Posted By Tracy

THE LOVE OF GOD
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

As of late the Love of God has been impressed upon my mind. As I have sat pondering the Love of Christ and the Father the Atonement has become more personal to me. It is for this reason that I would like to comment on this talk by Elder Uchtdorf.

He poses a question on how we can become more focused on the weightier matters..."once again the Savior revealed the way. When asked to name the greatest commandment, He did not hesitate. 'Thou Shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul and with all thy mind'...When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves u, the confusion clears and our priorities align."
-I have found this to be true in my own life...whenever I feel the spirit I have no more "disposition to do evil but to do good continually" and the path of life seems joyful, enjoyable and exciting.

In the next paragraph about why should we Love God, I was touched by the insight he gave to us about our capacity to love..."We are created in the image of our heavenly parents; we are God's spirit children. Therefore, we have a vast capacity for love-it is part of our spiritual heritage."
This really helped me remember how great our capacity is because of where it comes from...On my mission I remember hearing a conference talk from Elder Holland I believe, that said that we need to increase our ability or capacity to repent...it took several years before I began to understand what he meant by that...I came to understand that as I grew closer to my Heavenly Father that not only would my desires change but my actual ability to accomplish them or overcome sin would be increased..."Since 'God is love', the closer we approach Him, the more profoundly we experience love." Now I feel as though I understand this principle even better because of this talk. Our capacity not only increases because we are moving closer to the Father, but also because we are His children and that capacity lies within us; The Savior gave us the key to access what is already a part of us through the Atonement. Wow, it is awesome.

Lastly I would like to share the simple truth that touched me so profoundly this week. This last part is my opinion, however, I believe it to be true as far I was able to understand the spirit and it goes along with this talk...
The Atonement is Love
At its very core the Atonement is about Love...specifically how "mercy overpowers the demands of justice." I feel like the word "fair" needs to be removed from our train of thought. Although justice is an essential and eternal part of the plan it is not the core principle of the Atonement. Let me explain, the Atonement had to be "unfair" in its very simplest form to "overpower the demands of justice...Had it been fair he never would have suffered for us...fairness was the adversary's plan. He wanted to come to earth and atone for us but it was only fair that we were forced to do what was right...the adversary's plan was purely a plan of justice, he was missing the essential and everlasting principle of love.
Through his love and mercy it should move each and every one of us to things that are "unfair" he having sent the example before us, that example works in our hearts and pulls at us when nothing else might reclaim us from our fallen state. As we do things for others that are "unfair" and love those who don't deserve it, MERCY BEGINS TO OVERPOWER REASON, and the demands of "fairness," selfishness, anger, vain ambitions and pride give way to the LOVE that "passeth all understanding" and washes away the cloud of disbelief.
My prayer is that the love that I have for my Savior may increase the circumference of the love that Radiates from my heart; beginning with my family and piercing even my vary enemies. Let each of us OVERPOWER the demands of Justice though our love and mercy.