AboutDavid Gross Expertise If you are truly seeking answers or information I will do my best to answer questions related to any aspect of the LDS Church.
Experience I have been a member of the church for 27+ years after being raised as a not very active Reform Jew.
Question I've been asking, what is the concept of love to which Jesus spoke about? He talked about love of God, love your enemy, love your neighbor, love yourself. Are all these the same type of love? How can one love God, if one can truly never know God? Even love of self can be very hard. Can you help? Thanks.
Answer I am not sure if my answer will be of any help but here are some thoughts that I have had pondering your questions. You may ask more questions if you want to.
To better answer your question someone has to define what love is.
I would say that the love you mentioned are not all the same.
Love has different components or meanings. One, is what I would call romantic love. Another, is unselfish caring for a person or people in general. The two can overlap in their application.
Love of God has to do with desiring to do His will and being obedient to His commandments.
Loving your enemy and neighbor is the unselfish caring for another person.
I feel a "magnetic" attraction to my wife that I cannot explain through logic or religious doctrine. We met when we were 16 and I felt something but did not know what it was. We married three years later and now, after 28 years of marriage, I still feel the same attraction.
Most people love their children when they are born even though the parent does not know the baby.
I really don't know what love of self is. If you are referring to self esteem or being content with the person that you are then I would say that love of self comes from being pleased with your actions and accomplishments.
I hope that some of what I have written helps you.
