God Knows and Loves You
By Elder Alan T. Phillips of the Seventy
Lesson outline for the Hillview Elders Quorum, December 10, 2023. Based on the talk God Knows and Loves You by Elder Alan T. Phillips of the Seventy.
“God knows and loves you. God’s plan of happiness is all about you. You are His precious child and of great worth.”
We’re going to do an informal survey. If you don’t wish to participate, that’s ok, you don’t have to raise your hand. You’re welcome to quietly observe. I will display a statement and multiple choice responses.
I believe God knows and loves me personally.
Strongly agree most of the time
Somewhat agree some of the time
Struggle to understand and feel this regularly
Something else
I suspect this truth may be easier for some of us to accept than others. It may be something some of us struggle to understand or believe. I submit there may be nothing more important than accepting this fact first and foremost, above anything else. What is the point of everything else if you do not feel His love or understand your great worth?
Identity
“Life is challenging. Many people feel overwhelmed, alone, isolated, or exhausted. When things are difficult, we may feel that we have wandered or fallen behind. Knowing that we are all children of God and members of His eternal family will restore a sense of belonging and purpose.”
“President M. Russell Ballard shared: ‘There is one important identity we all share now and forever. … That is that you are and have always been a son or daughter of God. … Understanding this truth—really understanding it and embracing it—is life-changing.’”
How has understanding that we are sons of god helped you?
“Do not misunderstand or devalue how important you are to your Father in Heaven. You are not an accidental by-product of nature, a cosmic orphan, or the result of matter plus time plus chance. Where there is design, there is a designer.”
“Your life has meaning and purpose. The ongoing Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings light and understanding regarding your divine identity. You are a beloved child of Heavenly Father. You are the subject matter of all those parables and teachings. God loves you so much that He sent His Son to heal, rescue, and redeem you.”
Jesus Christ
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
As we celebrate the Christmas season, we observe this ultimate act of love. Christ offered himself as a sacrifice for us.
“To anyone burdened, lost, confused: You do not have to do this alone. Through the Atonement of Christ and His ordinances, you can be yoked or bound to Him. He will lovingly provide the strength and healing you need to face the journey ahead. He is the refuge from our storms still.”
What do you do to honor the Savior’s sacrifice during Christmas?
What are other Holy acts of love have you been able to witness?
When my father was on home hospice care for a brain tumor, he would get up at night and roam the house. Ultimately he would fall down in the bathroom or the kitchen. My mom was run ragged caring for him during the day and watching over him at night. I would take the night watch when I was home on the weekends so she could sleep. When the Elder’s Quorum of my parents ward found out, there was an Elder at our house every night for 2-3 weeks. They eagerly volunteered to sleep on a cot in the next room and provide assistance to my dad. I could see their love and admiration for him through this incredible act of service.
Love one another
“Jesus Christ recognized the divine nature and eternal worth of each person. He explained how the two great commandments to love God and love our neighbor are the foundation of all of God’s commandments. One of our divine responsibilities is to care for those in need. This is why as disciples of Jesus Christ we ‘bear one another’s burdens, … mourn with those that mourn … , and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.’”
“Religion is not only about our relationship with God; it is also about our relationship with each other. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained that the English word religion comes from the Latin religare, meaning ‘to tie’ or, more literally, ‘to re-tie.’ Thus, ‘true religion [is] the tie that binds us to God and to each other.’”
“How we treat one another truly matters. President Russell M. Nelson teaches, ‘The Savior’s message is clear: His true disciples build, lift, encourage, persuade, and inspire.’ This is even more important when our fellow travelers feel lost, alone, forgotten, or removed.”
How do we express our love to one another?
I had a good friend from college named Aaron. I met him at USU in Logan but he grew up right here in this stake. His parents still live in the Winderbrook ward. He went to Snow College and befriended a bunch of my friends from High School. Then we all wound up in Logan.
Aaron was born with cerebral palsy which presented some significant physical challenges. I know he would get angry and extremely frustrated at times but he always was quick with a smile and a joke. He seemed to always have a grin on his face.
The last time I spoke to Aaron was around Christmas time. He had questions about UX design for me and wanted to know if he should take online classes. I answered some of his question but I didn’t take him very seriously because he was always trying new things and nothing seemed to stick for too long. Aaron took his life on August 25th, 2019 after a particularly difficult time that I didn’t know about until it was too late. I should’ve known. I should’ve been a better friend.
Four years ago my neighbor took his life the week before Christmas and left behind a wife and 4 young children.
So, what do you tell someone that is struggling and hopeless?
What do you tell someone that is struggling to understand and feel God’s love?
“We do not have to look far to find people who are struggling. We can start by helping someone in our own family, congregation, or local community. We can also seek to relieve the suffering of the 700 million people living in extreme poverty or the 100 million people who are forcibly displaced due to persecution, conflict, and identity-based violence. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of caring for those in need—the hungry, the stranger, the sick, the poor, the imprisoned. His work is our work.”
“Elder Gerrit W. Gong teaches that ‘our journey to God is often found together.’ As such, our wards should be a refuge for all of God’s children. Are we passively attending church or actively creating communities whose purpose is to worship, remember Christ, and minister to one another? We can heed President Nelson’s counsel to judge less, love more, and extend the pure love of Jesus Christ through our words and actions.”
How are we ministering to one another to create communities of worship? Here’s another poll to prompt self reflection. This one is rhetorical.
How do you feel about your ability to express your love to friends and family?
I do pretty well
I do fairly well
I could do better
I need a lot of work
Heavenly Father
“Jesus Christ wants you to know and have a relationship with your Father in Heaven. He taught, ‘What man among you, having a son, and he shall be standing out, and shall say, Father, open thy house that I may come in and sup with thee, will not say, Come in, my son; for mine is thine, and thine is mine?’ Can you think of a more personal, loving image of God the Eternal Father?”
“You are His child. If you are feeling lost, if you have questions or lack wisdom, if you are struggling with your circumstances or wrestling with spiritual dissonance, turn to Him. Pray to Him for comfort, love, answers, and direction. Whatever the need and wherever you are, pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. For some, you may want to follow President Nelson’s invitation and ask ‘if He is really there—if He knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.’”