The Love of God

God is love.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (Second Counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) is a messenger of God's love.  At the Saturday morning session of the October (2009) General Conference he gave a talk entitled "The Love of God."  If you're feeling a little overwhelmed and discouraged, you can get a big boost from this talk.  President Uchtdorf tells us that love should be at the center of our lives as disciples of Christ.  He describes that love as a balm that heals, a power, a source, a fire, a joy, a hope.  "Love should be our walk and our talk."

"God does not need 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.
What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become."

President Uchtdorf said if all the reasons (he names in his talk) why we should love our Heavenly Father are not enough, we can learn from the words of the Apostle John who said, "We love Him because He first loved us."  (1 John 4:19)

"Though we are incomplete, God loves us completely. Though we are imperfect, He loves us perfectly. Though we may feel lost and without compass, God’s love encompasses us completely."

"What this means is that, regardless of our current state, there is hope for us. No matter our distress, no matter our sorrow, no matter our mistakes, our infinitely compassionate Heavenly Father desires that we draw near to Him so that He can draw near to us."

"...don’t get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don’t feel downcast or despair if you don’t feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. 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."

"How clearly the Savior spoke when He said that every other commandment hangs upon the principle of love.  If we do not neglect the great laws...all else will fall into place."

"Love is the measure of our faith."

Truly, God is Love.

Believe in yourself...because God does.