Digital Only: Answers from an Apostle
How Can I Show My Love for God?
Here are four ways to express love for God, as taught by the prophet Joshua.
From a Brigham Young University—Idaho devotional address given on February 13, 2022.
One of the greatest truths is the power of love in our lives. I want to look at love as the compelling doctrine that it is and the commandment.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”
Love of God embraces both the Father and the Son and is a central theme of the gospel and the scriptures. In the prophet Joshua’s final counsel to the Israelites, he said: “Take diligent heed … to love the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
“Be strong and of a good courage,” the Lord said to Joshua, not once but four times, as he finally went forth with hundreds of thousands to enter the promised land. The River Jordan did not part as the throng approached. But when the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, representative of the Lord, dipped their feet in the river, the waters parted and the masses crossed on dry ground.
Like the Israelites of old, you are on the edge of your River Jordan looking forward to all God has for you in your mortal journey. But you, too, can make the commitment now to love the Lord thy God.
It is the first great commandment, and it has not changed through all dispensations. I promise you that everything else will fall in line if you put the Lord first.
You may wonder: How do you make the seemingly ethereal concept of the love of God become the essence of your lives, your worship, and your devotion? Joshua showed us the way, as he did the Israelites. Consider with me his four ways you can express love for God.
1. Walk in All His Ways
You walk in all His ways when you exercise humility, trust, faith, patience, and courage like those who had wandered for four decades. The priests held firmly the ark of the covenant—a representation of God—and with faith, stepped into the water. You too, will have to exercise faith and trust in the Lord as you face obstacles like deep water that seems to deny your progress. But the Israelites walked across on dry ground, and with the Lord at your side, figuratively speaking, so will you.
Living the gospel is not a stroll down a road—broad, smooth, and flat. You may not encounter rivers, but you will face challenges that are daunting. Remember, your love of God can call down miracles to bless you.
You walk in His ways when you care about the things He cares about.
You walk in His ways when you stay on the covenant path, taking no shortcuts and no side streets. Placing covenants at the center of your lives will help you turn away from distractions, deceptions, and even desensitization tugging at you, pulling you from God’s path and His loving arms.
2. Keep His Commandments
When the triumphant Israelites saw the walls of Jericho fall, Joshua said, “The Lord hath given you the city.” Before the siege, Joshua made it clear that there would be no looting, nothing taken for personal gain.
The anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel and their assault on the city of Ai failed because of breaking the commandment to not steal. Having rooted out the disobedience, the Lord was with them, and their next attempt was successful.
President Nelson has taught, “God’s laws are motivated entirely by His infinite love for us and His desire for us to become all we can become.”
3. Cleave unto Him
When you cleave unto God you stay close to Him, you hear Him, and you hear revelation just for you. Hearkening to His words, you are prepared to face whatever comes.
President Nelson has said as we seek to be “disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths.”
I hear Him most strongly in my life when I read the scriptures and draw close to the Lord and His promises.
I promise you today if you cleave unto the Lord and His revelations, you will see miracles that will set your course and keep you close to Him.
4. Serve Him with All Your Heart and Soul
The fourth and last point from Joshua is to “serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
“Will ye also go away?” Jesus asked Peter on one occasion. Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” I ask you, “Will you go away?” When you encounter tough issues or when you have questions, do you seek your answers from the Lord and His servants? Or do you go to the internet? Will you be of service to the Lord, or will you waver?
How do you serve Him when all around you is in seeming commotion? The answer is found in serving others. I am convinced, as I look back on my life, that service particularly to my family and to the Church has been one of the greatest blessings in shaping me.
When your love of God consumes your service, interests, priorities, and affections, you are blessed, and joy attends those blessings.
Choose to walk in His ways, to follow His commandments, to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him. This is the way to eternal life and to happiness in the presence of the Father.