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First Presidency Message:
Members encouraged to love their fellowman
by Kelly Smurthwaite
Scroll Staff
Living the commandment to love is the focus of this month’s First Presidency message, written by President Thomas S. Monson, in the January 2003 Ensign. President Monson wrote about the story of the good Samaritan. He mentioned how a man was injured by thieves he encountered when travelling to Jericho. A priest came by and saw the man, almost dead from his injuries, yet passed him on the other side of the road.
Then, a Levite came by and acted in the same manner as the priest, not offering any assistance to the helpless and injured man. But finally, a Samaritan came by and saw the man and “bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.” President Monson said that members of the Church should follow the example of the good Samaritan.
“As we study the New Testament this year, we might ask ourselves, ‘How might we fulfill today the divine commandment to love the Lord our God?’”
He said that during his entire life, the Savior went about doing good for his fellowman.
“He took compassion on the crippled man who had no hope to get to the pool of promise. He extended his hand; He lifted him up. He healed him from his infirmity,” President Monson said.
President Monson said that we should all try to follow the Savior’s example of showing compassion and giving service to others. He gives three suggestions on how to do this: by learning of the Savior, by believing in the Savior and by following the Savior.
He says that if we truly seek to learn and implement the Savior’s example in our own lives, we will learn to love our fellowman.
“And to those who obey Him, whether they be wise or simple, he will reveal himself in the toils, the conflicts, the sufferings which they shall pass through in His fellowship, and ... they shall learn in their own experience who He is,” President Monson said.
He concludes his article by testifying of the Savior’s example of goodness and perfect life.
“He is more than a teacher. He is the Exemplar of the perfect life — but he is more than an exemplar. He is the great physician — but he is more than a physician,” he said. “He is the literal Savior of the world, the Son of God, the Prince of Peace, the Holy one of Israel ... .”
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