Bridging the Two Great Commandments
Open talk in Gospel LibraryContents
Before Reading
Before reading or listening to the talk, consider the following questions:
- What are the two great commandments given by Jesus Christ?
- How does Elder Stevenson use the metaphor of a suspension bridge in his talk?
- What are the dangers of focusing too much on one commandment at the expense of the other?
- What practical examples does Elder Stevenson provide for living these commandments?
Topics
Understanding the Importance of Loving God
Elder Stevenson discusses the first great commandment - to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. He explains how this love is not limited or finite but infinite and eternal. He also provides practical ways in which we can show our love for God, such as through prayer, scripture study, temple worship, and obedience to His commandments.
To love the Lord centers first on your heart—your very nature. The Lord asks that you love with all your soul—your entire consecrated being—and finally, to love with all your mind—your intelligence and intellect. Love for God is not limited or finite. It is infinite and eternal.
Loving the Lord is often measured in small daily deeds, footsteps on the covenant path
- What does it mean to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind?
- How can we show our love for God in our daily lives?
- What are some ways you can show your love for God this week?
- How can you make showing love for God a more integral part of your daily routine?
Recognizing the Need to Love Our Neighbors
In discussing the second great commandment - to love our neighbors as ourselves - Elder Stevenson emphasizes the importance of loving all of God's children, regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances. He encourages us to seek out those who are hurt and broken, and to show Christlike kindness and service towards them.
Love of the Lord is not complete if we neglect our neighbors. This outward love includes all of God’s children without regard to gender, social class, race, sexuality, income, age, or ethnicity.
To love your neighbor includes Christlike deeds of kindness and service.
- What does it mean to love our neighbors as ourselves?
- How can we show love to our neighbors, especially those who are different from us?
- How can you show love to your neighbors this week?
- What are some ways you can be more inclusive in your love and service towards others?
Balancing Love for God and Love for Neighbor
Elder Stevenson highlights the interdependency of loving God and loving our neighbors. He warns that focusing too much on one commandment at the expense of the other could compromise our spiritual journey. He encourages us to find a balance and equal devotion to both commandments, just like the two towers of a suspension bridge.
There is an important interdependency between loving the Lord and loving one another.
For any suspension bridge to do what it was built to do, its towers must function together in complete harmony. Likewise, our ability to follow Jesus Christ depends upon our strength and power to live the first and second commandments with balance and equal devotion to both.
- Why is it important to balance our love for God and our love for our neighbors?
- What are the dangers of focusing too much on one commandment at the expense of the other?
- How can you better balance your love for God and your love for your neighbors?
- What are some ways you can show equal devotion to both commandments?
Avoiding Extremes in Living the Commandments
Elder Stevenson warns against two extremes in living the commandments: those who focus too much on keeping the commandments but show little tolerance for others, and those who emphasize loving others without acknowledging accountability to God. He encourages us to avoid these imbalances and to remember the importance of both loving God and loving our neighbors.
The increasing contention in the world suggests, however, that we at times fail to see or remember this. Some are so focused on keeping the commandments that they show little tolerance of those they see as less righteous.
Alternatively, there are those who emphasize the importance of loving others without acknowledgment that we are all accountable to God.
- What are the dangers of focusing too much on keeping the commandments at the expense of loving others?
- What are the dangers of emphasizing love for others without acknowledging accountability to God?
- How can you avoid these extremes in your own life?
- What can you do to show more tolerance and love for others while still acknowledging accountability to God?
Building Our Own Spiritual Bridge
Elder Stevenson encourages us to start building our own spiritual bridge of faith and devotion by setting realistic goals to understand God's gospel more and to judge others less. He assures us that with prayerful and thoughtful planning, our early efforts can be refined into a strong spiritual bridge built on love for God and love for our neighbors.
So the question for each of us is, How do we build our own bridge of faith and devotion—erecting tall bridge towers of both loving God and loving our neighbors?
We build our personal spiritual bridge with hearts and minds devoted to Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son as well as to our brothers and sisters with whom we work, play, and live.
- What does it mean to build our own spiritual bridge?
- How can we start building our own spiritual bridge?
- What are some realistic goals you can set to start building your own spiritual bridge?
- How can you make building your spiritual bridge a priority in your life?
