What Elder Stevenson said at the Utah Valley Institute devotional

OREM, Utah — When Jesus Christ was asked, “Master, which is the great commandment in the law?” He answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said the Savior didn’t end there. He gave the second commandment: “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:36-40).

Elder Stevenson expounded upon these two commandments — on which “hang all the law and the prophets” — to thousands of students and young adults at the Utah Valley Institute devotional on Friday, Feb. 3.

“When Jesus said the first and the second commandments, He didn’t say one is more important than the other. He said, ‘and the second is like unto it,’” Elder Stevenson explained.

Heavenly Father’s children increase their love for Him and demonstrate that love by aligning their thoughts and actions with His word.

The Savior, through the example of the good Samaritan, taught that “everyone is our neighbor.” Showing love to them can be done by reaching out in service to them.

Elder Stevenson asked the students: “How do we show our love to the Lord? … When Christ was asked the question. He answered, “If ye love me, keep my commandments’” (John 14:15).