God loves us in spite of our inadequacies, in spite of our mistakes, and in spite of the things we have done or that we shouldn’t have done and did. Whatever the circumstance—he loves us. God loves us and we are asked to love Him with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. The reason He can ask that is because that's the way He loves us. And turnabout is fair play.
And when you're in doubt, and when you're in need, and including when you did not have the answers to prayers that you thought you'd have, or ever wanted to have or plead to have or wept to have—you remember, above all else, that God loves you the way He has asked us to love Him. Remember that the first great commandment is to love God. That's the first great commandment that we're to love God with all our heart, might, mind and strength. The first great truth of the universe is that He already loves us that way.
I felt inspired to share this message with young adult members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Germany this weekend. I pray this gospel truth will impact you as well.
Jeffrey R. Holland
November 5, 2022
