Love the Lord

This past Sunday's lesson was taught by Kelsey and she did an amazing job. The lesson was on "The Great Commandment of the Lord," Chapter 1 of the Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson book that we are reading this year.

The lesson focused on the first and great commandment, which is to love the Lord. We talked about ways we can show our love for the Lord. The various ways mostly revolved around personal scripture study, following the commandments, prayer, and serving those around us.

One of my favorite points made during the lesson was that we need to love God, not because he is in need of our love, but because loving him will change us. God did not command us to love him out of selfishness and pride. He commanded us to love him because some of the ways we can show our love for him are by giving service to those around us, reading the scriptures, praying, and following the commandments. In a way, his commandment for us to love him is also a commandment to become better, more spiritual individuals, and to become more like him by knowing and loving him. It is a commandment to improve ourselves.

The first commandment is one of the many ways that the Lord shows his unselfish and unconditional love for us, his children. It shows that he cares for us and really just wants us to improve and be successful in returning back to live with him.

Just some food for thought! I love the Lord and I'm so grateful to know him as I do (from experiences of having prayers answered, and through service, following commandments, and reading the scriptures).

Here is an amazing song that got stuck in my head as I was writing this.