List of Doctrines on "Worshiping God: Love of God & Reverence"
887. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul.
888. We are commanded to worship God, the Father, in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ.
889. We are to manifest reverence in places of worship.
890. We are to revere God and His holy name.
891. To love Christ is to obey Him.
892. When we love God, the Spirit of God dwells in our hearts.
887. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart and soul.
Jesus
Joseph Smith
Jesus
George Q. Cannon
Jesus
President Joseph F. Smith
Moses
Related Witnesses
Elder Harold B. Lee
Jesus,
recorded in Matthew
recorded in Matthew
"Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Jesus gives the two great commandments) Matthew 22:36-40
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
6. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. . . . (Revelation, Aug. 7, 1831) D&C 59:5-6
Jesus,
recorded in Mark
recorded in Mark
Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (A scribe asks Jesus,"Which is the first commandment of all?") Mark 12:29-31
George Q. Cannon
We must serve God with all our hearts, our love and affections reaching after Him, and the things of this world must be looked upon by us as secondary considerations. They are good enough in their place; right enough to be attended to; but subordinate always to the love of God. That should be the first love, greater than every other love. A man that loves a wife, a man that loves a child, a man that loves anything upon the earth more than God, is not a true Latter-day Saint. He may have a lovely wife, he may have a lovely child; he may have a rich farm, he may have stock, elegant residences, horses and carriages, together with an abundance of wealth to command all the comforts of the earth; but I tell you, as a servant of God, if he loves these things more than he loves God, he is not a true Latter-day Saint. (At Hooperville, Utah, June 27, 1881, JD22:288-89) TLDP:366
Jesus,
recorded in Luke
recorded in Luke
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26. He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27. And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. (Jesus answers the lawyer; he thereafter tells the story of the Good Samaritan—vs. 30-37) Luke 10:25-28
President Joseph F. Smith
We all need love in our souls, all the time: first, for God our heavenly Father, who is the giver of all good—love which encompasses our souls, our thoughts, our hearts, our minds, our strength, insomuch that we would willingly, if he required, give our lives as well as our time, talents, and substance in this world to the service of the living God who gives us all that we have. Then, if we can only have that love in our hearts, so much that we will love God more than business, more than money, more than earthly pleasures: that is, enjoy greater pleasure in the worship and love of God than we have in any other thing in the world, then we will be able to go to our neighbors or friends, when we think they have done something not just right, when we think they ought to be corrected, and we are the persons to correct them, we will go to them and help them to correct their errors and mistakes, and do it in the spirit of friendship and love. That is the duty of Latter-day Saints. (At a temple fast meeting, Feb. 1918, published by the First Presidency in Improvement Era, May 1918) MOFP5:91
Moses
And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, (Moses addresses Israel) Deuteronomy 10:12
Related Witnesses:
Elder Harold B. Lee
A brotherhood that seeks to establish the common good is as "sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal," except it be founded upon the divine principle of love of God and our neighbor as ourselves. One who says he loves God and is a follower of Jesus and yet hates his brother is false to himself and before the world, for no one can love God whom he has not seen and yet love not his brother whom he has seen. (See John 4:20.) The truest evidence that one loves God is that he keeps the commandments. (See John 2:3-4.) (Relief Society Magazine, Feb. 1943, pp. 84-87; Stand Ye in Holy Places, p. 225) TLDP:367
888. We are commanded to worship God, the Father, in the name of the Son, Jesus Christ.
President Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Smith
Bruce R. McConkie
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith
President Brigham Young
President Brigham Young
Paul
Related Witnesses
Bruce R. McConkie
President Joseph F. Smith
We . . . accept without any question the doctrines we have been taught by the Prophet Joseph Smith and by the Son of God himself, that we pray to God, the Eternal Father, in the name of his only begotten Son, to whom also our father Adam and his posterity have prayed from the beginning. CR1916Oct:6
Joseph Smith,
translating the Book of Moses
Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Revelation to Moses ; Adam and Eve receive commandments after being driven out of the Garden of Eden) Moses 5:8
Bruce R. McConkie
Christ worked out his own salvation by worshipping the Father. . . .
. . . . All men must worship the Father in the same way Christ did in order to gain salvation.
Thus spake the Lord: . . .
I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. ("Our Relationship with the Lord," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, 1981-82, p. 99) TLDP:747
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fulness. (The Lord speaks by revelation at Kirtland, Ohio, May 6, 1833) D&C 93:19
Joseph Smith
And again, I say unto you, all things must be done in the name of Christ, whatsoever you do in the Spirit;
32. And ye must give thanks unto God in the Spirit for whatsoever blessing ye are blessed with. (Revelation relative to governing and conducting meetings, March 8, 1831) D&C 46:31-32
President Brigham Young,
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
quoted by John A. Widtsoe
Let every man and every woman call upon the name of the Lord, and that, too, from a pure heart, while they are at work as well as in their closet; while they are in public as well as while they are in private, asking the Father in the name of Jesus, to bless them, and to preserve and guide, and to teach them, in the way of life and salvation and to enable them so to live that they will obtain this eternal salvation that we are after. (In Bowery, June 9, 1872, JD15:63) DBY:43
President Brigham Young
When people assemble to worship they should leave their worldly cares where they belong, then their minds are in a proper condition to worship the Lord, to call upon him in the name of Jesus, and to get his Holy Spirit, that they may hear and understand things as they are in eternity, and know how to comprehend the providences of our God. This is the time for their minds to be open, to behold the invisible things of God, that he reveals by his Spirit. (At Provo, Utah, July 13, 1855, JD3:53) DBY:167
Paul
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Paul writes from prison to the Church in Colossae, Asia Minor, about A.D. 60) Colossians 3:17
Related Witnesses:
Bruce R. McConkie
We do not worship the Son, and we do not worship the Holy Ghost. I know perfectly well what the scriptures say about worshiping Christ and Jehovah, but they are speaking in an entirely different sense—the sense of standing in awe and being reverentially grateful to him who has redeemed us. Worship in the true and saving sense is reserved for God the first, the Creator.
Our revelations say that the Father "is infinite and eternal," that he created "man, male and female."
And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. [D&C 20:17-19]
Jesus said:
True worshippers shall [note that this is mandatory] worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
For unto such hath God promised his Spirit. And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth. [JST John 4:25-26]
There is no other way, no other approved system of worship. ("Our Relationship with the Lord," Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, 1981-82, p. 98) TLDP:746-47
889. We are to manifest reverence in places of worship.
Gordon B. Hinckley
Elder David O. McKay
Recorded in Leviticus
Howard W. Hunter
Howard W. Hunter
Joseph Smith
President Spencer W. Kimball
Recorded in Exodus
Gordon B. Hinckley
I invite you brethren of the priesthood, wherever you may be, and particularly you members of bishoprics, to begin an earnest effort to cultivate a more beautiful spirit of worship in our sacrament meetings and an attitude of increased reverence generally in our church buildings. . . .
Socializing . . . should take place in the foyer, and when we enter the chapel we should understand that we are in sacred precincts. CR1987Apr:55
Elder David O. McKay
I believe there is one great need in the Church which you presidencies of stakes, bishoprics of wards, presidencies of quorums, and officers in auxiliaries, can supply. I have in mind the need of more reverence in our houses of worship, better order and discipline in our classrooms, in quorum meetings and in auxiliary groups.
The more we try to cultivate the attributes of the Savior, the stronger we become in character and in spirituality, and those are the two great purposes of life, so to live that we may be susceptible to the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and to his guidance. CR1950Oct:162-63
Recorded in Leviticus
Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. (The Lord reveals his laws for ancient Israel to Moses ) Leviticus 19:30
Howard W. Hunter
Occasionally we visit too loudly, enter and leave meetings too disrespectfully in what should be an hour of prayer and purifying worship. Reverence is the atmosphere of heaven. CR1977Oct:81
Howard W. Hunter
Even the temple where Jesus taught and worshipped in Jerusalem was built in such a way as to establish respect for and devotion to the Father. . . . God must be approached carefully, respectfully, and with great preparation. . . .
Never did Jesus show a greater tempest of emotion than in the cleansing of the temple. . . . The reason for the tempest [Christ's fury against the money exchangers in the temple] lies in just three words: "My Father's house." It was not an ordinary house; it was the house of God. It was erected for God's worship. It was a home for the reverent heart. It was intended to be a place of solace for men's woes and troubles, the very gate of heaven. CR1977Oct:80
Joseph Smith
And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord's house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness. . . .
16. And that this house may be a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of glory and of God, even thy house;
17. That all the incomings of thy people, into this house, may be in the name of the Lord;
18. That all their outgoings from this house may be in the name of the Lord;
19. And that all their salutations may be in the name of the Lord, with holy hands, uplifted to the Most High;
20. And that no unclean thing shall be permitted to come into thy house to pollute it;
21. And when thy people transgress, any of them, they may speedily repent and return unto thee, and find favor in thy sight, and be restored to the blessings which thou hast ordained to be poured out upon those who shall reverence thee in thy house. (Prayer given to Joseph Smith by revelation, offered at the dedication of the Kirtland Temple on March 27, 1836) D&C 109:13,16-21
President Spencer W. Kimball
In a very real sense, what is said of the sacred temples of the Church is applicable to every "house of the Lord," whether it be a meetinghouse or any place where the Saints worship, or in fact, any Latter-day Saint home. ("We Should Be a Reverent People," pamphlet) MPSG1990:48
Recorded in Exodus
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.
2. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
4. And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses . And he said, Here am I.
5. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. (The Lord appears to Moses at the burning bush) Exodus 3:1-5
890. We are to revere God and His holy name.
Joseph Smith
President David O. McKay
Recorded in Exodus
Howard W. Hunter
Isaiah
Joseph Smith
Why the first is called the Melchizedek Priesthood is because Melchizedek was such a great high priest.
3. Before his day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.
4. But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood. (Revelation on priesthood, received as the Twelve met in council, March 28, 1835) D&C 107:2-4
President David O. McKay
Inseparable from the acceptance of the existence of God is an attitude of reverence. The greatest manifestation of spirituality is reverence; indeed, reverence is spirituality. Reverence is profound respect mingled with love. It is a "complex emotion made up of mingled feelings of the soul." Carlyle says it is "the highest of human feelings." If reverence is the highest, then irreverence is the lowest state in which a man can live in the world. Be that as it may, it is nevertheless true that an irreverent man has a crudeness about him that is repellant. He is cynical, often sneering, and always iconoclastic.
Reverence embraces regard, deference, honor, and esteem. Without some degree of it, therefore, there would be no courtesy, no gentility, no consideration of others' feelings or of others' rights. Reverence is the fundamental virtue in religion. It is one of the signs of strength; irreverence, one of the surest indications of weakness. "No man will rise high," says one man, "who jeers at sacred things. The fine loyalties of life must be reverenced or they will be foresworn in the day of trial." . . .
If there were more reverence in human hearts, there would be less room for sin and sorrow, and there would be increased capacity for joy and gladness. To make more cherished, more adaptable, more attractive this gem among brilliant virtues is a project worthy of the most united and prayerful efforts of every parent, every officer, and every member of the Church. CR1967Apr:86-87
Recorded in Exodus
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (The Lord reveals the third of the Ten Commandments to Moses ) Exodus 20:7
Howard W. Hunter
The reverence of the Savior for our Father and the understanding of his love made the whole world hopeful and holy. . . .
In the process of moral decline, reverence is one of the first virtues to disappear, and there should be serious concern about that loss in our times. . . .
How careful Jesus was for even the name of his Father. . . . CR1977Oct:80
Isaiah
And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (Isaiah prophesies, 740-659 B.C.) Isaiah 12:4-5
891. To love Christ is to obey Him.
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
Jesus
Mark E. Petersen
Joseph Smith
John
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
If we love him [the Lord] we will keep his commandments.
Should there be any who offend or fail to keep the commandments of the Lord, then it is evidence that they do not love him. We must obey them. We show by our works that we love the Lord our God with all our hearts, with all our might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ we serve him and love our neighbor as ourself. This is the word of the Lord as it has been revealed in these modern times for the guidance of Israel. ("Keep the Commandments," IE1970Aug:2) DGSM:47
Jesus,
quoted by John
quoted by John
If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . .
21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . .
23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Jesus instructs the Twelve in anticipation of his crucifixion) John 14:15,21,23
Mark E. Petersen
Half obedience will be rejected as readily as full violation, and maybe quicker, for half rejection and half acceptance is but a sham, an admission of lack of character, a lack of love for Him. It is actually an effort to live on both sides of the line. CR1982Apr:21
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
If thou lovest me thou shalt serve me and keep all my commandments. (Revelation "embracing the law of the Church," Feb. 9, 1831) D&C 42:29
John
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (Letter to the churches in Asia) 1 John 5:3
892. When we love God, the Spirit of God dwells in our hearts.
Paul
John
Jesus
Related Witnesses
David B. Haight
John
Jesus
Paul
Joseph Smith
HYMNS Written by Prophets Applicable to this Topic
Bruce R. McConkie
Orson F. Whitney
Parley P. Pratt
Paul
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18. May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19. And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Paul writes to the Saints at Ephesus in Asia Minor, about A.D. 62) Ephesians 3:17-19
John
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (John writes to the churches in Asia) 1 John 4:16
Jesus,
quoted by John
quoted by John
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (Jesus instructs the Twelve in anticipation of his crucifixion) John 14:23
Related Witnesses:
David B. Haight
Love of God is the means of unlocking divine powers which help us to live worthily and to overcome the world. CR1982Oct:14
John
We love him, because he first loved us. (John writes to the churches in Asia) 1 John 4:19
Jesus,
recorded in Matthew
recorded in Matthew
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37. Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38. This is the first and great commandment.
39. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Jesus gives the two great commandments) Matthew 22:36-40
Paul
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. (Paul writes to the Church at Corinth, Greece, about A.D. 55) 1 Corinthians 2:9
Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord
receiving the Word of the Lord
For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.
8. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.
9. And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.
10. For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man. (Vision to Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, Feb. 16, 1832) D&C 76:5-10
HYMNS Written by Prophets Applicable to this Topic
Bruce R. McConkie
I Believe in Christ
HYMNS:134
I believe in Christ; he is my King
With all my heart to him I'll sing;
I'll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God's Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.
I believe in Christ; oh, blessed name
As Mary's Son he came to reign
'Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: "Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be."
I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I'll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan's grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.
I believe in Christ; he stands supreme
From him I'll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: "Ye shall obtain."
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I'll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.
Orson F. Whitney
Savior, Redeemer of My Soul
HYMNS:112
Savior, Redeemer of my soul,
Whose mighty hand hath made me whole,
Whose wondrous pow'r hath raised me up
And filled with sweet my bitter cup
What tongue my gratitude can tell,
O gracious God of Israel.
Never can I repay thee, Lord,
But I can love thee.
Thy pure word, Hath it not been my one delight,
My joy by day, my dream by night?
Then let my lips proclaim it still,
And all my life reflect thy will.
O'errule mine acts to serve thine ends.
Change frowning foes to smiling friends.
Chasten my soul till I shall be
In perfect harmony with thee.
Make me more worthy of thy love,
And fit me for the life above.
Parley P. Pratt
As the Dew from Heaven Distilling HYMNS:149
As the dew from heav'n distilling
Gently on the grass descends
And revives it, thus fulfilling
What thy providence intends.
Let thy doctrine, Lord, so gracious,
Thus descending from above,
Blest by thee, prove efficacious
To fulfill thy work of love.
Lord, behold this congregation;
Precious promises fulfill.
From thy holy habitation
Let the dews of life distill.
Let our cry come up before thee.
Thy sweet Spirit shed around,
So the people shall adore thee
And confess the joyful sound.
