How Do I Love Thee? A Great Valentine's Message by Elder Holland

On this Valentine's Day, Elder Holland's BYU Devotional speech was posted on my Facebook feed.  As I clicked onto the link this morning, I was riveted by his message.

After his introductory remarks, he gets into the meat of his message at 5:11 where he says:

"I wish to speak to you this morning about Christlike love and what I think it can and should mean in your friendships, in your dating, in serious courtship, and, ultimately, in your marriage."

When he said that, I knew this is a message for everyone.

You can see and read the message by clicking here.

Here are a few more snippets from his talk:

"....I have taken for a title to my remarks Mrs. Browning’s wonderful line “How do I love thee?”... I am not going to “count the ways” this morning, but I am impressed with her choice of adverb—not when do I love thee nor where do I love thee nor why do I love thee nor why don’t you love me, but, rather, how. How do I demonstrate it, how do I reveal my true love for you? Mrs. Browning was correct. Real love is best shown in the “how,” and it is with the how that...Paul helps us the most...."

"...I like..Paul’s language that says one who truly loves is not “puffed up.” Puffed up! Isn’t that a great image? Haven’t you ever been with someone who was so conceited, so full of themselves that they seemed like the Pillsbury Doughboy? Fred Allen said once that he saw such a fellow walking down Lovers’ Lane holding his own hand. True love blooms when we care more about another person than we care about ourselves. That is Christ’s great atoning example for us, and it ought to be more evident in the kindness we show, the respect we give, and the selflessness and courtesy we employ in our personal relationships..."

I'll have to say that listening to this Valentine message with Scott this afternoon is100 x's better than receiving a dozen roses.  (and cheaper too!)