Matt. 22:37-40; 1 John 4:20-21; Luke 10:25-37; D&C 42:27-28; 52:40
“The true greatness of a person, in my view, is evident in the way he or she treats those where courtesy and kindness are not required… . When we subordinate personal interests out of love and give of ourselves with no thought of receiving in return, we are moving toward becoming true disciples.” (Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 1992, pp. 86-87)
“For Relief Society, the charity of our motto is not an abstraction. It is a love beyond the emotion we might feel for or from others. It isn’t a ‘what’s in it for me?’ kind of love. Being friendly, generous, and respectful of others moves us along the way from self-concern, but the self-lessness of the kind of love that Christ commanded us to learn is a high step indeed. ‘Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you’ (3 Ne. 12:44).” (Aileen H. Clyde, Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 93)
“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’ (3 Ne. 12:44). Think what this admonition alone would do in your neighborhood and mine, the communities in which you and your children live, in the nations which make up our great global family. I realize this doctrine poses a significant challenge, but surely it is a more agreeable challenge than the terrible tasks posed for us by the war and poverty and pain the world continues to face. How are we supposed to act when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or sinned against? What are we supposed to do if we are hurt by those we love, or passed over for promotion, or are falsely accused, or have our motives unfairly assailed? Do we fight back? Do we send in an ever-larger battalion? Do we revert to an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, or, as Tevye says in Fiddler on the Roof, do we come to the realization that this finally leaves us blind and toothless? … We can all be a little more forgiving.” (Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1992, p. 18)
“Besides loving God, we are commanded to do what to many is a more difficult commandment—to love all, even enemies, and to go beyond the barriers of race or class or family relationships. It is easier, of course, to be kind to those who are kind to us—the usual standard of friendly reciprocity… . Whom would you bar from your circle? We might deny ourselves a nearness to our Savior because of our prejudices … , attitudes that Christ would surely condemn. Love has no boundary, no limitation of good will.” (David B. Haight, Ensign, Nov. 1982, pp. 10-12)
“Let us also love our neighbors. Let us banish from our lives any elements of self-righteousness… . Let us be friendly. Let us be helpful. Let us live the Golden Rule. Let us be neighbors of whom it might be said, ‘He or she was the best neighbor I ever had.’” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1997, p. 69)