The Importance of Loving Our Neighbor
In His parable of the sheep and the goats, the Lord describes those whom He will place on His right hand. “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.” When the righteous asked at what time they had the honor of loving the Savior in such ways, He said, “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt 25:31-46)
What greater purpose will we find in life? I imagine the wise men who had studied the signs and heard the prophecies of the birth of the Messiah for much of their lives. In the end, all they desired was to shower what gifts they may upon the Christ child. Our lives may be similarly enriched by giving of ourselves to others (and by definition, the Savior). This is the greatest purpose in life, and can take many forms, but generally the principle is this: The Savior said, “He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matt 10:39) “He that findeth his life shall lose it,” may be interpreted to be “life”, as in mortal care, “it” to be true happiness. “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it,” may mean “loseth his life”, as in service to others, and “it” as eternal life. When we really contemplate this, I think we will all find that in our hearts, we do not believe that eternal life will be a life of eternal self-serving. Rather, we will find that we already have all that we need, and we will seek to love our neighbor who may be lacking.
This is the mission of the sons and daughters of the Good Shepherd: to “leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it” (Luke 15:4). A direct and effective way to change for the better our families, neighborhoods, and society is to keep our covenant to “mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things” (Mosiah 18:9). It may be more challenging in this modern era to mourn with those that mourn, when everyone seems to be more connected, but more separated, where we drive home, click the garage door opener, drive inside, and enter our home without putting ourselves in the path of any of our neighbors. We need to take more time to “pause to help and lift another” (Hymn 220, Lord, I Would Follow Thee).
Recently, I have gotten to know a new friend. Because of his work schedule, it’s rare that I see him, but we make an obvious effort to stay in touch, keep up our friendship, and communicate over the phone. After a couple months, he was facing some major decisions and some serious problems in his life. I counseled with him as a friend for some time. I spoke to him from the heart and tried my best to help him know that I was supportive of him and wanted him to choose the right. His course seemed dire. I then didn’t hear from him for a couple weeks. Then, when we spoke again, I asked him how his situation was. To my surprise, he had started a course correction. He had and was taking big steps. As someone who cares about his life, I was greatly relieved, very thankful, and still try to support his course corrections. In our mind, what is the ideal friend? What is it about Jesus of Nazareth as a friend that speaks so invitingly to us?
We can be a friend as the Savior is a friend. We can love as He loves, and we need not to seek a great occasion to do so. The Lord has commanded that all worthy and able young men serve a full-time mission. Elder Scott has said that, “As a young man, the greatest growth and strengthening experience you can have at this time, bar none, is a worthy full-time mission” (“Realize Your Full Potential”, Ensign Nov 2003). Apart from that, President Uchtdorf counseled in the latest general conference, we can “lift where we stand.” We don’t have to go on a mission somewhere else to meet people, be interested in their lives, and help them along the path of spiritual progression. We are where we are. There are those who would accept our help here. We don’t have to go on a mission to enjoy personal spiritual growth and increased ability to do good. Opportunity for growth is ours to create. The Lord needs us where He has put us.
I know that we can do this. At our last fast and testimony meeting, I noticed and was impressed by the number of intertwined lives and for the great support that our ward family has given one another during times of recent heartache. The Lord has given us great blessings as bearers of His gospel and healing balm and has great expectations of us (D&C 82:3). Everyone has burdens, seen or unseen, which they would enjoy help in lifting. As we do our best, exert the energy that we have, get out of our houses and out of our comfort zone (D&C 4:2-4), we will find strength that is not our own (Hymn 220). Our own problems will be diminished, and we will find a new happiness in a life of service and love to others.