Chapter 10: Love

"Love is patient. Love is kind. And good things sometimes take some time." Jonathan Ogden These past two weeks, I have learned more about love than I think I had my entire life beforehand. As each of you read this, I invite you to please, slow down. Read each word carefully. Pause. Give it intent and meaning. It'll be powerful, I promise. How does love affect the people we interact with? Is love something that we really can feel towards everyone? How do we even begin? Love. It really is a beautiful word. Just say it to yourself wherever you are. Love. What do you think of? A picnic blanket at a park on a sunny day? Singing songs with a best friend by a campfire? Maybe a concert? A barbecue? Phone calls? Love. What images fill your mind? Do you see parenthood? Neighborly kindness? Acts of service? Sweet words in a letter, or even sweeter words falling out from lips? Love. What about God's love? How does God view you? What are the things God would say about you? Love. I think love is ultimately about perspective. Expand your perspective to eternity. Just for a moment, contemplate eternal love. All of us are children of God. All of us have eternal potential. No matter where we have been, no matter what we have done, the Love of God provides a way for us to change. Truly change. To become new. In the greatest expression of pure love, Heavenly Father gave His son, Jesus Christ, who willingly chose to die for us. For me. For you. Because of love. Love. Choose to love. There are people in your life whom you love deeply. Who deeply love you. Express that love to them. Evaluate your thoughts. Your actions. Make sure they are in alignment with the love you feel towards each of those people. Choose to change. Love, like anything beautiful, takes effort and patience, but don't shrink. God will always help you love. And finally, love has no limit. You simply cannot love too many people. Developing a love for all of God's children is so crucial. As you see people on the street, in the store, or on the road, view them as an eternal being. Someone with the same potential you have. Choose to strive and see them as God sees them. The blessings will change you. Love. On my mission, I have had so many opportunities to grow in love for the people we teach. It takes concentrated effort and humility to choose to love others, especially people we do not know. It also takes effort to continually love the people I already have cherished friendships and relationships with. God blesses those efforts, and ultimately leads us all along gently as we humbly strive to love as he would have us love.

Life is good. God is wise. Let Him prevail. Never give up.

Elder Childers

Me by a "lake" here in PA. They have very loose definitions in terms of bodies of water.

Service selfie

Chipotle made Elder Logan sick but made me so happy

Jesus and John the Baptist, puppet show style