The Cry of The Trumpet

Jesus raised the standard of love. The Mosaic law taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself” , a command Jesus affirmed as the second great commandment. But on the night before His crucifixion, He gave His disciples something deeper, something distinctly shaped by His own life: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” ( John 13:34–35 ) Elder Jeffrey R. Holland notes that Jesus chose this commandment as His final, summarizing lesson—“one grand, eternal principle”—to sustain His disciples once He was no longer physically with them. He explains that the word new (Greek kainēn ) means “fresh,” a renewed and intensified version of an ancient law. What was new was the measure: “As I have loved you.” What Did Jesus Mean by “As I Have Loved You”? Service and humility At the Last Supper, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet—an act normally reserved for the lowest servant. ...

When you think of the one you love,   what fills your mind? Is it longing for their presence,   or the comfort they bring? Is it admiration,   or gratitude for what they give? Is it the joy of sharing your life—   your discoveries, your small triumphs? Or is it the quiet question   of how you might lighten their load,  or make their day gentler? Which thoughts honor them,   and which simply circle back to you?   Which are born of active love,   and which reflect your truest intention toward them?   Which would they hope to find in your heart?

Today, I was struck by the phrase “ with sharpness ” in Doctrine and Covenants 121:43 . In our culture of heightened sensitivity, we often hesitate to speak plainly, fearing we might offend or unsettle. But in our effort to be gentle, we sometimes cross a line—from compassion into compromise. We begin to soften truth not out of love, but out of fear. And in doing so, we risk being untrue to ourselves, to God, and to those we’re called to love with honesty. The Lord has warned against this very impulse: “ you feared man more than God ” ( D&C 3:7 ). When we let the fear of disapproval outweigh our duty to truth, we trade divine trust for temporary peace. Correction, when needed, is rarely comfortable. It can sting. It can wound pride. And if the heart receiving it is not humble, it may even provoke anger. But discomfort is not the same as harm. In fact, when someone is wandering, a vague or diluted warning may do more damage than a clear, courageous word. To s...