Hi Steemians!

Love is the measure of our faith, inspiration for our obedience, and the depth of our discipleship. The church is steadily expanding and becoming more and more popular throughout the world. While there are always people who think negatively about the Church and its members, most people think we are honest, helpful, and hardworking. Some see missionaries as well-cut, loving families, and kind neighbors who do not smoke or drink. We may also be known as those who go to church for three hours every Sunday, in a place where everyone is a brother; where kids were joking about rivers talking, popcorn trees, and kids wanting to get sunbeam.

Brothers and sisters, in everything we want to know, are there qualities that should stand out to all of us as members of His Church, even as disciples of Jesus Christ? Since our last general conference six months ago, I have been thinking about this and similar questions. I would like to share with you today some thoughts and feelings that come as a result of that inquiry. The first question is:

How Do We Become True Disciples of Jesus Christ?

It is the Savior who answers this profound statement: "If ye love me, keep my commandments. This is the essence of what discipleship means: those who receive Christ Jesus follow Him. But it can be a problem for others because there are so many "should" and "shouldn't" do and just keeping track of them is difficult. At times, good explanations of divine principles — many of them not inspired — are more confusing, so the purity of divine truth is diminished by human additions. The good idea of ​​a person — who might work for him — is rooted and expected. And little by little, eternal principles can be lost to confusing “good ideas.”

Why Should We Love God?

God the Eternal Father did not give that first great commandment because He needed us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished even if we disregard, deny, or profane His name. His influence and dominion are throughout time and space that have nothing to do with our acceptance, approval, or admiration.

Why Does Heavenly Father Love Us?

Think of the purest, most intense love you will ever have. Now multiply that love — and that is how much God loves you. God does not look at the outward appearance. I believe that it does not matter to Him whether we live in a palace or a cottage, whether we are handsome or ordinary, whether we are popular or forgotten. Even if we are lacking, God loves us very much. Although we are not perfect, He loves us perfectly. Even when we feel lost and without guidance, we embrace God's love.

He loves us because He is filled with infinite holy, pure, and unspeakable love. We are important to God not because of our résumé but because we are His children. He loves us all, whether those who are guilty, rejected, chaste, sad, or unlucky. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, greedy, proud, and wicked.

How Can We Increase Our Love for God?

We grow in our love for our Heavenly Father and demonstrate that love by conforming our thoughts and actions to God's word. His pure love guides and encourages us to become more pure and holy. It inspires us to live in righteousness - not out of fear or obligation but in the earnest desire to become more like Him because we love Him. In doing so, we can be “born again [and]… cleansed by blood, even the blood of [the] Only Begotten; so that [we] might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory. ”

How Do We Hear the Father's Voice?

When you ask your Heavenly Father, in praying to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere. As we draw near to Heavenly Father, we become more holy. And as we become more holy, we will overcome unbelief and our souls will be filled with His holy light. When we align our lives with his holy light, it leads us out of darkness into greater light. This greater light leads to the unspeakable ministries of the Holy Spirit, and narrows the veil between heaven and earth.

Why Love the Great Commandment?

Heavenly Father's love for His children is the central message of the plan of happiness, which is effective because of the Atonement of the Son — the greatest love the world can ever experience. The Savior made it very clear when He said that every other commandment is based on the principle of love. If we do not forget the great laws — if we can truly learn to love our Heavenly Father and our neighbors with all our hearts, souls , and think - something else will happen as it should.

Because of the divine love of God, ordinary service becomes extraordinary. Divine love is why simple words become sacred scripture. Divine love is the reason why reluctantly obeying God's commandments becomes a blessed and dedicated provision. Love is the guiding light that illuminates the path of the disciple and gives life, meaning, and beauty daily.
Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true measure of our discipleship.

Love is the way of the disciple.

Thank You!