When I was a freshman in college, I called my dad in tears (calling home cost money so I was really upset!). I told him I was failing Chemistry! I told him I hated Chemistry! And I complained for quite a while until he said, “Well, you aren’t going to pass that class until you learn to at least like Chemistry.” That wasn’t really the answer I was looking for! I wanted him to agree that Chemistry was awful and that it was OK. After I hung up, I thought about what he said. How could I ever LEARN to like Chemistry? I just didn’t like it, that was a fact, wasn’t it?
A while later, I ran into a friend and we were talking. I offered him a piece of chocolate. He said, “I don’t like chocolate.” I was amazed, I didn’t think anyone didn’t like chocolate! He told me that he used to LOVE chocolate, but he decided he was eating too much, so he convinced himself over a few months that he didn’t like it! He would tell people he didn’t like it when offered, and he would tell himself he didn’t like it.
Back to my Chemistry class, I decided to act like I kind of was interested in it. I studied without rolling my eyes or getting angry or frustrated. I tried to figure out what Chemistry was all about. I found someone to help me who LOVED chemistry and what do you know, I started liking it! And I think if I had more time, I would have really begun to enjoy Chemistry! Maybe even love it! And… I actually passed the class!
Since that time, I have often thought about what else I could learn to love. I have seen people learn to love things that are bad for them, like smoking or drinking (I even knew about a girl who would plug her nose to drink alcohol until she finally began to like it). I have seen people who have trained themselves to love doing what is good for them, like eating well or sleeping more. It is interesting that we can also learn to love peoplewho we never thought we would like. We can learn to love things that really have no importance in our lives and may seem harmless, but can distract us from what we should be loving and focusing on. What we learn to love is very very important!!
I believe it is ESSENTIAL to learn to LOVE the things and people and doctrines that are TRULY WHAT THE LORD knows is best for us. If we want to be what the Lord wants us to be, we will follow Him. WHAT DOES HE LOVE? The Savior said that he loves His Father and doing His Father’s Will. It was His Father’s will that he be crucified and atone for our sins. He loved His Father and us so much that he did his Father’s will and He died for us. The most difficult thing I can think of, and resurrection will be ours with no strings attached. That fact is the most important thing to me. The Atonement can also provide forgiveness of our sins, as we work on Doing HIS WILL Also. Another thing the Savior Loves is inviting others to do His Father’s will, which is His will too. He loves serving others and blessing their lives. He loves TRUTH. He loves purity and cleanness. He loves REPENTENCE and encourages everyone to LEARN to LOVE REPENTING DAILY.
SO…If we want to be a person who truly loves what the Lord knows is best for us to love, we can start by taking the words of Nephi to heart. He said in 2 Nephi 2:30, “I have chosen the good part.” Maybe at first, or even for a while, we may not LOVE the good part. It may be hard. It may be lonely. But it is the TRUTH, and it is RIGHT. I know as we keep trying, we can change. That is the beauty of repentence. Changing our whole attitude and being, not just our behaviors. As Elder Renlund said, “To do justly and walk humbly with God is to intentionally withdraw our hand from iniquity, walk in His statues, and remain authentically faithful.” Sometimes that involves going through a big hard thing. Always it means to keep doing the little things that allow the Spirit in our lives.
My husband’s grandmother said a wonderful thing, “I often think that anyone can face a crisis, or a crushing tragedy with calm, exalted courage. But the place that needs the greatest strength and courage is the daily grind: to manage just to laugh at all the petty hazards of each day, to smile whilst sifting life’s wheat from its chaff, and strive to see just good along the way.”
So, maybe we expect that a few lights will turn red, or we will get hurt playing a sport, or we will be bored cleaning the toilets, or we may have to deal with someone who annoys us ,or even when we keep the commandments things don’t work out the way we thought they would. Keep up the attitude of learning to love how your life unfolds. See how the Lord would have you see. Even in the small things. Especially in the small things. When I told my mother-in-law that I had a hard time enjoying ironing clothes, she said, “Oh, I love ironing. I think about each family member that I am ironing their clothes and how much I love them. It is a precious time for me.” WOW! That had never occurred to me. Laundry can be precious time!
I have thought as I have done so many mundane things from shoveling snow to cleaning a floor to serving someone to putting up with difficult people to memorizing endless facts for a test, I CAN DO THIS! I CAN LEARN TO ENJOY THIS, maybe even Love it! Imagine finding love and joy in everything we do! I believe things that may stress us can eventually be less stressful, and maybe even bring us peace and be a refreshment to our souls.
Just remember as you are figuring out how to learn to love, that this is a powerful tool. I believe Satan uses this technique to get us to love things that will keep us from what we should be learning to love and focusing on, like the temple, being happy, serving, accomplishing good, or feeling healthy and strong.
We must be feeding and focusing on the things that are VERY MOST IMPORTANT to the Lord and us. What are those things? We can find them here at church, in the scriptures, in Conference talks, from your Bishop, and from other believers like yourself. But mostly, the Holy Ghost will reveal them to us. Personal revelation will come as we even desire to become aware of what we must do. Elder Renlund stated, “The Holy Ghost will show us all things that we should Do. When we are unsure or uneasy, we can ask God for help. The Savior’s promise could not be clearer: “Ask, and it shall be given you;…for every one that asketh receiveth.” With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can transform our divine nature into our eternal destiny.” WOW! How exciting is that!
I invite you to learn what the Lord wants for YOU, take action to do it, and change to positive attitudes about it so it eventually becomes joyful and exciting to us. Let us encourage each other too, as it is easier when we have support. I want you to know that I know the Lord wants the best for each of us. When I partake of the fruit that is most sweet, I want to LOVE that taste and let it motivate me to continue on the Covenant Path with our dear Lord.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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