Living the law of love - I'm a Pioneer

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prepares to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Pioneer Day July 24 this year. We need to recognize that in addition to the sacrifices of the early pioneers (Ancestors), there are many modern-day pioneers around the globe who have built the Church in their nations or in their families. We need to recognize and remember the love and sacrifices that the present-day pioneers have done and are doing to help all of us live Christ's law.

The law of love is loving as God loves, seeking another's healing, expecting nothing in return. But the law of love is a governing force. Just like the laws of gravity, physics and thermodynamics govern this world, the law of love governs all of creation-the heavens and the earth. The law of love is the highest of all the laws.

The greatest joys and the greatest sorrows we experience are in family relationships. The joys come from putting the welfare of others above our own. That is what love is. The sorrow comes primarily from selfishness, which is the absence of love. The ideal God holds for us, is to form families in the way most likely to lead to happiness and away from sorrow.

"Love one another; as I have loved you," (John 13:34). On this simple phrase hangs the success of every marriage and family. In the light of Christ's love we see our family's divine potential. We love them with all our heart, soul and mind. And as we do, our ordinary family is transformed into an extraordinary one.

Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do in our own family, in our Church callings and in our livelihood. Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.

We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e, time. Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other. We learn from each other, and we appreciate our differences as well as our commonalities. We establish a divine bond with each other as we approach God together through family prayer, gospel study and Sunday worship.

JUST REMEMBER THAT IF IT WASN'T FOR OUR ANCESTORS (PIONEERS) AND THE LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY WE WOULDN'T HAVE THIS FREE COUNTRY TO WORSHIP GOD.