Today I spoke in church, and I thought I might as well publish my talk. I know it’s long, so I understand if you only read the first paragraph. But I thought a lot about it, and it was very helpful for me to write.
Brothers and Sisters, Aloha. My name is Amber Blair, I’m from Provo, and I’m majoring in Elementary Education and Piano Performance. Now that we have the fabulous True to the Faith book, the bishopric has given us free reign to choose whatever topic we want. So I was thinking about what I wanted to talk about, and I remembered that tomorrow is Valentines Day, so I thought it would be fitting to talk about love. I know that topic is both super broad, and way way overused, especially in a college setting where everyone tries to talk to us about the important of dating and marriage and that is the most important thing in our lives right now. But I don’t want to talk about romantic love. For one thing, I’m totally unqualified to even touch on it—I’m a freshmen, and I’m planning on a mission, so nothing there.
The love I want to talk about pertains to what I said when I first stood up here. I’m sure you can all remember what I said, because we hear the phrase I used probably multiple times a day, especially on Sundays. Brothers and Sisters, Aloha. I’ve thought a lot about what that means, because I know that it’s a lot more than a greeting/ way to start a talk. I did some research on it, and these are my findings.
It is used as a greeting, farewell, and expression of love. But even more than that, it is a way of life. I learned that it can be called the Spirit of Aloha, or the way of Aloha. A Hawaiian breakdown is
alo, 1. sharing 2. in the present
oha, joyous affection, joy
ha, life energy, life, breath
This is translated literally as The joyful sharing of life energy in the present” or “Joyfully sharing life”.
An English translation of one of the early island teachings is Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain – it is my pain. When there is joy – it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, and the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. Isn’t that fabulous?
An English translation of one of Christ’s teachings, given to us by John, is an abridgment of that Aloha Doctrine. It is A New commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another. That’s Aloha: Christ-like love. He goes one to say that By this shall men know ye are my disciples, if you have love one to another. Every time we use that greeting, we mean that we are disciples of Christ and want to do as He did and love as He loved.
So how can we live the way of Aloha, or live as a disciple of Christ? True to the Faith says that we manifest our love for Heavenly Father by keeping his commandments and serving His children. This past summer, I had the best experience in my life so far. I had a big surgery in June, and I was shown more love than I could ever imagine would be possible. Countless prayers were offered in my behalf, I was given powerful priesthood blessings, I got dozens of cards and flowers, and multiple expressions of love in many other ways.
For one thing, my mom stayed with me my whole hospital stay, which so comforting and helpful. I also had many other visitors in the hospital after I was more conscious and able to see people. During my entire recovery, both in the hospital and at home, my friend Lucy visited me every single day. After I got home, I couldn’t get out of bed, or even really talk or open my eyes for a while. But my sisters, my mom, my dad, and my uncle each read an entire book to me! That meant so much. So many people told me they were praying and fasting, and I felt their love and the love of the Savior more than I ever had in my whole life.
Because of this experience, I now know ways to show love to others. I learned the importance of consistency, and the significance of even the smallest acts of service and love and kindness. Jesus went about doing good and showing love everywhere He went. Many people only met Him once, and that one time made the biggest difference. The love He showed to Jarius’s daughter, to Lazarus, to the 10 lepers, and to literally everyone else He came in contact with, totally changed their lives. And I know as we take the time to follow His example as a disciple and show love to others, we can also change lives.
The thing about Christ’s love, is that it is so simple. It was so special for Mary when He called her by name after He was resurrected. And Imagine how much it meant to the Nephites that He would take the extra time to stay and bless them and let them touch Him. He didn’t have to. But He said, and I think this is one of the most beautiful passages of all scripture, Behold, my bowels are filled with compassion towards you. Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have you any that are lame, or blind, or halt, or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring the hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy. WOW. That is love in its purest form, and as simple and kind as it was, it was vastly life-changing and significant for everyone that was there.
We can also make that difference by small and simple acts of kindness. We can learn from my sweet roommate Kyoko , who sometimes straightens up and vacuums our room—even when it’s not White Glove. ☺ Other things like giving sincere compliments, thanking our teachers, smiling, calling our families, or just taking time to talk to a friend who needs someone, are all small things that can make a big difference. I memorized a poem a long time ago that has helped me remember the importance of this. It goes, I have oft wept at night for the shortness of sight that to somebody’s need made me blind. But I never have yet felt a twinge of regret for being a little too kind.
I know that by living as a disciple of Christ and showing love, we can make a big difference in the lives of everyone we interact with. President Eyering said, “Love is the motivating principle by which the Lord leads us along the way towards becoming like Him, our perfect example. Our way of life, hour by hour, must be filled with the love of God and love for others.”
So I hope from now on, whenever we say Aloha, we can recommit to living a life of love and service. I know that our Savior lives, and that He lived a perfect life of that same love and service.
