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Mormon Church Officially Condemns God's Unconditional Love
as Anti-Christ Deception
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"Jesus 'so loved
the world that he gave his own life, that as many as would
believe might become the sons of God.' Indeed, the Father
and the Son are one-in purpose and love."
"Divine love is also conditional. While divine love
can be called perfect, infinite, enduring, and universal,
it cannot correctly be characterized as unconditional.
The word does not appear in the scriptures. On the other hand,
many verses affirm that the higher levels of love the Father
and the Son feel for each of us-and certain divine blessings
stemming from that love-are conditional."
"Understanding that divine love and blessings are not truly
'unconditional' can defend us against common fallacies such
as these: 'Since God's love is unconditional, He will love
me regardless …'; or 'Since 'God is love,' He will love me
unconditionally, regardless …' These arguments are used
by anti-Christs to woo people with deception."
"The full flower of divine love and our greatest blessings
from that love are conditional-predicated upon our obedience
to eternal law. I pray that we may qualify for those blessings
and rejoice forever."
- Apostle Russell M. Nelson, "Divine Love," Ensign, Feb.
2003, page 20
So is the teaching of divine unconditional love really
an "anti-Christ deception?"
"God is our father; he loves us; his love is infinite and
unconditional. His sorrow is great when we disobey his
commandments and break his laws. He cannot condone our transgressions,
but he loves us and wants us to return to him. I know of no
greater inducement to repentance and reconciliation with our
Father in Heaven than an awareness of his unconditional love
for us personally and individually."
- Elder Ronald E. Poelman, "God's Love for Us Transcends
Our Transgressions," Ensign, May 1982, page 27
"The greatest example of love available to all of us is, of
course, found in the scripture from John: 'For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.' (John 3:16.)
By the greatest of all acts of love and by this supreme sacrifice,
God set the pattern. He demonstrated to us that His love
was unconditional and sufficient to encircle every person."
-Apostle Marvin J. Ashton, We Serve That Which We Love,
Ensign, May 1981, Page 22
"God’s mercy comes from his unlimited and unconditional
love for us. Likewise, we should show mercy to others
because of our unlimited and unconditional love for them.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, loves us - not because we deserve
it, but because we are his brothers and sisters and he has
sacrificed for us. Our parents love us - not because we
deserve it, but because they have sacrificed for us.
-Elder Robert E. Wells Of the First Quorum of the Seventy,
The Beatitudes: Pattern for Coming unto Christ, Ensign, Dec.
1987, Page 8
"Christ’s perfect love repels fear. John reminds us that
there is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear.
The only way that we will not be suffering from the hardness
of our hearts, as Christ explains, is to build within ourselves
that power of love, literally asking our Heavenly Father for
this gift of love and becoming a Saint through the atonement
of Christ the Lord and becoming as a child in humility, that
we can be filled with this unconditional love, and
in this love, being in the Spirit and with this Spirit, being
directed in all the challenges of our lives."
-Elder F. Enzio Busche, Love Is the Power That Will Cure
the Family, Ensign, May 1982, Page 69
"Jesus invited little children to come unto Him and each of
us to become as one of them. He invited men to love one another
as He has loved us, and then He would call them His disciples.
He extended His love to His Apostles on condition that they
understood what unconditional love for their fellowman
was."
-Elder John Sonnenberg, The Invitation of the Master, Ensign,
May 1985, Page 24
"God is our father; he loves us; his love is infinite and
unconditional."
- Elder Ronald E. Poelman, “God’s Love for Us Transcends
Our Transgressions,” Ensign, May 1982, page 27
"I testify that He (Jesus Christ) assisted in the creation
and management not only of this planet, but other worlds.
His grasp is galactic, yet he noticed the widow casting in
her mite. I am stunned at his perfect, unconditional love
of all. Indeed, 'I stand all amazed at the love Jesus
offers me.'"
- Neal A. Maxwell, "Jesus of Nazareth, Savior and King,"
Ensign, May 1976, page 26
"At the conclusion of these twenty-eight years, I testify
of our Heavenly Father's love for us. The unconditional
love the Father and the Son have for us is so real. The
Savior continually invites us to "come unto him and partake
of his goodness." I bear witness that He lives, that He loves
each one of His children-and that means every human being-every
man, every woman, every girl, every boy, in the name of Jesus
Christ, amen."
- Elder Victor L. Brown, "A Lifetime of Learning," Ensign,
Nov. 1989, page 76
"Remind your family that Jesus' love is unconditional.
That means he loves us no matter what we do and say. Explain
to your family that if they are to truly love one another
as Jesus commanded them, they need to love each other in this
same way. Have family members define what is meant by unconditional
love. They may wish to give examples, such as "I will go on
loving you even if you do things I don't like," or "I will
love you whether you love me or not." Discuss the examples
given, and help them to refine and clarify their definition
of unconditional love."
"Have a scripture search for examples of unconditional
love. As you find scriptural examples, draw parallels for
your own family so that family members can see how divine
unconditional love can be applied in their own lives.
Emphasize that this doctrine is not vain and idealistic, that
we can learn to love our enemies and have compassion and charity
for all if we will exercise our faith in Jesus Christ and
apply his teachings.
- Family Home Evening Resource Book, Family Home Evening
Lessons, 17: Love at Home, page 74
"Just as Brother and Sister Barnes felt the Savior’s unconditional
love as they studied the gospel and found hope in Christ;
and just as the people of King Benjamin found hope in him,
so can we find respect for ourselves and others, rid ourselves
of self-defeating habits, be nonjudgmental, be optimistic
and of good cheer, be assured of his love for us, and find
hope in him.
-Relief Society General President Barbara W. Winder, Hope
in Christ, Ensign, Nov. 1986, Page 90
"Charity develops in us as we see ourselves moving in our
lives from a 'what’s in it for me' kind of love to the love
of family and friends and, blessedly, beyond that to an awareness
of our Lord’s unconditional love for us that tells
us of our divine kinship with one another and with him. Such
love, or charity, does not spring whole and steady in most
lives, but it can come as we learn and grow and reach for
ways to know God’s love. The scriptures are a great help to
us in understanding this. There we read that love precedes
knowledge of God. We test our efforts by following Christ’s
way of unconditional love and understanding. We believe
our acts of kindness and demonstrated love have meaning to
the degree that they draw the Holy Spirit into our lives."
-General Primary President Aileen H. Clyde, Charity and
Learning, Ensign, Nov. 1994, Page 94
"I have listed five areas which are critical in a young woman's
life: the first and most important is for you, a young woman,
to work to gain a sure knowledge of Christ's unconditional
love and concern for you."
- Sister Arlene B. Darger, "Directing Your Lives," New
Era, July 1980, page 12
"Jesus' unconditional love for us motivated His atoning
sacrifice for our sins. Without His unconditional love, we
would be unable to return to our Heavenly Father. How
He lived His life is the example we should follow. His way
should be our way.
- Elder Robert J. Whetten, "True Followers," Ensign, May
1999, page 30
"The tenderness of this experience was that Robbie went from
challenging the idea that Jesus could love everyone to a
sweet trust of Christ's unconditional love. Each of us can
feel our Savior's unconditional love through the righteous
example of others."
- Sister Ruth B. Wright, "Be Thou an Example," Ensign,
Nov. 1991, page 90
"I hope that each person who attends will be welcomed at the
door and will sense a great feeling of love and caring that
the bishop has. That is symbolic of the Lord's great, unconditional
love for each of us."
- Elder W. Mack Lawrence, "Sunday Worship Service," Ensign,
May 1991, page 30
"Charity develops in us as we see ourselves moving in our
lives from a "what's in it for me" kind of love to the love
of family and friends and, blessedly, beyond that to an
awareness of our Lord's unconditional love for us that
tells us of our divine kinship with one another and with him.
Such love, or charity, does not spring whole and steady in
most lives, but it can come as we learn and grow and reach
for ways to know God's love. ...We test our efforts by following
Christ's way of unconditional love and understanding."
- Sister Aileen H. Clyde, "Charity and Learning," Ensign,
Nov. 1994, 94
"Just as Brother and Sister Barnes felt the Savior's unconditional
love as they studied the gospel and found hope in Christ;
and just as the people of King Benjamin found hope in him,
so can we find respect for ourselves and others, rid ourselves
of self-defeating habits, be nonjudgmental, be optimistic
and of good cheer, be assured of his unconditional love
for us, and find hope in him."
- Sister Barbara W. Winder, "Hope in Christ," Ensign, Nov.
1986, page 90
Is unconditional love a bad thing like the church is now
teaching?
"To love completely with a wholeness even as Christ loved,
to manifest a mature and unconditional love in all
human relations, would minimize many fears."
-First Presidency Message: With an Eye Single to His Glory,
Ensign, Dec. 1971
"A person's ability to love unconditionally can have powerful
effects. Seeing another person in an eternal perspective,
knowing that he is of infinite worth, helps us to look beyond
his weaknesses."
- "Unconditional Love-The Key to Effective Parenthood,"
Family Home Evening Resource Book, Building a Strong Family,
page 238
"[Our children] have to learn somehow that they are more important
than their mistakes; that they are worthwhile, valuable, useful;
that they are loved unconditionally. I knelt with my own family,
at the conclusion of a great family home evening, the night
before our lovely daughter was to be married in the temple.
I think she wouldn't mind my telling you that after we had
laughed and wept and remembered, she was asked to pray. I
don't recall much of her prayer, the tears and the joy and
the sweetness, but I remember one thought: she thanked
God for the unconditional love she had received. This
life doesn't give one very many chances to feel exultant and
a little successful, but I felt wonderful that night, and
thank God that she really believes and understands what she
said. We cannot, my dear brethren, condition our love by
a beard or beads or habits or strange viewpoints. There have
to be standards and they must be enforced, but our love must
be unconditional."
- Apostle Marion D. Hanks, "Love Unconditional," Ensign,
Dec. 1971, page 104
"I am convinced that when we give unconditional love;
when our interest is first in serving, building, edifying,
strengthening without thought of self; when we do not expect
an automatic return for each act of kindness, generosity,
or sincere effort to help; when we are not concerned about
what we will receive or what others will say or whether our
own burdens will be diminished, but selflessly seek to build
another, the miracle of the power of the gospel is released
in our lives. When we permit the Lord to work through
us to bless others, that sacred experience releases power
in our own lives, and miracles occur. Well did the Master
say, "For inasmuch as ye do it unto the least of these, ye
do it unto me." (D&C 42:38.)"
- Apostle Richard G. Scott, "The Power to Make a Difference,"
Ensign, Nov. 1983, page 70
"All mothers go down into the valley of the shadow of death
as they labor in birth to give us life. My mother has now
been dead many years. I miss her sweet, loving influence in
my life. I miss her general counsel and reproof. But mostly
I miss her unconditional love."
- Apostle James E. Faust, "Them That Honour Me I Will Honour,"
Ensign, May 2001, page 45
"We cannot, my dear brethren, condition our love by
a beard or beads or habits or strange viewpoints. There have
to be standards and they must be enforced, but our love
must be unconditional."
-Apostle Marion D. Hanks, Love Unconditional, Ensign, Dec.
1971, Page 104
"As disciples of Christ, we need to feel genuine charity for
one another. I encourage you to build personal, meaningful
relationships with your nonmember friends and acquaintances.
Interest in the gospel may come later as a natural extension
of a good friendship. If they are not interested in the gospel,
we should show unconditional love through acts of service
and kindness, and never imply that we see an acquaintance
only as a potential convert"
-Apostle M. Russell Ballard, October 1988 General Conference:
The Hand of Fellowship, Ensign, Nov. 1988, Page 30
"President Hinckley has reminded us repeatedly of the many
opportunities to reach out and touch someone. In speaking
of those who have recently joined with us, he described a
need to reach out and touch them with love and fellowship;
to those who are estranged, a touch of encouragement, unconditional
love, and a full measure of forgiveness if required; to
our neighbors, associates, and friends who are not of our
faith, the blessing of being touched by the Holy Spirit because
of our words and deeds."
-Presiding Bishop H. David Burton, A Season of Opportunity,
Ensign, Nov. 1998, Page 9
"The anxiety and fear that have often obstructed my efforts
to serve have gone away only as I have recognized three important
principles: (1) I cannot solve another person’s problems.
(2) Loving another person unconditionally is the most powerful
way I can serve. (3) I must depend on Christ, the only source
of unconditional love, if I am to bless others."
-Sister Susan Hainsworth, If You Would Serve Them, Love
Them, Tambuli, Mar. 1987, Page 26
A search of officially published church addresses during
the last thirty years shows over 840 matches in support of
divine "unconditional love". So why has the church recently
changed this plain and precious doctrine?
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