Week 7: The Saviors Love

This is the last week, and honestly I'm sad to see it come. The natural man (and busy woman) is glad to see the filfillment of an obligation, but I've really enjoyed learning from these assignments and from the other students in my class.

This week, is based on our view of ourselves, Jesus Christ, and our fellow man. Christ said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:34-35

I remember a few years ago, when I was still a young seminary student listening to a song that explained that the artist wanted to dissapear behind the reflection of the Savior. To this, the Holy Ghost bore witness that I should live this way; and so I committed myself to finding how I could do that. The answer came in a discussion in some place and some time that I don't remember and probably doesn't matter. What does matter is the answer, which was that others will be able to see the Savior in your actions, words and example if all things are done with love.

I learned that though verbally bearing one's testimony is faith building, and brings the Spirit; the true testimony comes from the actions one uses to back up the word with. People will see if you are truly a deciple of Christ if your actions bear the fruit of love.

True love is Charity, or how I see it, when we love without a desire to gain something in return. There are many ways that we can show this love, and it's only up to the person to determine the motive behind the action. Some examples may be if there is gossip about someone because of their style (or lack of), don't stand for it. We'v heard it a thousand times , and that many different ways. We don't know the whole story, and even if they do, even if they might in our eyes or the accuser's eyes seem justly fit for riducule, ask one question; "how is this fullfulling my covanant with the Lord?"

When someone new comes to church, or to work, or to school- chances are they feel aprehensive, lonely and perhaps a little scared. There are probably so many people, they don't know where to start or who they should talk to first. It's scary being new, so releve some suffering and go talk to them, and introduce them to your friends and people that make you feel happy!

I hope that people see Christ wen they look at me. I try very hard (not to pat myself on the back, I've got a long way to go) to live the way that Christ wants me to live. Commitments are a good thing, so because I have a long way to go I want to make a short list of things I'm going to work on starting this week. I've more or less specifically applied this to my mother. She's a great woman who sees the worst and best of me. I hope that she can see more of the best and less of the beast.

• I will be nicer about my suggestions to improve a situation. I have a hard time with this one, mostly because I want people to understand what I'm trying to say. I know that sometimes I come across as brash (and on days that I've already worked for ten hours and I have eight more hours of homework staring me in the face sometimes I'm a little grumpy too). I will think first about how I would respond to the statments that I'm about to make.
• I will listen to suggestions, and follow them, even if I don't exactly favor the desired method of getting from point A to point B
• I will show my love and go out of my way to help with something that is important to someone else (such as waking up early to weed the garden). It's easy to go out of my way for something that is important to me, and it's an added bonus if it's important to them too, but it's a little more difficult when it's not your favorite.

I'm going to have to find some way to follow up, so I guess I'll be posting next week too.