Love Your Enemies
By President Dallin H. Oaks
First Counselor in the First Presidency
Knowing that we are all children of God gives us a vision of the worth of others and the ability to rise above prejudice.
The Lord’s teachings are for eternity and for all of God’s children. In this message I will give some examples from the United States, but the principles I teach are applicable everywhere.
We live in a time of anger and hatred in political relationships and policies. We felt it this summer when some went beyond peaceful protests and engaged in destructive behavior. We feel it in some current campaigns for public offices. Unfortunately, some of this has even spilled over into political statements and unkind references in our Church meetings.
In a democratic government we will always have differences over proposed candidates and policies. However, as followers of Christ we must forgo the anger and hatred with which political choices are debated or denounced in many settings.
The Sermon on the Mount
Here is one of our Savior’s teachings, probably well known but rarely practiced:
“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matthew 5:43–44).1
For generations, Jews had been taught to hate their enemies, and they were then suffering under the domination and cruelties of Roman occupation. Yet Jesus taught them, “Love your enemies” and “do good to them that … despitefully use you.”
Bring forth the record
What revolutionary teachings for personal and political relationships! But that is still what our Savior commands. In the Book of Mormon we read, “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29).
Loving our enemies and our adversaries is not easy. “Most of us have not reached that stage of … love and forgiveness,” President Gordon B. Hinckley observed, adding, “It requires a self-discipline almost greater than we are capable of.”2 But it must be essential, for it is part of the Savior’s two great commandments to “love the Lord thy God” and to “love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37, 39). And it must be possible, for He also taught, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find” (Matthew 7:7).3
How do we keep these divine commandments in a world where we are also subject to the laws of man? Fortunately, we have the Savior’s own example of how to balance His eternal laws with the practicalities of man-made laws. When adversaries sought to trap Him with a question about whether Jews should pay taxes to Rome, He pointed to the image of Caesar on their coins and declared, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s” (Luke 20:25).4
So, we are to follow the laws of men (render unto Caesar) to live peacefully under civil authority, and we follow the laws of God toward our eternal destination. But how do we do this—especially how do we learn to love our adversaries and our enemies?
The Savior’s teaching not to “contend with anger” is a good first step. The devil is the father of contention, and it is he who tempts men to contend with anger. He promotes enmity and hateful relationships among individuals and within groups. President Thomas S. Monson taught that anger is “Satan’s tool,” for “to be angry is to yield to the influence of Satan. No one can make us angry. It is our choice.”5 Anger is the way to division and enmity. We move toward loving our adversaries when we avoid anger and hostility toward those with whom we disagree. It also helps if we are even willing to learn from them.
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The Church just released ‘The Christ Child’ video. Here are 5 things that set it apart from other versions of the Nativity story ~ Church News - By Aubrey Eyre
The story of the birth of Christ is well-known. Repeated and retold time and time again for two millennia through scriptures, stories, plays, pageants, films, photos and more, it is a story central to the celebration of the Christmas season for Christians around the world.
This year, as part of the Light the World campaign, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in partnership with Boncom, released a new video highlighting the story of the Nativity. “The Christ Child” tells the familiar story of Christ’s birth — but in a surprisingly new and meaningful way, explained Jeff Taylor, who worked as co-creative director of the film.
But even as familiar and revered as the tale of the Nativity may seem, the reality of the story can sometimes get lost in the pageantry of its retelling, said Taylor, vice president and executive creative director of Boncom.
So, to accompany the release of “The Christ Child” and highlight the importance of the Nativity story again this Christmas season, here are five interesting facts and details about what makes this portrayal of the Nativity story different and how it plays an important role in the Church’s Light the World campaign.
“The Christ Child” is a gift
“The Christ Child” film is meant to be “a gift that we give to the world,” said Tom Pratt, supervisor of mass media efforts for the Church’s Missionary Department. That’s part of why it is being shared and promoted before Thanksgiving, Pratt explained — to give people the opportunity to get together and watch the video and talk about it and the message of light that it shares.
This year’s Light the World campaign theme is “Light the World — one by one,” and that theme really means two things, Pratt said. First, it means to minister as the Savior did, reaching out to individuals with the love and light of Christ. Second, it means inspire people to reflect on the life of the Savior, which is celebrated during this season, and to reflect on His teachings and example.
A scene from “The Christ Child” video produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shows Mary and Joseph with a newborn baby Jesus.Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
By sharing the story of Christ’s birth through a new video, the hope is that people who see it will be willing to share it, Pratt said. “Hopefully people who see this will then invite others into their homes to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by gathering and sharing it with others. It’s meant to be shared.”
The story of the Nativity is real
Although their story is familiar and has been characterized in many different ways, it is important to remember that Mary and Joseph were real people with a divine calling to bring the Savior into this world. The shepherds and the wisemen too were real people who came to worship at the feet of the Savior after His mortal birth, explained John Foss of Kaleidoscope Pictures, who wrote and directed the film.
“We try to present these people as real people, in extraordinary circumstances,” he said. “We tried to strip away a lot of the pageantry. … We wanted to access the story from a really human point of view.”
By the very nature of the story and the way it is shared in the video, the goal was to evoke a sense that “this event really happened, and the people that we normally think of as part of a pageant were real flesh and blood people and this really happened to them,” Pratt said.
And for Taylor, one of the most powerful and human
moments came with the reactions of the wisemen. Too often, he said, the wisemen are presented with a lot of flair and pageantry like gold foil turbans reverently bowing before the baby Jesus before simply backing away quietly.
A scene from “The Christ Child” video produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shows Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
“But in the scriptures, it says that when they were come into the house, they fell down and worshipped Him,” Taylor said. “To me, that moment is just one of the most precious moments in the entire film, these wisemen realizing who it is they’re kneeling before.”
“The Christ Child” is more historically accurate
Throughout the entire process of creating the film, the goal was to present the Nativity story in the most accurate way possible, Taylor said.
“We consulted with historians, biblical scholars, and we tried to create the atmosphere, the language, the dress, all these other details to the best of our knowledge,” Taylor said. “And as a result, you feel immersed in the story, it feels like you’re there. It feels like you’re in the fields of Judea, it feels like you’re in the in the cave where she gave birth. It’s like you’re watching a real moment happen.”
As a starting point for getting things as historically accurate as possible, Taylor explained that, even during casting, they tried to match the actors to the ages and ethnicities of the people they were representing.
In preparing for his role, the actor who played Joseph— who is of the Jewish faith — did a three-day fast. He was also more social and interactive on this set than he is normally, Taylor explained.
A behind the scenes look at the filming of “The Christ Child” shows a camel and actors dressed in attire appropriate for first century Israel.Credit: Courtesy BonCom
Watching that kind of dedication and preparation from the actors only added to the realism and importance of the project, Taylor said.
Another decision made to add to the realism was to have all dialogue throughout the film spoken in Aramaic without subtitles.
“We wanted them to talk to one another because they would have talked to one another,” Taylor said. But without any historic or scriptural records of what they might have said to one another, the filmmakers didn’t want the audience to read too much into what was being said. Having them speak in Aramaic was more historically accurate and allows for the dialogue to not detract from the story as it is recorded, Taylor explained.
There is a better understanding of “No room at the inn”
One key difference represented in this telling of the Nativity story as opposed to previous versions produced by the Church is a better understanding of how Mary and Joseph ended up in the humble circumstances of a stable.
Bethlehem was built on a hillside full of limestone caves, and people often would build their homes in front of the caves or inlets and then use the caves as a place to keep animals and hay and such, Taylor explained.
A scene from “The Christ Child” video produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shows Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem.Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
Additionally, as Pratt and Taylor explained, the original Greek word — “katalyma” — used by the prophet Luke to describe an “inn” is the same word he later uses to describe the “upper room” or “guest chamber” where Jesus prepared the Last Supper. As such, historians and scholars of ancient scripture who were consulted for the film shared their belief that rather than approaching an “inn” and being turned away, it is more likely that Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem and sought to stay with Joseph’s family.
Because their journey coincided with the journey of many people returning to Bethlehem to pay taxes in their homeland, it is likely that Joseph’s family home would have been filled with guests and that no room would have been available in the “upper room” or “guest chamber.” That meant Mary and Joseph would have then retreated to the privacy and comfort of the family stable — or limestone cave near the family home for the delivery of their baby.
“A whole tradition revolves around the idea that they must have gone to a lot of inns and they got turned away and there was a mean innkeeper,” Pratt said. “But none of that stuff is in the scriptures. So when you go back to the scriptures, you realize that one word … it actually kind of changes part of the story into something more meaningful. There was no room in the guest room or the living quarters so they stayed in the stable.”
New details about the shepherds and wisemen
Another thing the filmmakers learned from historians and scholars is that sheep herding was a family business in first century Israel, and as such, there would have been women and children among the shepherds in the field spoken of in the scriptures.
A behind the scenes look at the filming of “The Christ Child” shows the shepherds when they arrive at the stable with a newborn Jesus.Credit: Courtesy BonCom
“So we did a little something different there to show them as families and include a boy and a girl who are part of that experience,” Pratt said of the scene with the shepherds.
There is even a small moment where Mary and a young shepherd girl look at one another that is different from previous versions of the Nativity story, Taylor said.
“It’s a very subtle, but very tender little moment where Mary looks up and the female shepherd just smiles at her, and Mary smiles back,” Taylor said. “It’s one of those tiny details that isn’t a huge scene-stealer but just creates something that’s different and special.”
Another decision regarding the shepherds that departs from many previous depictions of the story was the omission of the heavenly visitor to the shepherds. While the shepherds are depicted as seeing a light, no attempts were made to demonstrate what that visitation would have looked like, Pratt said.
“We wanted to see their faces and reactions and the kind of awe and wonder they experienced,” he said, adding that seeing how it would have been for them, through their expressions, is what makes it more real.
Additionally, the wisemen in the film are shown using a small tool to follow the star, Pratt said. It’s an ancient form of sextant that is historically accurate to the time period, he said. And although there is no record of them having used such a tool in the scriptures, it is likely that they may have used something similar as such tools did exist at that time.
A scene from “The Christ Child” video produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shows the wisemen as they come before the child Jesus.Credit: Intellectual Reserve, Inc.
In that sense then, the film captures and includes small details that help set the time and culture of the story in an accurate way while also not veering too far from what is recorded by scripture.
“It doesn’t really explain where they came from,” Pratt said of the wisemen, because scripture doesn’t state that either. “It doesn’t explain why it took them so long to embark on their journey, but they were clearly men who knew and understood the prophecies and the signs of His [Christ’s] coming and came to find this Child.”
And sticking to what has been agreed on by most New Testament scholars, the film depicts how Christ would have been closer to a toddler’s age by the time the wisemen arrived, he said.
For Taylor, going through the process of bringing this story to life through this film has reinforced that the story of the Nativity is history. “This is the greatest project I have ever been a part of,” he said.
AMAZING! This new rendition of "How Great Thou Art" performed by BYU Men's Chorus was recorded and choreographed extremely well in this newly released music video. It is super powerful and captures faith and devotion to God and His wonderful work and plan. Thank you to all involved!
A cast member's thoughts from YouTube: "I've only been a member of the BYU men's chorus for a few months, but singing praises to God with this incredible group of men has already changed my life. I love how this video turned out after so much hard work these past several weeks. I hope it can help many more people to feel a little closer to their Savior as they watch it." - Josh Rich Article Published From LDS Living...
The video director and producer, Jeff Parkin, who collaborated with producer Jared Cardon on it said the project was based on Dan Forrest's arrangement of "How Great Thou Art."
"I wanted this video to be unlike anything I had seen before," Parkin says.
The production team was made up of BYU students and alumni with skills in film, dance, and music. One particularly noteworthy characteristic throughout the video is its beautiful symbolic choreography, with movement that allowed the men's chorus to reflect their spiritual feelings through their bodies. "It was a special experience uniting our talents to develop a distinctive visual language and performer movement to try to convey the miracle of the Savior’s Atonement, [which] brings all that have fallen back into His glory and love," says Cardon.
The music video was filmed in Utah at Rock Canyon, just above the Provo Temple, and at Aspen Grove Sundance Ski Resort. Days before the shoot, the weather was looking unpredictable. Rosalind Hall, director of the BYU Men's Chorus, even stopped a choral showcase concert just to request the audience to pray for good weather the day of filming. The day of the shoot was sunny, without rain or snow.
Hall is grateful for this miracle and believes the video has the power to touch every soul in an extraordinary way. Hall says, "Before I retire, I wanted to try to have it reach more people than the relatively few who could experience it in our own concert hall. I knew that a music video was the only way to do this, as seeing the men’s faces as they sang their testimony of the Savior was what made it really special."
The video has been received well, with over 16,000 views on Youtube and only one negative comment. In response to that comment, which was about the men not kneeling uniformly and gracefully, Parkin responded, “In our initial rehearsal, I [wished they kneeled more uniformly and gracefully] too. But then I realized that when the Savior comes, we will each bow in our own way—imperfectly, struggling under the load of our burdens, wrestling with our faults and weaknesses. And there is great beauty in that, because in our weaknesses, will we be made whole. And that is why we will proclaim, ‘My God, How Great Thou Art!’” ~LDS Living
Brothers and sisters, thank you for all you do to become, and to help others become, true followers of Jesus Christ and enjoy the blessings of the holy temple. Thank you for your goodness. You are wonderful; you are beautiful.
It is my prayer that we will recognize the confirming influence of the Holy Ghost as we come to fully understand that we are children of God. “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states: “All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny.”1 We are “choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work.”2 President Russell M. Nelson declared: “You were taught in the spirit world to prepare you for anything and everything you would encounter during this latter part of these latter days (see D&C 138:56). That teaching endures within you!”3
You are elect sons and daughters of God. You have the power to overcome the adversary. The adversary, however, is aware of who you are. He knows of your divine heritage and seeks to limit your earthly and heavenly potential by using the three Ds:
Deception
Distraction
Discouragement
General Authority Seventy
Elder Peter M. Johnson was sustained as a General Authority Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 2019, at age 52. At the time of his call, he had been serving as an Area Seventy and a member of the Sixth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America Southeast Area.
Elder Johnson received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting from Southern Utah University. He received a PhD in accounting from Arizona State University. He began his career in 1992 as staff accountant for Grant Thornton CPA. He has worked as an associate professor at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, assistant professor of accountancy at Brigham Young University, and associate professor of accountancy at the University of Alabama.
Elder Johnson has served in a number of Church callings, including full-time missionary in the Alabama Birmingham Mission, counselor in a bishopric, ward Young Men president, stake financial clerk, ward mission leader, and stake president.
Peter Matthew Johnson was born in New York City, New York, on November 29, 1966. He married Stephanie Lyn Chadwick in 1990. They are the parents of four children.
“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer, and we need prayer again,” said President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who spoke at a devotional in Massachusetts on Sunday. “I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God. Remember, this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”
President M. Russell Ballard | Quorum of Twelve Apostles
President M. Russell Ballard Notes I took
·Nephi saw the life of Christ as recorded in The Book of Mormon.
He also saw the discovery and colonizing of America. 1 Nephi 13
·Please look for the Lords hand in your lives and in your families -
genealogy
·As you see the Lords hand in your
lives recognize and give Him thanks 🙏🏼
·Nephi saw the pilgrims who would
settle here.He then saw the
revolutionary war.Nephi observed that power of
the Lord was with them once they humbled themselves
·I invite you to see how your
ancestors came here to this country...and how the hand of the Lord has guided
you and your ancestors.Please look for the Lords hand in your
lives and in your families – genealogy and family history.
·I don’t believe you’re here today
hearing my voice by accident or coincidence.
·I have a solemn duty as an apostle to face the Lord and communicate to
you His will and word.The
prophets and apostles are watchmen on the tower today.Acknowledging the Lords hand and obeying His commandments
are essential to our wellbeing.
·America and all nations of the earth are at a crossroads, that will
determine the future for our children and our grandchildren.Please pray for the leaders of our
country.Reach out on social media and ask
all we know to PRAY for our leaders and our country.
·Washington acknowledged the hand
of the Lord
·Our forefathers who Signed the Declaration of Independence acknowledged
God.
·Doctrineand Covenants 98:4-10And now, verily I say unto you concerning
the alaws of
the land, it is my will that my people should observe to do all things
whatsoever I command them.5 And that alaw of
the land which is bconstitutional,
supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges,
belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. 6 Therefore, I, the
Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law
which is the aconstitutional law
of the land;7 And as pertaining
to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil.8 I, the Lord God,
make you afree,
therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.9 Nevertheless, when
the awickedbrule the
people mourn.10 Wherefore, ahonest men
and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should
observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
·Forsake all evil and cling to the
good.
·America and the nations of the
earth are at another crossroads. We’ve grown in numbers, in wealth and power
like no other nation BUT we have forgotten the Lord our God.
·Our nation was founded upon
prayer 🙏🏼.And I plead with you
now to pray for our country and it’s leaders.This area was the seed bed that led to our
freedoms.
·I invite you to pray and invite
others to prayer.
·Let it begin TODAY with you being
a leader and a disciple of Jesus Christ.
Thousands of Latter-day
Saints and invited guests gathered at the DCU Center,
an arena in Worcester,
located about an hour west of Boston.
“This area was the seedbed
of so very much that led to the founding of this nation,”
said President Ballard. “I
invite you to join in a new movement. Invite your neighbors,
your colleagues, your
friends on social media to pray for this country.”
President Ballard, who
turned 91 earlier this month, was joined by fellow apostle,
The Apostles returned to
Salt Lake City Sunday evening. (Church Newsroom)
WORCESTER, Mass. — President M. Russell Ballard urged members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New England on Sunday evening to “join a new movement” by inviting their neighbors, colleagues and friends on social media to pray for the United States, its leaders and its families.
“Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer and we need prayer again,” said the acting president of the church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God.”
Speaking to an estimated 12,000 people gathered in the DCU Center, the senior church leader reminded the congregation that “this country was established and preserved by our founding fathers and mothers, who repeatedly acknowledged the hand of God through prayer.”
New England, he continued, was the seedbed of so very much that led to the founding of this nation.
“We must stand boldly for righteousness and truth and must defend the cause of honor, decency and personal freedom espoused by Washington, Madison, Adams, Lincoln and other leaders who acknowledged and loved God.” Attendees listen to the prayer during a devotional in Worcester, Massachusetts, on Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
This was a very exciting devotional to attend. My witness of living apostles has been strengthened even more after listening and watching them speak live. Here we are :) watching the two apostles leave the stage. They both have a glow about them and are filled with love, faith, and dedication to the Lord's work. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of Jesus Christ's restored gospel and church.
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