Love and Law

Great talk by Elder Oaks in this past General Conference. He spoke on the concept--and importance-- of love and law, and how they actually go hand-in-hand (as opposed to what many think-- that love should overpower law).

A few of my favorite quotes:

There is no greater evidence of the infinite power and perfection of God’s love than is declared by the Apostle John: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16)....Think how it must have grieved our Heavenly Father to send His Son to endure incomprehensible suffering for our sins. That is the greatest evidence of His love for each of us!

God’s love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is. For this reason, God’s anger and His wrath are not a contradiction of His love but an evidence of His love.

The effect of God’s commandments and laws is not changed to accommodate popular behavior or desires. If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law.

God loves us so much that He gave us laws and the ability to choose to obey them or not. If we choose wisely, we can become as He is.