The First Great Commandment by Jeffrey R. Holland

"We have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord."

For those of you who haven't had a chance to hear Elder Holland's message (or just want a refresher) the above link will take you to the LDS website where you can watch, listen to or read his conference address.

I'm opening with this address for a couple of reasons.  First, it falls right in line with what our Branch Presidency asked us to fast for this past Sunday: that we will be able to bring souls unto Christ.  Secondly, this talk raised many questions for me, and I'm sure for many of you, and questions generally lead to interesting discussions.  

As Elder Holland opens his talk, he explains how the 11 remaining apostles never really understood what Christ was trying to tell them about his coming death and resurrection.  Likewise in our day, we should ask ourselves: how well do we know Christ, and do we understand the things He is trying to teach us?

After a joyful reunion with His apostles, the resurrected Savior asks Peter, "Do you love me?"  Elder Holland challenges us to answer this question in our own lives.

Again, Elder Holland elaborates on Christ's message to His disciples, “Were you as foolhardy as the scribes and Pharisees? As Herod and Pilate? Did you, like they, think that this work could be killed simply by killing me? Did you, like they, think the cross and the nails and the tomb were the end of it all and each could blissfully go back to being whatever you were before? Children, did not my life and my love touch your hearts more deeply than this?”  How deeply has Christ's life and love touched are hearts?  Have we been changed?  If so, what are we going to do about it?

Elder Holland explains what the Savior might have asked of His apostles, a request that resonates today, "I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world."

Finally, do we understand the first and greatest commandment: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.”

Elder Holland asks us to ponder these deeply personal and challenging questions.  If we can answer now, "Yea, Lord, we do love thee" are we doing all we can to live it?
 

What we're doing here...

We have the great blessing and opportunity twice a year to hear from the Lord's chosen servants here on the earth.  We should carry the impressions we receive in our hearts and ponder the meaning of these messages that our faith might increase and our testimonies might be strengthened.  That's what we're doing here.  I invite everyone to share the things they've learned and the questions that have come from studying out the words of the General Conference talks.  Let us lift one another up, answer each other's questions, and share our testimonies with sincerity.

I'll start by offering my testimony of the divinity of those messages shared during General Conference.  About a year ago, I went to my first Relief Society Broadcast.  The messages were uplifting, but it was the final talk, "Forget Me Not," by President Uchtdorf that bowled me over.  During those 20 minutes, I felt the love of God wrapped around me in a way that I'd only experienced a few times previously in my adult life.  When I expressed this to my mom later, she said, "Of course.  That's what you get when one of God's chosen messengers speaks."

I feel the same witness from the Spirit as I watch and read the Conference talks today.  I testify that these are God's chosen messengers, and the words that they offer us are divinely inspired.  I know that as we prayerfully study and act upon the lessons they teach our lives will be blessed.

I encourage all who have received this same witness to share their experience and those who have not to pray to know the truth of these words.  I'll quote another of God's apostles and urge that "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James 1:5.)  I testify that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is led by our Savior, and His hand is in all that has been revealed in these modern days.  I'll leave this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Kristi