Ministering Motivated by Christlike Love

Jeffrey R. Holland once said, “Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet.”1 It is that kind of love that helps us as we minister to others, seeing them as our Heavenly Father and the Savior see them. Christlike love allows us to put others’ needs about our own self-interests.

S. Mark Palmer shared an experience he had as a new mission president that helped him gain some added insight into Christlike love. He was trying to figure out how he could minister to each of his missionaries, some of whom were struggling. One day as he was driving, he was listening to the scriptural account of the rich young man who had asked the Savior what he needed to do to have eternal life. After the Savior recited the list of commandments, the scriptures say, “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” Elder Palmer heard six words spoken that he hadn’t remembered hearing before – “Then Jesus beholding him loved him.” He recalled, “As I heard these words, a vivid image filled my mind of our Lord pausing and beholding this young man. Beholding—as in looking deeply and penetratingly into his soul, recognizing his goodness and also his potential, as well as discerning his greatest need. Then the simple words—Jesus loved him. He felt an overwhelming love and compassion for this good young man, and because of this love and with this love, Jesus asked even more of him. I pictured what it must have felt like for this young man to be enveloped by such love even while being asked to do something so supremely hard as selling all he owned and giving it to the poor.”2

This experience changed Elder Palmer’s heart . He asked himself these questions. “How can I be filled with Christlike love so [someone] can feel the love of God through me and desire to change? How can I behold him or her in the same way the Lord beheld the rich young man, seeing them for who they really are and who they can become, rather than just for what they are doing or not doing? How can I be more like the Savior?”2

We, too, should ask ourselves, “How can I be more like the Savior?” Can you imagine how much better our interactions with and service to others would be if they could feel the love of God through us because we were filled with Christlike love. Seeing others for who they really are or who they can become is impossible to do without Christlike love.

We cannot truly minister without Christlike love. So how do we get it? One of my favorite scriptures teaches us to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”3 Yes, we need to pray for Christlike love, but it is also developed through righteous living. There is more to the quote of Elder Holland’s that I shared earlier. “Christlike love is the greatest need we have on this planet in part because righteousness was always supposed to accompany it.”1

During stake conference last weekend, the visiting general authority shared something I keep thinking about. He said that someone had asked Elder Christofferson how much more wicked he thinks the world needs to get before the Savior will come. Elder Christofferson replied that he feels it isn’t so much that the world necessarily needs to become more wicked but that the Saints need to become more righteous. With that response in mind, think again about the change from home and visiting teaching to ministering. This change came as a result of a prophet of God seeking direction from the Lord on how to help us better keep the commandments, especially the commandments to love God and our neighbors. President Nelson said, “For months we have been seeking a better way to minister to the spiritual and temporal needs of our people in the Savior’s way. … We will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others.”4 Doesn’t that sound like we are being asked to become better, more righteous Saints?

The words in the Savior’s way really stood out to me this time! Am I ministering to others as the Savior would? Do I love others as He loves them? Elder Holland also said, “Pure Christlike love flowing from true righteousness can change the world.”1 In other words, our love for the Savior will not only motivate us to righteousness but also to loving service. And when our ministering is motivated by Christlike love, we see others as our Heavenly Father and the Savior see them. That kind of love can truly change the world!

We can more easily be motivated by Christlike love when we have a greater knowledge of and appreciation for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. M. Russell Ballard boldly declares, “If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God. I believe our Heavenly Father’s everlasting purpose for His children is generally achieved by the small and simple things we do for one another. At the heart of the English word atonement is the word one. If all mankind understood this, there would never be anyone with whom we would not be concerned, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, or social or economic standing. We would strive to emulate the Savior and would never be unkind, indifferent, disrespectful, or insensitive to others. If we truly understood the Atonement and the eternal value of each soul, we would seek out the wayward boy and girl and every other wayward child of God. We would help them to know of the love Christ has for them. We would do all that we can to help prepare them to receive the saving ordinances of the gospel. … Never, never underestimate how precious is the one.”5

The scriptures teach us, “Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God.”6 I love the word remember. It could just have easily said, “The worth of souls is great in the sight of God.” But it didn’t. We are being told to remember that great eternal truth. We should remember it so our actions reflect it.

Dale G. Renlund reminds us, “To effectively serve others we must see them through … Heavenly Father’s eyes. Only then can we begin to comprehend the true worth of a soul. Only then can we sense the love that Heavenly Father has for all of His children. Only then can we sense the Savior’s caring concern for them. We cannot completely fulfill our covenant obligation to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort unless we see them through God’s eyes. … Only when we see through Heavenly Father’s eyes can we be filled with ‘the pure love of Christ.’”7

Dieter F. Uchtdorf teaches, “We must never forget that we are God’s literal spirit children. We were His children before we came to this world, and we will be His children forevermore. This basic truth should change the way we look at ourselves, our brothers and sisters, and life itself. 8

If we allow that basic but beautiful truth to changes us, won’t we be continually striving live more faithful and faith-filled lives and serve others as the Savior would?

As true followers of Jesus Christ, our ministering will be motivated by Christlike love. We will truly minister one by one according to each person’s needs, in the Savior's way. That kind of loving, holier service does have the power to change the world because it changes the lives of both the giver and the receiver.

May we strive each day to become more righteous, showing forth an abundance of Christlike love, as we prepare ourselves and the world for the Second Coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.