He Spoke I Went

I had a conversation this week that made me reflect on our individual differences. Despite those differences, I was reminded that God loves me just as much as the next person. The homes I have been welcomed into here in South Africa are often very meager and humble, yet in those places I have felt some of the strongest evidence of God’s love for His children.

President Russell M. Nelson has taught: “God does not love one race more than another. His doctrine on this matter is clear. He invites all to come unto Him—black and white, bond and free, male and female.” That truth is universal—no matter our background, circumstances, or differences, we are all sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents who love us dearly.

The Savior Himself commanded, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:39). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once explained: “When we truly love God, we will love our neighbors as ourselves. That love is the first great commandment made manifest in the second.” In other words, the way we show our love for God is through the way we treat one another.

President Thomas S. Monson counseled: “Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved.” That has stuck with me. Too often we may notice what makes someone different from us, but the Lord invites us to see beyond those differences and to see others the way He sees them.

I have learned that God’s love is not measured by wealth, status, or even by perfection. His love is constant and infinite. When we open our hearts to love one another—especially those who feel unseen or on the margins—we are aligning ourselves with His will.

So my prayer is simple: May each of us remember that no matter who we are, where we come from, or what makes us unique, God loves us. My humble invitation it that we strive to show Him our love by the way we choose to love one another.