How do we become disciples of Christ – “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

If we add personal good ideas to divine truth we dilute the divine truth.

Because love is the first and great commandment it should be at the center of all we do in our callings, our families and our livelihoods.

God did not give us the first great commandment because He needs us to love Him . . . but oh how we need to love God. For what we love determines what we seek. What we seek determines what we think and do. And what we think and do determines {who we become}.

If you listen to the voice of the Father he will lift you on a course {to know Christ}

Divine love is the factor that transform reluctant obedience into . . . consecration

Love is the way of the disciple.

Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and who love our neighbors as ourselves. When we practice this love in our families{, wards, nations we will begin to understand what it means to be a true disciple}

Brothers and sisters, of all the things we want to be known for, are there attributes above all others that should define us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ?

Sometimes, well-meaning amplifications of divine principles – many coming from uninspired sources – complicate matters further, diluting the purity of divine truth with man-made addenda. One person’s good idea – something that may work for him or her – takes root and becomes an expectation. And gradually, eternal principles can get lost within the labyrinth of “good ideas.”

So how do we stay aligned with these weightier matters? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind,” He said. “This is the first and great commandment.” Coupled with the second great commandment – to love our neighbor as ourselves – we have a compass that provides direction not only for our lives but also for the Lord’s Church on both sides of the veil.

Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings, and in our livelihood.

God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God! For what we love determines what we seek.

Love is truly the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.

This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.

The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible – and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.

If you listen for the voice of the Father, He will lead you on a course that will allow you to experience the pure love of Christ.

Every other commandment hangs upon the principle of love.17 If we do not neglect the great laws – if we truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our fellowman with all our heart, soul, and mind – all else will fall into place.

Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship. Love is the way of the disciple.

What attribute should define us as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? Let us be known as a people who love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and who love our neighbor as ourselves.

Instructions:

• Love ought to be the center of everything we do in our family, our callings, and our livelihood
• listen for his voice
• As you read God’s word recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice.
• During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice.
• As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice.
• Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit.
• In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice.