The Love of a Prophet
This week I have been listening to the new book by Sheri
Dew, Insights
From a Prophet’s Life, and I have loved hearing the incredible stories
about our prophet. As my wife and I have
listened to accounts of his amazing accomplishments as a doctor, his unparalleled
genius in learning, his visits to hundreds of countries across the world, and
his unending selfless service, she said to me something to the effect of, “Do
you feel like you’ve never accomplished anything in your life?” Gratefully the race is against sin and not
each other, and his example serves to help all of us do better no matter how
insignificant we feel we are.
I think what impressed me the
most in these stories was his commitment to helping and loving people in
whatever circumstance he was in all throughout his life. Despite his academic genius, his world-renowned
abilities in heart surgery, his gift for languages, and a host of other
laudable accomplishments, to me his greatness is boiled down by the two great
commandments: he loves the Lord and he loves all mankind. As he has given his life to serve the Lord, he
has also served countless others along the way no matter what their station in life. For example, Elder Neil L. Anderson told of
how when they went together many years back to pick a stake president and
preside at a stake conference, they interviewed about thirty different people
before the conference. Elder Anderson
was amazed that throughout the course of the conference Elder Nelson went out
of his way to greet these people they had interviewed by their names. When he questioned the apostle how he could
remember so many names, Elder Nelson simply replied that he desired deeply to
get to know each of them and so he made the effort to remember them all. Other stories in the book detail countless
visits to the sick in the hospital, his constant concern and consideration for his
wife, his desire to speak to all peoples in their own language, and a general constant
awareness of everyone around him. In
short, he, as President Monson before him, follows the Savior’s injunction: “That
ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John
13:34).
I
look forward to hearing from President Nelson this conference, and rumor has it
that there may be even more significant announcements like the last two
conferences. But no matter what programs
may change, what new temples that are announced, or what missionary requirements
are adjusted, at the end of the day what is most important is that we each
commit more fully to live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to love as He
did. As Mormon taught, “If ye have not
charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto
charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is
the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed
of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” Gratefully we don’t have to be pioneering doctors
or skilled linguists or travel the world dozens of times over to return to our Father
in Heaven, but we do have to develop charity if we want to be “true followers
of his Son, Jesus Christ” and be “purified even as he is pure” (Moroni 7:46-48). I pray that through this general conference I
may make at least a small step closer to living that ideal.
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