The First Commandment First
“I know our Heavenly Father’s love for you is real and unending. It is most powerfully manifest through the grace of His Son, Jesus Christ. I bless you that the love of God will envelop you as you love and strive to serve Him.”
The Science of the Beloved Community
https://news.byu.edu/intellect/forum-the-science-of-the-beloved-community-the-psychological-genius-of-non-violence The text for this speech is unavailable. Please see our FAQ page for more information.
The Need for a Mass Coming Together of Poor People and People of Faith in This Moment of Crisis
An acclaimed advocate of the poor shares his vision for taking care of the needy.
“Yes, and . . .”: The Creative Art of Living
Guided by personal revelation, the creative art of living and becoming requires our full attention and intention to “Yes, and . . .” because that is magic—where the unexpected not only happens but creates something we could have never done on our own.
Loving Our Neighbors
Loving our neighbor requires getting close to our neighbor and giving of ourselves. In Spanish, the term for “love of neighbor” is amor al prójimo, or “love of the one who is in proximity.”
Seeing the Divinity in Others
Every single person on the earth now and forever is a child of God. It doesn’t matter what their religious or political affiliation is, it doesn’t matter where they come from or the color of their skin, and it doesn’t matter if they are just like you or are vastly different from you—they are all children of our Heavenly Father.
“To Me He Doth Not Stink”: Advocacy and Love
God will guide us as we develop our advocacy skills, and He will provide us with opportunities to be advocates for His children.
Pure Religion
If you want to be happy, feel the Holy Ghost, and grow closer to the Savior, then practice pure religion.
Lost and Found
Perhaps at times you may feel that God is not aware of you or that you haven’t felt His love. I believe that if you will reflect for just a moment on the loving service you receive from others, you will see the workings of the Lord moving in the background.
The Most Important Three Things in the World
I testify that charity—Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ’s pure love for us—is real. I pray that we may be blessed with a more abundant measure of charity in accordance with the work of our hands and the desires of our hearts.
Why Giving Matters
If people witness you as a giver, they will see a leader. Servant leadership is no joke, and it’s a secret to success, whether you’re looking for success or not. When people see you giving and cooperating and serving others, they will see in you a leader, or a future leader, and they cannot help but help you.
Love of the Savior
In heartache I have cried out for Him. And I have felt the love of the Savior. I know of His grace. He is love. “The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting." Through His Atonement, we are healed. And when we are healed, He turns our hearts to others.
Bless the Poor and Needy
By all means let’s continue to pray for the poor and needy, the sick, and those who mourn. But let’s all—every one of us—do more than pray. Let’s do what we can, according to our circumstances, to lift those arms that hang down. Let’s act in a way that will bless the poor and needy.
On Knowing and Caring
Knowledge deepens our charity, while charity, in turn, deepens our knowledge. The relationship between the two is crucial to a true education.
“Anywhere”—The Power of the One
Provost Hafen’s introduction was generous; however, what he did not tell about in his introduction was the way in which my call to the deanship at this university was announced some years ago. The actual caption for the pictures and the newspaper article was in the upper left-hand corner. But one of my clever friends cut out that corner and made sure the bottom lead line for another article was…
Charity in the Community of Saints
I recall participating in a workshop on campus about a year ago in which the invited presenter was attempting to establish the idea that all things are better understood if thoroughly studied and defined in detail. I raised my hand and said, “Some things are ruined by trying to explain them.” I feel that way to some degree today about my topic: “Charity in the Community of Saints.” I know…
Gifts of the Spirit
"It is for this reason you have come to this institution—to learn how to take this intelligence, knowledge, and experience to gain wisdom and learn understanding in your hearts in order to help you keep the commandments."
Charity: How We Treat Each Other
Brothers and sisters, I salute you for the many small charitable acts you do that mean so much to others. I hope this Relief Society sesquicentennial year will be the time when you decide your life will be something extraordinary.
The Bond of Charity
The text for my address this morning, "The Bond of Charity," comes from the 88th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the 125th verse: And above all things clothe yourselves with a bond of charity as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. I selected this topic because "The Bond of Charity" was the theme for the Annual University Conference this past year, a theme the…
“A Love of God and of All Men”
With Southeast Asian refugees as beautiful examples, Elder Hanks shares what it means to truly love our neighbor by feeding the body, mind, and soul.
“By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them”
The fruits of a Christlike life are loving, serving, and giving. May we all strive to better emulate Him this Christmas season.
“Charity Never Faileth”
As a Church, we ought to have charity, which is the pure love of Christ, reflected in every word, act, and deed, setting a true example for the world.
Forget Yourself
Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others.
