the
place where we once felt that love.
Unfortunately so many of the carnal desires are contrary to and when
indulged, become obstacles to obtaining that love. Not because God ceases to extend that love
but because our spirits cannot access it being so consumed with the baser, less
refined physical substitutes. It is like
becoming so engorged on hyper flavored junk food that we have no room for the
delicately seasoned main course. Or
having listened to bombastic band (leaving our ears ringing) we cannot hear the
subtle brilliance of a stirring quartet or unamped vocal ballad. In both cases, previous choices or behaviors
have made us incompatible for a higher order.
-this
is not just a statement of subjective judgement. This is a statement of eternal truth. There is something that is most desirable
above all. This is a superlative
statement and has effects similar to any physical law: e = mc2 or gravity or
the laws of motion. Regardless if we
recognize or refute the truth, it is yet effectual. No less than the more recognized statement
found later in the Book of Mormon: wickedness never was happiness which has
been modernized by recent prophets, you cannot do bad and feel good, so also
with this truth. Our souls hunger for
this thing above all: the love of God.
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