"Love Thy Neighbour" Talk Outline

Last updated on March 2nd, 2024 at 08:16 am

General Conference Applied

“Love Thy Neighbour” by Elder Ian S. Ardern; October 2023 General Conference

Corresponding General Conference Applied episode show notes: S2 E22

Talk Outline

Invitations

“May we be forever looking to the well-being of others and show in word and deed that we ‘are willing to bear one another’s burdens’ (Mosiah 18:8), to ‘bind up the broken-hearted’ (Doctrine and Covenants 138:42), and to keep Christ’s second great commandment to ‘love thy neighbour’ (Mark 12:31).”

Directives (“an official or authoritative instruction”)

“Respond to President Nelson’s call to turn our hearts to the well-being of others and to Joseph Smith’s plea to ‘feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the widow, dry up the tear of the orphan, [and] comfort the afflicted, whether in this Church, or any other, or in no church at all, wherever [we find] them’ (“Editor’s Reply to a Letter from Richard Savary,” Times and Seasons, Mar. 15, 1842, 732).”

Promises

Promise: “I testify that each of us will have an increase of joy, peace, humility, and love”
Action: “as we respond to President Nelson’s call to turn our hearts to the well-being of others and to Joseph Smith’s plea to ‘feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide for the widow, dry up the tear of the orphan, [and] comfort the afflicted, whether in this Church, or any other, or in no church at all, wherever [we find] them’ (“Editor’s Reply to a Letter from Richard Savary,” Times and Seasons, Mar. 15, 1842, 732).”

Doctrines

Commandments: “Commandments are the laws and requirements that God gives to mankind. When we keep the commandments, we manifest our love for the Lord and receive blessings from Him (see Leviticus 26:3–12; John 14:15; Mosiah 2:41). We are commanded to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to have Christlike love for others (see Matthew 22:36–39; John 13:34–35).”

Principles

Charity: “The life of the Savior reflects His pure love for all people. He even gave His life for us. Charity is that pure love which our Savior Jesus Christ has. He has commanded us to love one another as He loves us. The scriptures tell us that charity comes from a pure heart (see 1 Timothy 1:5). We have pure love when, from the heart, we show genuine concern and compassion for all our brothers and sisters.”

Christlike Attributes

Charity and Love: “The prophet Mormon taught, ‘Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love’ (Moroni 7:48). As you pray to have charity fill your heart, you will taste of God’s love. Your love for people will increase, and you will come to feel a sincere concern for their eternal happiness. You will see them as children of God with the potential of becoming like Him, and you will labor in their behalf.

“As you pray for the gift of charity, you will be less inclined to dwell on negative feelings such as anger or envy. You will become less likely to judge or criticize others. You will have more desire to try to understand them and their points of view. You will become more patient and try to help people when they are struggling or discouraged. (See Moroni 7:45.)

“Charity, like faith, leads to action. You strengthen it as you serve others and give of yourself.

Charity is transformative. Heavenly Father bestows it ‘upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; … that when he shall appear we shall be like him, … that we may be purified even as he is pure’ (Moroni 7:48).”

Attribute Activity

“I feel a sincere desire for the eternal welfare and happiness of others. (Mosiah 28:3)”
“When I pray, I ask for charity—the pure love of Christ. (Moroni 7:47–48)”
“I try to understand others’ feelings and see their point of view. (Jude 1:22)”
“I forgive others who have offended or wronged me. (Ephesians 4:32)”
“I reach out in love to help those who are lonely, struggling, or discouraged. (Mosiah 18:9)”
“When appropriate, I express my love and care for others by ministering to them through word and deed. (Luke 7:12–15)”
“I look for opportunities to serve others. (Mosiah 2:17)”
“I say positive things about others. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:27)”
“I am kind and patient with others, even when they are hard to get along with. (Moroni 7:45)”
“I find joy in others’ achievements. (Alma 17:2–4)”

Most Important Quote

“All those months ago, we found the hungry and the afflicted on a dry and dusty plain and were witnesses to their pleading eyes for help. In our own way, we groaned in the spirit and were troubled (see John 11:33), and yet those feelings were tempered as we saw the compassion of Church members at work as the hungry were fed, the widows were provided for, and the afflicted were comforted and their tears dried up.

Powerful Stories

“This morning, I invite you to join with me on an African journey. You won’t see any lions, zebras, or elephants, but perhaps, by journey’s end, you will see how thousands of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are responding to Christ’s second great commandment to ‘love thy neighbour’ (Mark 12:31).

“Imagine for a moment the rural, red dirt of Africa. You see from the parched and barren earth that rain has not fallen in any measurable quantity for too many years. The few cattle which cross your path are more bones than flesh and are being driven by a blanket-covered Karamojong herdsman who, with sandalled feet, trudges on in hope of finding vegetation and water.

“As you navigate the rough and rocky road, you see several groups of beautiful children and wonder why they are not in school. The children smile and wave, and you wave back with a tear and a smile. Ninety-two percent of the youngest children you see on this journey live in food poverty, and your heart groans with anguish.

“Ahead, you see a mother carrying a carefully balanced five-gallon (19 L) container of water on her head and another in her hand. She represents one of every two households in this area where women, young and old, walk more than 30 minutes each way, each day, to a source of water for their family. A wave of sorrow washes over you.

“Two hours pass and you arrive at a secluded, shady clearing. The meeting place is not a hall or even a tent but rather under a few large trees providing shelter from the sweltering sun. In this place, you notice there is no running water, no electricity, no flush toilets. You look around and know you are amongst a people who love God, and you instantly feel God’s love for them. They have gathered to receive help and hope, and you have arrived to share it.

“Such was the journey of Sister Ardern and me, in the company of Sister Camille Johnson, our General Relief Society President, and her husband, Doug, and Sister Sharon Eubank, director of the Church’s Humanitarian Services, as we travelled in Uganda, a country of 47 million people in the Africa Central Area of the Church. On that day, under the shade of the trees, we visited a community health project that is jointly funded by the Church Humanitarian Services, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health of the Ugandan government. These are trusted organizations, carefully selected to ensure the donated humanitarian funds of the members of the Church are prudently used.”

The Best Footnote

None.

Questions for Reflection Asked by the Speaker