"We must show . . . genuine love for all our Father's children," said Elder Jack H Goaslind, then of the Seventy and now of the presidency of the Seventy, in an April 1981 general conference address. "When we learn to do this, we will be truly godlike.

"As John wrote, `Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God." `He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.' (1 John 4:7-8.)

Jesus Christ, our perfect exemplar, consistently demonstrated His love through acts of compassion, and He understood the most appropriate ways to express love.

"At Jacob's well, He took the time to teach a woman of Samaria some glorious eternal truths. She accepted His testimony that He was the Messiah and returned to the city to testify, `Is not this the Christ?' (John 4:29.)

"He gave of Himself to the outcasts of society. A despised leper worshiped the Lord and said, `Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.' The scripture records - note it well - that `Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.' (Matt. 8:2-3.)

"In one of His most dramatic miracles, Jesus still paid attention to individuals. As He prepared to raise Lazarus from the dead, He saw Mary weeping, and, the record states, `he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.' And then, `Jesus wept.' (John 11:33-35.) He used this occasion to express a divine testimony of His mission: `I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.' (John 11:25.)

In His visit to the Nephites, the Savior gave this important admonition: `Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.' " (3 Ne. 27:27.)

Elder Goaslind added: "It is my witness that we can be even as He is. We can demonstrate our love in ways that have eternal benefits both for ourselves and for those we serve.

"Let us accept the challenge issued by our prophet:

" `It seems clear to me, indeed, this impression weighs upon me - that the Church is at a point in its growth and maturity when we are at last ready to move forward in a major way. . . . But the basic decisions needed for us to move forward, as a people, must be made by the individual members of the Church. The major strides which must be made by the Church will follow upon the major strides to be made by us as individuals.

" `We have paused on some plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey forward and upward. Let us quietly put an end to our reluctance to reach out to others - whether in our own families, wards, or neighborhoods.' " (Spencer W. Kimball, April 1979 general conference report, p. 114.)

Elder Goaslind said, "Let us decide today that we will reach out in love to our families, our less-active or non-member neighbors, our departed kindred, or anyone who has need of love."