I'm not sure either what Pres. Nelson meant when he said that God's love is "not unconditional." But if he meant that it's not unconditional, he was dead wrong.
He was very good at being very certain, so even when wrong, he always managed to sound as if he weren't.
“One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is “unconditional.” While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as “great and wonderful love,” “perfect love,” “redeeming love,” and “everlasting love.” These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions about divine love, such as, God tolerates and excuses anything we do because His love is unconditional, or God makes no demands upon us because His love is unconditional, or all are saved in the heavenly kingdom of God because His love is unconditional. God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love.”
—Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” October 2016
Hey Aaron, great to hear from you. It’s been a long time. I’m definitely familiar with this quote, and I referenced President Nelson’s similar quote in a footnote. Appreciate you reading my stuff!
It seems like we probably view a few things in the gospel differently, and that’s great. I think having a diversity of perspectives makes us stronger as a church.
So good to hear from you. Roger, I like you. We miss you guys. I miss being in your Gospel Principles class. Your beard is peak alpha. I hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying Utah. Are you still at Amazon? Mary and I have 3 daughters now and live in Peoria, Arizona. We have no pets.
It’s hard to argue with “diversity of perspectives makes us stronger as a church” in the sense that we are enriched by each other’s unique experiences, backgrounds, and testimonies. Wholeheartedly agree with that. I love our international church.
There are a lot of different ways people can express the same principle. And we ought not be so stodgy that creativity collapses our language into church-speak and the right words dodge our tipping toes.
I admit that orthodoxy is helpful from a foundational and unity perspective. Being one (see Oaks, Weightier Matters) and having something to “be one about” is the magnet that draws us together, making diversity actually occur. If commandments, principles, and shared values are so amorphous or indiscernible from the world, then we have nothing binding us but a sacred tolerance of contradiction—perhaps a label, but not a gospel.
I am open to being wrong though—I often am. Or at least being exposed to an argument I may be overlooking or not allocating sufficient weight to.
We need guilt just as we need pain receptors—without either, we become numb to the damage done to our bodies AND spirits.
I’d rather see a generation of decent young people carrying a little misplaced shame than one that is allergic to guilt, where relativism and vice flourish simply because we fear hurting feelings.
Thank you so much. This was beautiful.
You nailed it! Great article!
Thanks so much!
Love this so much!
Thanks!
I'm not sure either what Pres. Nelson meant when he said that God's love is "not unconditional." But if he meant that it's not unconditional, he was dead wrong.
He was very good at being very certain, so even when wrong, he always managed to sound as if he weren't.
“One of the terms we hear often today is that God’s love is “unconditional.” While in one sense that is true, the descriptor unconditional appears nowhere in scripture. Rather, His love is described in scripture as “great and wonderful love,” “perfect love,” “redeeming love,” and “everlasting love.” These are better terms because the word unconditional can convey mistaken impressions about divine love, such as, God tolerates and excuses anything we do because His love is unconditional, or God makes no demands upon us because His love is unconditional, or all are saved in the heavenly kingdom of God because His love is unconditional. God’s love is infinite and it will endure forever, but what it means for each of us depends on how we respond to His love.”
—Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide in My Love,” October 2016
Hey Aaron, great to hear from you. It’s been a long time. I’m definitely familiar with this quote, and I referenced President Nelson’s similar quote in a footnote. Appreciate you reading my stuff!
It seems like we probably view a few things in the gospel differently, and that’s great. I think having a diversity of perspectives makes us stronger as a church.
So good to hear from you. Roger, I like you. We miss you guys. I miss being in your Gospel Principles class. Your beard is peak alpha. I hope you and your family are doing well and enjoying Utah. Are you still at Amazon? Mary and I have 3 daughters now and live in Peoria, Arizona. We have no pets.
It’s hard to argue with “diversity of perspectives makes us stronger as a church” in the sense that we are enriched by each other’s unique experiences, backgrounds, and testimonies. Wholeheartedly agree with that. I love our international church.
There are a lot of different ways people can express the same principle. And we ought not be so stodgy that creativity collapses our language into church-speak and the right words dodge our tipping toes.
I admit that orthodoxy is helpful from a foundational and unity perspective. Being one (see Oaks, Weightier Matters) and having something to “be one about” is the magnet that draws us together, making diversity actually occur. If commandments, principles, and shared values are so amorphous or indiscernible from the world, then we have nothing binding us but a sacred tolerance of contradiction—perhaps a label, but not a gospel.
I am open to being wrong though—I often am. Or at least being exposed to an argument I may be overlooking or not allocating sufficient weight to.
We need guilt just as we need pain receptors—without either, we become numb to the damage done to our bodies AND spirits.
I’d rather see a generation of decent young people carrying a little misplaced shame than one that is allergic to guilt, where relativism and vice flourish simply because we fear hurting feelings.