Study Guide for "Two Great Commandments"

In this talk, President Dallin H. Oaks discusses the importance of the two great commandments taught by Jesus Christ: loving God and loving our neighbors. He emphasizes the need to understand and follow God's commandments, especially those related to marriage and chastity. President Oaks also addresses the challenges and questions faced by members who identify as LGBT and their families. He underscores the need for love, understanding, and respect for all, regardless of their beliefs or orientations.

Before Reading

Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:

What are the two great commandments taught by Jesus Christ?
How does President Oaks relate these commandments to the issues faced by LGBT members?
What is the role of God's commandments in our path towards exaltation?
How does President Oaks suggest we show love and respect for those who do not share our beliefs or commitments?
What responsibilities do we have as members of the Church in teaching and living these two great commandments?

Topics

Understanding the Two Great Commandments

President Oaks begins his talk by reminding us of the two great commandments taught by Jesus Christ: to love God and to love our neighbors. He emphasizes that we show our love for God by obeying His commandments and that we are commanded to love everyone, as everyone is our neighbor.

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

This means we are commanded to love everyone, since Jesus’s parable of the good Samaritan teaches that everyone is our neighbor.

What are the two great commandments?
How do we show our love for God according to President Oaks?
Who is considered our "neighbor" according to Jesus's teachings?
How can you better show your love for God and for your neighbors in your daily life?
Can you recall a time when you felt the love of God through obedience to His commandments?
What opportunities do you have to show love to your "neighbors"?

God's Laws of Marriage and Chastity

President Oaks discusses the importance of God's laws of marriage and chastity, especially in relation to issues faced by LGBT members. He emphasizes that these laws are motivated by God's love for us and are essential in His plan of salvation. He also reiterates that the Church must always teach the importance of marriage between a man and a woman and the related law of chastity.

The laws that apply most significantly to the issues relating to those identifying as LGBT are God’s law of marriage and its companion law of chastity. Both are essential in our Father in Heaven’s plan of salvation for His children.

God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.

God has not changed His definition of marriage.

God has also not changed His law of chastity. Requirements to enter the temple have not changed.

What are God's laws of marriage and chastity?
Why are these laws important in God's plan of salvation?
What is God's definition of marriage?
How can you better uphold God's laws of marriage and chastity in your life?
How do you feel about the Church's teachings on marriage and chastity?
What can you do to better understand and appreciate the importance of these laws in God's plan of salvation?

Loving and Respecting Those with Different Beliefs

President Oaks addresses the need for love, understanding, and respect for all, regardless of their beliefs or orientations. He emphasizes the commandment to love our neighbors and encourages members to treat those who follow LGBT teachings and actions with love and respect. He also underscores the importance of kindness and civility in our interactions.

We seek to persuade our members that those who follow lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender teachings and actions should be treated with the love our Savior commands us to show toward all our neighbors.

The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility—even when we disagree.

We must all strive to be kinder and more civil.

How does President Oaks suggest we should treat those who follow LGBT teachings and actions?
What does the gospel of Jesus Christ teach us about interacting with people we disagree with?
Why is it important to be kind and civil?
How can you show more love, understanding, and respect towards those with different beliefs or orientations?
Can you recall a time when you showed kindness and civility towards someone you disagreed with?
What can you do to promote a more loving and respectful environment in your ward or community?

Balancing Law and Love

President Oaks discusses the challenges of keeping both the law and love—obeying God's commandments while loving our neighbors. He emphasizes the need for divine inspiration in navigating this fine line and encourages members not to compromise on commandments while showing understanding and love. He also addresses the issue of children uncertain about their sexual orientation and discourages premature labeling.

To do so, we walk a fine line between law and love—keeping the commandments and walking the covenant path, while loving our neighbors along the way.

Our walk demands that we not compromise on commandments but show forth a full measure of understanding and love.

Our walk must be considerate of children who are uncertain about their sexual orientation, but it discourages premature labeling because, in most children, such uncertainty decreases significantly over time.

What does it mean to walk a fine line between law and love?
Why is it important not to compromise on commandments?
What does President Oaks say about children who are uncertain about their sexual orientation?
How can you better balance law and love in your life?
How do you seek divine inspiration in keeping the commandments while showing love and understanding?
What can you do to be more considerate of those who are uncertain about their sexual orientation?

Teaching the Two Great Commandments

President Oaks emphasizes the responsibility of mothers, fathers, and all members of the Church in teaching the two great commandments. He shares a prophecy by President Spencer W. Kimball about the significant role of the women of the Church in the growth of the Church in the last days. He encourages members to act to fulfill this prophecy.

Mothers and fathers and all of us are responsible to teach both of the two great commandments.

Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world … will be drawn to the Church in large numbers.

You are the women he foresaw!

Who are responsible for teaching the two great commandments?
What role do women play in the growth of the Church according to President Kimball's prophecy?
What does President Nelson say about the women of the Church today?
How can you better teach and live the two great commandments in your family and community?
As a woman in the Church, how do you feel about President Kimball's prophecy?
What can you do to fulfill this prophecy and contribute to the growth of the Church?