As I have loved you, Love one another.

This new commandment: Love one another.

By this shall men know Ye are my disciples,

If ye have love One to another.

— Hymns, No. 308

There are many different aspects of love inherent in the gospel: Love of the Lord, love of parents and children, love of spouse and love for our neighbors, both LDS and non-LDS alike. Our first expression of love should be to the Lord and all He has done for us.

President Spencer W. Kimball remarked: "It is not enough for us to acknowledge the Lord as supreme and refrain from worshipping idols; we should love the Lord with all our heart, might, mind and strength. We should honor him and follow him into the work of eternal life. What joy he has in the righteousness of his children!" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 243.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "This principle of love is the basic essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Without love of God and love of neighbor there is little else to commend the gospel to us as a way of life." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 317.)

The apostle Peter counseled the early Saints to seek certain attributes that they may perform their labors more diligently, with an eye single to God:

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Pet. 1:4-8.)

We are to do the work of the Lord, and do it, said President Hinckley, "with energy and cheerfulness." Among the work we are to do is to, ". . . succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees." (D&C 81:5.)

Of doing the work of the Lord, President Hinckley has said: "It is to minister to those in need. It is to comfort the bereaved. It is to visit the widow and the fatherless in their affliction. It is to feed the needy, to clothe the naked, to shelter those who have not a roof over their heads. It is to do as the Master did, to 'go about doing good.' " (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 339.)

President Kimball said, "The measure of our love for our fellowman, and in a large sense the measure of our love for the Lord, is what we do for one another and for the poor and the distressed." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 365)

"He that loveth his brother abideth in the light." (1 John 2:10.)

The Savior said, "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21.)

President Hinckley said, "Love is like the Polar Star. In a changing world, it is a constant. It is of the very essence of the gospel. It is the security of the home. It is the safeguard of community life. It is a beacon of hope in a world of distress." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, p. 319)

We can become more loving and Christlike. First, we can study the life of Jesus Christ and keep His commandments.

Second, when we find ourselves with uncharitable feelings, we can pray to have these feelings taken from us. Moroni urges us, "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love (charity) which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ." (Moro. 7:48.)

Third, we must love others as we love ourselves. (Matt. 22:37-39.) To love ourselves, we must respect and trust ourselves. This means that we must be obedient to the principles of the gospel that we have learned. We must repent of any wrongdoings. We must forgive ourselves when we have repented. We will only come to love ourselves when we can feel the deep, comforting assurance that the Savior truly loves us.

Fourth, as we come to love the Lord, our love for others will increase. (See Gospel Principles, p. 190.)

Joseph Smith said, "The nearer we get to our Heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 241.)