Love of God Formula Scpritures

Love of God Formula Scriptures

1 Ne 11:21-22,25,  1 Ne 15:24, 2 Ne 31:19-20, Mosiah 4:11-12, Mosiah 18:21-22, Jacob 3:1-2, Alma 5:9, 13, 26, Alma 13:27-29, Alma 17:2-3, Alma 32:28, Helaman 3:35,

Helaman 5:43-48, 4 Ne 1:11-17, Ether 12:4, Moroni 7:48, Moroni 10:32

“[T]he first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength. That love is the foundation stone of eternity, and it should be the foundation stone of our daily life.”   -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland 

Lehi’s vision of the tree of life teaches us to fall to our knees beneath the tree of life and partake of God’s love (1 Nephi 8:30).  Jacob invites us to “lift up [our] heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love (Jacob 3:2).  Each time we feel the Spirit, we taste a portion of God’s love; it swells our hearts and begins to be delicious to us (Alma 32:28).  By combination of the Spirit’s influence (grace) and our own diligent and patient efforts to nourish the word (agency), we can receive God’s love more fully and “pluck of the fruit of the tree of life” which is sweet and delicious, “and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.”  (Alma 32:40-42).

What does it take to receive God’s love?  In a word, humility.  Humility is the key to a beginning and increasing a loving relationship with God.  The humble are “in a preparation to hear the word” (Alma 32:6).  You must be at least humble enough to “give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart,...[and] not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord (Alma 32:28).  Ammon, who had served God faithfully for many years, felt God’s love and goodness so powerfully that he fell to the earth “swallowed up in the joy of his God.”  None can receive such love and joy “save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness” (Alma 27:17-18).

A loving relationship cannot be forced upon one who is unwilling to participate. Because of agency, God will never force himself upon us.  We must open the door of our hearts and participate willingly.  But how does an imperfect sinner ever feel comfortable enough to enter into a relationship with a perfect God? Our Heavenly Father wants a loving relationship with us so much that He sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself.  For God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son (John 3:16).

A humble child of God grows in that loving parent-child relationship in two main ways: 1) faith (trusting God’s love and His plan, especially Christ and His atonement), and 2) repentance (striving to emulate Christ and learn God’s ways). A humble attitude toward God always produces repentance, and the concepts of “humility” and “repentance” are often used interchangeably in the scriptures. Humble faith and repentance are the keys to receiving God’s love more fully.

Mosiah 18:20-22 

Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another. And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

Alma 5:9-10, 13 

And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved. And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? ...And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

Alma 7:14-16

come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness. Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life.

Helaman 3:35
Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

Helaman 5:41

And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you.

Moroni 7:34

And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved.

In a great marriage, our love for our spouse dwells in our hearts always, even as we go about our daily activities that are not directly focused on that relationship.  But, that love fades if the relationship is not built and sustained by the ongoing focus of our thoughts and actions.  We retain God’s love in our hearts as we steadfastly press forward in faith and humility. We do this through making and keeping covenants, faithful thinking (firm mind, always remembering), diligent prayer, feasting on the word, striving and repenting (ongoing, daily, joyful repentance), fasting, Sabbath observance and serving God and others.

The Holy Ghost testifies of God’s love for His children (Romans 5:5).  A profound sense of Heavenly Father’s and the Savior’s love for us can happen suddenly and deeply, or it can grow gradually until it becomes very strong.  Through baptism and the sacrament we covenant to take upon us Christ’s name, always remember him and keep his commandments, so that we can always have his Spirit with us. We are reminded each week that the spirit of divine love can always dwell in our hearts.  We can trust that His love is always present, even when we don't feel it in the moment.

Once we have tasted God’s love and the blessings of the atonement, and let them sink deeply into our hearts so that we trust God and His plan for us (FAITH), then we have HOPE (surety or assurance of a glorious resurrection in God’s kingdom) and can move forward in life encircled about in the arms of safety and love, receiving grace and goodness all along our life’s path. We can receive grace daily to help us face life’s challenges and build unity in our relationships.

As we feel secure in our connection to God and as we feel our Savior’s understanding and love, though we are yet very imperfect, we are able to extend the same grace to others who are imperfect, and we grow in CHARITY, the pure love of Christ.

A Relationship with God and Christ

Exercising our Agency to Receive Grace

1.         Humility -Meekness and Lowliness of Heart, Yielding One’s Heart to God

2.         Faith -Gift of Faith (grace)/Exercising Faith (agency)

Diligent Prayer
            Plant and Nourish the Word-Feast on the Word of God-(Word=Christ)

Honor the Sabbath

Fast

 3.        Repentance (Striving, Pressing Forward, Making and Keeping Covenants)

Receiving and Dwelling in God’s Love

Faith and Feeling Loved by God => Hope => Charity

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Scripture Segments by Topic

Humility

●       fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree

●       I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him

●       remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility

●       And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering

●       humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering

●       And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart. If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart;

Faith

●       press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end

●       Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith

●       feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever

●       standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come

●       ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save

●       always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God

●       that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness

●       give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts

Diligent Prayer

●       I began to pray unto the Lord that he would have mercy on me, according to the multitude of his tender mercies

●       Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith

●       calling on the name of the Lord daily

●       every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God

●       asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive

●       call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear

            Plant and Nourish the Word-Feast on the Word of God-(Word=Christ)

●       press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ

●       Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him...And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God

●       clinging to the rod of iron

●       continually holding fast to the rod of iron

●       they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.

●       And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life. But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life

Honor the Sabbath

●       And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy

●       meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord

Fasting and Prayer

●       they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God

●       they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

●       continuing in fasting and prayer

 Repentance

●       pressing forward, ... they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron

●       give heed unto the word of the Lord and remember to keep his commandments always in all things

●       hearken unto the word of God

●       come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins…. Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism….and keepeth the commandments of God from thenceforth

●       being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times

●       hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance

●       they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God...And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness

●       they who have faith in him will cleave unto every good thing

●       Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Receiving and Dwelling in God’s Love

●       most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted, white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen

●       filled my soul with exceedingly great joy

●       Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw? ...Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things...and the most joyous to the soul

●       as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls

●       lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love

●       their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love

●       filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts

●       the love of God ...did dwell in the hearts of the people...and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God

Faith and Feeling Loved by God => Hope => Charity

●       And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

●       Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.

●       Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith,

●       Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Hope-Encircled by the Arms of Safety and Love

●       ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins

●       press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men

●       with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God

●       [Hope] maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God

●       And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.

●       that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.

Charity-Conversion to Christ-like Character-Zion

●       press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men

●       ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God,...and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true

●       Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people. And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.  And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God.

●       And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.….there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; ...and there was no contention in all the land.

●       if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

●       Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is;