Contributed by: Ann Scriptures
Matt. 22:36
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with
all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Stories
"Janet had always been a wonderful child to
live with. When she went away to college, we missed her terribly. We had been almost sorry
when she was accepted first as a counselor, then as director of a summer camp for girls.
For almost four years she’d been home only on weekends and occasional holidays. Now
she was coming home to live and teach at a local high school. We were thrilled.
"But somehow things weren’t working out at all as we expected. Janet was
under a great deal of pressure with her new responsibilities. She had a very hard time
teaching and disciplining students just four or five years younger than she was. She was
discouraged and upset, and the constant confusion and clamor in a house filled with many
children added greatly to her frustration and irritability. As soon as she came home, she
went immediately to her room, coming out only for meals or to scold the children for
disturbing her study. I found myself sending the children’s friends, who had always
been welcome in our home, somewhere else to play. And I realized I was constantly telling
our own family to be quiet, even in their normal activities, so as not to bother
Janet."
Continue the story:
"Family members, who but a few weeks before had been eager for Janet’s
return, were openly wishing she’d go away again. Their resentment was creating an
unhappy spirit in our home, and I was at a loss to know what to do. I was sympathetic with
Janet’s unhappiness and anxiety, yet equally sensitive to the needs and feelings of
the other children."
Continue the story:
"My gentle efforts to talk over the problem with Janet reduced her to tears of
remorse and helplessness. She simply did not know how to cope with the problems in her
life. We decided to make it a matter of fasting and prayer.
"Miraculously and almost immediately, a change came over Janet. Instead of
closeting herself in her room, she made herself a part of family activity once again. She
became our peacemaker. Whenever there was a problem in the house, it was her quiet, calm
approach that soon brought peace to our household again. If I left my room in the morning
without making my bed, it would be made when I returned. She helped the boys with their
math problems and drilled the girls with their spelling words as she helped them do the
dishes. Whenever someone was having a hard day or had had a disappointment, we would find
her talking to him quietly in a corner and encouraging him until the sad heart was lifted
up again. Several times I found notes she had written to different members of the family
telling them that she loved them and thought they were wonderful. I could tell in each
case that she was helping them in a difficult situation.
"I told Janet often how much I appreciated her influence in the family. One day I
asked if she wanted to share what had brought about her sudden transformation and the
beautiful attitude she had shown to all of us. I will never forget her answer. She said,
‘You remember, Mother, that day we’d been fasting and praying about my problems
and the unhappiness I was causing the family? Well, that night I picked up my Bible and it
fell open to 1 John. Two verses seemed to stand out from the page.’ She opened her
Bible and read them to me. ‘ "He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,
and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in
darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness
hath blinded his eyes" (1 John
2:10-11).
" ‘I realized that I was trying to solve my problems in entirely the wrong
way,’ she said, ‘groping around in the darkness with blinded eyes. I’ve
been reading the scriptures every day since then, and it seems that there’s hardly a
page that doesn’t talk about loving, about being one and living in peace. Mother, the
scriptures have changed my whole life.’ Indeed, they had changed her life and in
doing so had changed the life and spirit of our entire family."
Quotations
From President David O. McKay and discuss its
meaning to the young women: "No other success can compensate for failure in the
home" (quoted from J. E. McCulloch, Home: The Savior of Civilization
[Washington, D.C.: The Southern Co-operative League, 1924], p. 42; in Conference Report,
Apr. 1964, p. 5).
Case Studies
1. You have wanted your own copies of the
standard works for as long as you can remember. Your sister, who has not shown much
interest, receives a set for Christmas. How does this make you feel? How can you show love
to your sister and to your parents?
2. Your dad comes home from work tired, discouraged, and grumpy. How can you show love
to him?
3. Your brother receives a perfect report card and announces to everyone that yours was
not quite as good. How can you show love to him?
4. You find your older sister’s diary open on her bed with your brother busily
reading it. How can you show love to your inquisitive brother and to your sister?
5. Your mother has the flu. You have plans to go to the movies with your friends. How
can you show love to your mother?
6. Your best friend says to you, "Your little brother is the most annoying boy I
know." How can you show love and loyalty to your little brother and to your friend?
7. Your sister is entertaining her friends and asks you to leave. How do you feel? How
can you show your sister that you still love her even after she has hurt your feelings?
8. You have just spent two hours fixing a special dessert for your family as a family
night surprise. Your mother comes home and says, "You’ve made a horrible mess of
this kitchen. Clean it up!" How does this make you feel? How can you show love to
your mother?
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