President Jeffrey R. Holland taught that while “the first great commandment of all eternity is to love God with all of our heart, might, mind, and strength, … the first great truth of all eternity is that God loves us with all of His heart, might, mind, and strength” (“Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders among You,” General Conference, April 2016, italics in original).
As Mormon laments the human tendency to think too highly of ourselves and turn away from God, he begins by reiterating that fundamental truth:
The Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him. …
He doth prosper his people, yea, in the increase of their fields, their flocks and their herds, and in gold, and in silver, and in all manner of precious things of every kind and art; sparing their lives, and delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; softening the hearts of their enemies that they should not declare wars against them; yea, and in fine, doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people.
Helaman 12:2
That last line—doing all things for our welfare and happiness—reminds me of Nephi’s assurance that God “doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world” (2 Nephi 26:24). That is a comforting thought, to know that God loves us and is actively working to help us achieve our full potential.
Elder Brian K. Taylor asked the question, “Why do some receive their yearned-for miracles quickly, while others patiently endure, waiting upon the Lord?” Then, he added these words of assurance, “We may not know the why, yet gratefully, we know He who “loveth [us]” and “[doeth] all things for [our] welfare and happiness” (“Swallowed Up in the Joy of Christ,” General Conference, April 2024; see also 1 Nephi 11:17).
Today, I will remember the first great truth of the gospel: that God loves all of His children and is working on behalf of our welfare and happiness.
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