This is a nice sentiment that on the surface sounds nice to people...but it is not Christlike to love unconditionally. Our own prophet said in his address called "Divine Love" - "While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us—and certain divine blessings stemming from that love—are conditional." God has NEVER instructed us to love unconditionally, he doesn't either...If God loved unconditionally why the need to send his only begotten son? Does he not love us enough to save us outright 'no matter what'? Why have the 3 kingdoms of glory....why have outer darkness. We are expected and commanded to love but never unconditionally. Then Elder Nelson also said : "Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly "unconditional" can defend us against common fallacies such as these: "Since God’s love is unconditional, He will love me regardless..."; or "Since 'God is love,' He will love me unconditionally, regardless..." These arguments are used by anti-Christs to woo people with deception." D. Todd Christofferson said : "At another level, however, the question might be, “Can’t God do whatever He wants and save us just because He loves us, without the need for a Savior?” Phrased this way, quite a few people in today’s world would share that question. They believe in God and a postmortal existence but assume that because God loves us, it doesn’t matter so much what we do or don’t do; He just takes care of things." One orthodox Jew Dennis Prager says : "The source of my understanding of God, the Hebrew Bible, which originated the idea of a loving God, does not hold that whether we are the torturer or the torturer's victim, God loves us the same. Indeed, it implies that God's love is conditional (see, for example, Exodus 19:5, where God's love of His people is conditioned up on their keeping His covenant). I believe therefore that even with regard to God, we must try to grow into adulthood. God's love of us is immense and forgiving (if we repent) but not unconditional. In fact, I would have a difficult time loving a God who loved everyone equally. It would mean that God's love was unmoved by anything we do, and I cannot love that which cannot be moved." and finally he said these wise words : "Moreover, unconditional love stymies growth into mature adulthood. If we will be loved no matter how we act, why should we act in a way that earns love?"
Rochelle HaleJanuary 12, 2021
I wish my "child" would know that he is loved no matter what. Agency plays such a huge role in our lives, and I totally respect the decisions or perspectives of others, though they might not be my own. Nevertheless, love--especially a mother's love--endures forever.
JulietJanuary 12, 2021
On our wall we have a sign that says "Forever, For Always and No Matter What". I always tell my children, "I love you forever, for always and no matter what!" Even when they get into trouble I make sure to tell them that I love them...they may be loosing privileges or are grounded but I make sure they know that I still love them and give lots of hugs and snuggles. Even as my children get older I think it is important to give them the verbal messages as well as the physical messages of love.
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Concerned MemberFebruary 1, 2021
This is a nice sentiment that on the surface sounds nice to people...but it is not Christlike to love unconditionally. Our own prophet said in his address called "Divine Love" - "While divine love can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal, it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional. The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand, many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father and the Son feel for each of us—and certain divine blessings stemming from that love—are conditional." God has NEVER instructed us to love unconditionally, he doesn't either...If God loved unconditionally why the need to send his only begotten son? Does he not love us enough to save us outright 'no matter what'? Why have the 3 kingdoms of glory....why have outer darkness. We are expected and commanded to love but never unconditionally. Then Elder Nelson also said : "Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly "unconditional" can defend us against common fallacies such as these: "Since God’s love is unconditional, He will love me regardless..."; or "Since 'God is love,' He will love me unconditionally, regardless..." These arguments are used by anti-Christs to woo people with deception." D. Todd Christofferson said : "At another level, however, the question might be, “Can’t God do whatever He wants and save us just because He loves us, without the need for a Savior?” Phrased this way, quite a few people in today’s world would share that question. They believe in God and a postmortal existence but assume that because God loves us, it doesn’t matter so much what we do or don’t do; He just takes care of things." One orthodox Jew Dennis Prager says : "The source of my understanding of God, the Hebrew Bible, which originated the idea of a loving God, does not hold that whether we are the torturer or the torturer's victim, God loves us the same. Indeed, it implies that God's love is conditional (see, for example, Exodus 19:5, where God's love of His people is conditioned up on their keeping His covenant). I believe therefore that even with regard to God, we must try to grow into adulthood. God's love of us is immense and forgiving (if we repent) but not unconditional. In fact, I would have a difficult time loving a God who loved everyone equally. It would mean that God's love was unmoved by anything we do, and I cannot love that which cannot be moved." and finally he said these wise words : "Moreover, unconditional love stymies growth into mature adulthood. If we will be loved no matter how we act, why should we act in a way that earns love?"
Rochelle HaleJanuary 12, 2021
I wish my "child" would know that he is loved no matter what. Agency plays such a huge role in our lives, and I totally respect the decisions or perspectives of others, though they might not be my own. Nevertheless, love--especially a mother's love--endures forever.
JulietJanuary 12, 2021
On our wall we have a sign that says "Forever, For Always and No Matter What". I always tell my children, "I love you forever, for always and no matter what!" Even when they get into trouble I make sure to tell them that I love them...they may be loosing privileges or are grounded but I make sure they know that I still love them and give lots of hugs and snuggles. Even as my children get older I think it is important to give them the verbal messages as well as the physical messages of love.
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