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.