*Saturday morning session
Elder John H. Groberg of the Quorum of the Seventy spoke about true love at the Saturday morning session of General Conference.
“What is it about true love that touches every heart?” Elder Groberg asked. “Why does this simple phrase ‘I love you’ evoke such universal joy. Men give various reasons, but the real reason is that every person who comes to earth is a spirit son or daughter of god. Since all love emulates from god, we are born with the capacity and desire to love and to be loved.”
A strong connection that we have is of the love that our Father and Jesus has for us and how much we have for them.
“Even though a vale was drawn over our memory, whenever we since true love it awakens a longing that cannot be denied,” Elder Groberg said. “Responding to true love is part of our very being. We innately desire to reconnect here with the love we felt there. Only as we feel God’s love and fill our hearts with his love, can we be truly happy.”
Elder Groberg said God’s love fills all space. We must love God and love our neighbors. When we help others, we learn to love others. However, when we are disobedient and selfish, we feel less love.
“Trying to find lasting love without obeying God is like trying to quench thirst by drinking from an empty cup,” Elder Groberg said. “You can go through the motions but the thirst remains . . . We cannot fake love, it must become part of us.
Elder Groberg told of his time as a young missionary. After a few months on his mission, a powerful hurricane came, and the devastation was massive. The island went nine weeks without food or supplies.
“The ninth week began with little outward change,” Elder Groberg said. “However, there was a great inward change: I felt the Lord’s love deeper than ever before and learned firsthand that his love is ‘the most desirable above all things, yeah and the most joyous to the soul.’”
When we understand God’s plan for us, fear evaporates.
“Just as rockets must overcome the pull of gravity to roar into space, so we must overcome the pulls of the world to soar into the eternal realms of understanding and love,” Elder Groberg said.
Elder Groberg said he knew his life might end there, but that there was no panic and he knew that life would continue. He knew the love in his heart. Eventually, a boat arrived with food.
Elder Groberg said when filled with Christ’s love we can do anything.
“Jesus Christ was filled with unfathomable love as He endured incomprehensible pain, cruelly and injustice for us. Through His love for us, he rose above otherwise insurmountable barriers. His love knows no barriers.”
Elder Groberg closed with his testimony.
“When we are pure and ready, His pure love instantly moves through time and space, reaches down and pulls us up from the depths of any tumultuous sea of darkness, sin, sorrow, death or despair we may find ourselves in and brings us into the light of life and love of eternity.”
Copyright Brigham Young University 3 Oct 2004
