Our Savior’s Pure Love

This week in the mission we have been celebrating the North American holiday of Thanksgiving at each of our zone conferences with a special Peruvian style Thanksgiving feast.  We have enjoyed turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, salad, apple pie, ice cream, and no less than three separate types of Peruvian rice dishes!  Although the food has been delicious, it does not replicate being at home with our families during the holiday season.  Because of this, President Chipman and I have decided to emphasize charity so that we can help our missionaries focus on others at this time of year.

During my studies, I learned from the Bible Dictionary that charity is not the action of doing good for others, rather charity is to love others the way the Savior loves us. This can motivate us to do service, but Charity is not service. Charity is about how we can love others. 

In Moroni 7:47 it says:

47 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.

As we focus on the word ‘pure’ it helps us to understand how the Savior’s love or charity, is different from the way we normally see love because ‘pure’ means to be free of contamination, to be clear, or without any unnecessary elements.  To be pure means that there are ‘no strings attached’ or in other words, no reason to love. This contrasts with the way we normally see love which is often based on our needs. For example, we may love someone because that person makes us happy, or they take care of us, or we find them attractive. These reasons to love are based on our own selfish needs that are being met rather than upon the person that we love.  What happens if the person we love doesn’t make us happy or meet our needs?  The Savior’s love is without hesitation nor expectations. He loves us even if we don’t even acknowledge Him. Unfortunately, many can’t comprehend this, so they often define the Savior’s love as impure or judgmental because they project their own boundaries upon it. As we learn about charity and the Savior’s pure love, we also learn about the characteristics of Christ and who He is.

Being a part of a family has also helped me better understand charity because it has given me a deeper appreciation of God’s love for us as I have continued to love each of my family members, even the ones that are not particularly lovable at times. It is heartbreaking to see young children in pain, but even more difficult to see family members as adults suffer because their problems are more complicated. During these times, I have been forced to stand still and watch the power of God work for them over time. As painful and endless as this position can be, it is a glimpse into the depths of Godly love.  It has taught me that being in my pain-filled seat can also be a privilege.  I choose to be nowhere else because I love my family the way that no one else will.  This is how God loves us, and I believe this is why mankind is organized into families so we can learn about this love, even during times of great pain.

In 1 John 4:19 it says:

We love him, because he first loved us. This scripture tells us that God has always loved us completely – long before the world was created.  He loved us enough to redeem us. 

I find it significant that the Spirit of the Lord showed Nephi a vision of Christ’s birth to teach him how to recognize that the Love of God is represented by the Tree of Life in his father’s dream.  There is no better way to depict pure love than to show the gift of God’s son to the world in order to redeem us all.  (1 Nephi 11: 11-23)

In John 3:16 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I hope that you can feel this pure love during this holiday season.  

If this is something you struggle with at times, you are not alone. For those, I suggest that you study charity until you can understand His love, recognize His love, and also feel His love for you. Always keep in mind that the Savior’s love is not just for others.

Scriptures:

1 Nephi 11: 11-23

11 And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof—for I spake unto him as a man speaketh; for I beheld that he was in the form of a man; yet nevertheless, I knew that it was the Spirit of the Lord; and he spake unto me as a man speaketh with another.

12 And it came to pass that he said unto me: Look! And I looked as if to look upon him, and I saw him not; for he had gone from before my presence.

13 And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.

14 And it came to pass that I saw the heavens open; and an angel came down and stood before me; and he said unto me: Nephi, what beholdest thou?

15 And I said unto him: A virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

16 And he said unto me: Knowest thou the condescension of God?

17 And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.

18 And he said unto me: Behold, the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh.

19 And it came to pass that I beheld that she was carried away in the Spirit; and after she had been carried away in the Spirit for the space of a time the angel spake unto me, saying: Look!

20 And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

21 And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

22 And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

23 And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.