“Could it be that the reason we may not feel love for others is that we have not really prayed for it-or, if we have, it has not been a prayer with all ‘energy of heart’? The latter part of the passage just quoted mentions love as something that is bestowed upon the ‘true followers’ of Jesus Christ. If we do not feel the whole power of love, perhaps we have not prayed enough for it or are not yet true followers of Jesus Christ.” (Gayle O. Brown, Book of Mormon Symposium Series, The Keystone Scripture, edited by PR Cheesman, MS Nyman, and CD Tate, Jr., 1988, p. 153)
Bruce C. Hafen
"We apparently cannot develop a complete and permanent Christlike love for other people on our own, even though we must qualify as ‘true followers of his Son’ in order to receive this love… charity in its full-blown sense is ‘bestowed upon’ Christ’s righteous followers. Its source, like all other blessings of the Atonement, is the grace of God…
“The purpose of charity, however, is not merely to cause a proper motivation for charitable acts toward other people—though that is of course one important result. The ultimate purpose is to make Christ’s followers like him.” (The Broken Heart, p. 196)
Spencer J. Condie
"(quotes Moroni 7:48) If the diplomats of warring nations understood and followed Mormon’s admonition, the world would be spared the scourge of war. If married couples perpetually pleaded for and practiced charity, the world would be spared the devastation of broken homes and hearts. If all those whose lives have been scarred by abuse would pray with all the energy of their hearts for the pure love of Christ, their burdens would be lifted and their hearts would be filled with love. Charity, the pure love of Christ, is acquired only through great effort on our part. After praying with great energy of heart, then comes the promise: we will be filled with love.
"This single verse is one of the most profound statements found in holy writ. If this succinct prescription were truly followed, much of the misery of the human condition would be alleviated. (Heroes From the Book of Mormon, p. 178)