Moroni 7-8: Love and Linked Logic

Really, these chapters have so much depth to them that I should be writing 3 blog posts about each, or more.

So I've been thinking about what "perfect love" or Christlike love is and how to get it and keep it, and these chapters basically spell those things out exactly. Also the result of that love.

Moro. 8:16-17 "I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear. And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love." So, this perfect love is charity.

These chapters have a lot of "linked logic verses": if this, then that, then that, then that, etc.

8:25-26 repentance -> (faith ->) baptism -> fulfilling the commandments -> remission of sins -> meekness and lowliness of heart -> Holy Ghost -> hope and perfect love (diligence unto prayer ) -> endures

So cool! No wonder Alma told the priests he ordained to "preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord" (Mos. 18:20)

So this verse tells us how to have the Holy Ghost with us (obedience to first 4 principles and ordinances + humility), and also how to have hope and perfect love endure (diligence unto prayer). I have definitely had moments where I feel like I've had glimpses of perfect love but keeping it with me all the time? Not even close. So pray always.

Another cool "chain" verse: 8:11 "Behold, baptism is unto repentance to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins" This is basically part of the earlier chain and here the preposition "unto" seems to have more than meets the eye. Does it mean that baptism -> repentance -> fulfilling the commandments -> remission of sins? That's the reverse order from the chain in v25. Maybe "is unto" could be substituted with "fulfills" or maybe "is part of" or "completes" or "is linked with" or "together with" or even just "and" so "baptism [and] repentance [are] to the fulfilling the commandments unto the remission of sins" That the order is switched in these 2 verses makes it clear that they are closely linked and both part of a set requirement to follow that brings a remission of sins.

So I have to at least touch on the great Moroni 7:45. Let's see, a little bit about how to love as Christ loves - obviously charity for starts, how does this apply in a real relationship with somebody? To love someone like Christ does involves suffering/sacrifice, kindness, humility, unselfishness, being slow to get angry or react/be provoked, pure in thought and intention, being truly happy for the right reasons - righteousness not sin - of either person I'm sure, hopeful, faithful, optimistic, "bearing and enduring all things" -what does that mean in terms of loving somebody? Nobody can live up to expectations except Christ, so maybe being ok with or at least "enduring" their weaknesses? Obviously if somebody is sinning you don't want to be "ok" with that but you do want to love them anyways. Loving anyways after being hurt by them? I've certainly hurt my parents over the years with my mistakes and I think that part of how they have loved me in a Christlike way has been through bearing and enduring those times, and holding out hope for improvement. I don't know exactly, but I'm positive that the way to do it is by having the Holy Ghost, since it "filleth with hope and perfect love".

So besides the Holy Ghost, how do we get perfect love? Well, by doing anything that brings the Holy Ghost: faith, obedience, repentance, covenants, remembering Christ always, taking His name upon us, acting as Christ does, fulfilling assignments/callings, helping others.
v46 "cleave unto charity" this seems to imply an active choice - choosing to love as Christ does, this is something we can do
v48 "pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love" praying for it, and not just your rote prayers, this is going to take "wrestling before God" like Enos v2,4,9 "wrestle which I had before God" "And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication ... and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens" "I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them" Something that struck me as I read those just now was that Enos wasn't just praying for himself, for his heart to be changed, he was praying for others as well, those he felt love for (because of forgiveness which led to having the Holy Ghost, just like in the linked logic verse - cool!). Moro 8:3"I am mindful of you always in my prayers, continually praying unto God the Father in the name of his Holy Child, Jesus, that he, through his infinite goodness and grace , will keep you through the endurance of faith on his name to the end" 2 Ne 33:3 "For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry. And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people" There's that word again, consecrate, God's the one actually doing it, see last post.

Wow, I just learned a lot. Better get on with the day. Yoroshiku.

P.S. Sometimes I'm just ready to be done with my weaknesses - they get old. Making the same mistakes again - reminds me of a Muse lyric, hmmm. Ganbarou.