#love thy neighbor as you love thyself

[tuckevr]

This is what you want for future children? If you are "pro life" and rooting for banned abortion with no exceptions, this is what you're asking for. You're saying you are okay with ruining girls' lives before they start. This shouldn't have happened. If this had been caught earlier, she could have terminated the pregnancy and lived as normal a life as possible after the trauma. Now, people want this to happen. What if this was your toddler? She was 4 for the majority of her pregnancy. Would you really make your toddler, your precious baby, go through a c-section. You're okay with seeing your toddler's organs moved around on a hospital bed, no anesthesia, no epidural (she's too young to use it on her), listening to your baby scream, cry, and beg for it all stop. Knowing you could have prevented this, you could have helped her, but you cared more about an unborn fetus than your own child. You don't care that your baby is going through the worst thing she will ever go through, as long as what she's carrying survives. You'd risk your 4 year old dying so that her tormenter survives. You won't even care what happens to that baby, as long as it's born, because you're against Universal Healthcare, food stamps, inclusive education, AGAINST A TODDLER HAVING ACCESS TO AN ABORTION. If that baby turns out to be gay, you'll wish death upon it. You are pro birth, you are a monster, but deep down, you already knew that.

Don't bother using Christianity as an excuse the Bible says life doesn'tbeginuntil first breath. Babies don't breath until they are born. "he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and it was then that the man became a living being”. Gen 2:7

“Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. " Ezekiel 37: 5 & 6

According to the bible, destroying a living fetus does not equate to killing a living human being even though the fetus has the potential of becoming a human being. The punishment for murder, in the bible, is a death penalty. The penalty for killing an unborn child is a fine. One can not kill something that has not been born and taken a breath.

“When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out (beating a woman and causing a miscarriage), but there is no harm (to the woman), the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine." Exodus 21:22.

[babythegod]

[yutasbellybuttonpiercing]

- canine, but mine (pt. 1: acquaintances)

pairing: huang renjun x reader

au/genre: hybrid!au, fox hybrid!renjun, human!reader, virgin!renjun, smut, fluff, angst (?), the au is kinda unserious

don't like it, don't read it, okay... *sighs*

also, don't publicly shame me for any inaccuracies. i admittedly do not ready many (read: any) hybrid fics...

word count: 2860 words

warnings: HYBRIDS!, bullying, comforting, petting (not the sexual kind), semi-public diddling, mentions of virginity, cumming untouched, the base of renjun's tail is very sensitive......., sub!renjun ig

a/n: happy renjun day! 🦊

taglist: @jaeminnanaaa17 @i6renj

Ever since Renjun remembers, life has not been kind to him. Born not out of love between two people, but created in a laboratory for scientific research purposes, born not to be a part of society, but as an experiment for a potential weapon; part animal, part human, but not really part of either of those worlds.

Only after hybrid-rights-protests forced the government to take action against hybrid experiments, he was freed; free, but not really free, because that he'll never be. Instead, unloved by his creators that he could never bring himself to call parents, he continued growing up in a foster home, surrounded by kids that were nothing like him, kids that looked different than him, and kids that did not believe in the concept of "thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself". The days he was not kicked by them, he was at least laughed at, mocked, or judged.

Renjun, objectively, knows that it's not his fault that he looks different, that he is different. He was just born, or rather: brought to life, with a set of orange fox-like ears on top of his fluffy, brown hair, a soft, bushy tail, tiny little fangs, and claws that he always keeps neatly trimmed to not accidentally hurt anyone.

The bullying did not stop when he started going to school, nor did it lessen the older he got. Kids are mean, Renjun knows that by heart, and he's never even had a friend. When he was 14, the girls in his class dared each other who would be brave enough to "kiss the freak", when he was 16, people started inviting him on dates only to laugh at him with their friends when he showed up all excited, and when he finally finished school and started going to university, he thought it would all be different. To be fair, he was no longer pushed into lockers, he was no longer spat at and people stopped pulling at his tail for fun, but the mocking did not stop. And even when he met another hybrid, a popular, big white tiger hybrid, he didn't receive any sympathy. God how he wishes to at least be a cool, strong hybrid, like a lion or a bear... or even a wolf! Why did they have to make him a stupid fox...

Ever since that day, he's told himself one thing: you're going to work hard, get through university and get a good job in the big city... where there are lots of hybrids and lots of supporters.

At this point, Renjun is fairly used to the bullying. With his goal in mind, he doesn't fight it, he just lowers his head, his ears laying flat against his fluffy hair as he waits for it to be over. He guesses that people are just not ready for hybrids yet.

One can only imagine his upmost shock when on the first day of the new semester, someone willingly sat down next to him. Admittedly, you were 5 minutes late and there were no other seats available, but you didn't beg anyone to please scoot over just so you didn't have to sit next to the weird guy with the tail. Renjun vividly remembers this day in philosophy class, as the professor went on and on about Henri Bergson and how the sand wasp instinctively knows where to sting the caterpillar to paralyze it, while Renjun was just smitten by the girl sitting next to him without gagging.

Unable to talk to you, he was just sitting there, smiling shyly to himself at this small act that seemed so big to him. He remembers almost falling off his chair in shock as you "psst!"-ed at him and awkwardly asked for a pen since you forgot yours. He remembers having to pinch himself as you smiled and thanked him, and told him you thought his shirt was cute. He remembers looking around in case you weren't really talking to him as you said, "see you next week!"

And when in the following weeks, you kept sitting down next to him even though there were other seats available, he was almost sure this had to be a dream. But it wasn't, and when during the third lesson, you softly asked for his name, he was this close to bursting into tears.

A few weeks into the semester, Renjun is currently sitting at the library, trying to memorize the different forms of utilitarianism. As always, he's sitting in a separate study room that he booked just for himself – a precautious attempt to not get made fun of as he's trying to concentrate. He crosses out his second attempt of trying to spell deontology correctly as he notices someone passing by the glass door to his study room. A moment later, the person backs up and looks inside, and he realizes it's you.

His heart stops for a moment as you begin smiling and waving at him, and he slowly lifts his hand to mimic the action hesitantly. Of course, you take that as an invitation to come in.

You close the door after slipping inside, still talking in a low tone as not to disturb anyone outside.

"Hey~" you say and sit down across from Renjun. He smiles and bites his lip nervously, "hey."

"You here all alone?" You ask softly, "is it okay if I sit with you?"

Renjun blushes. He knows you didn't think anything of it, but mentioning his lack of acquaintances is a bit of a sore spot for him.

"Sure... if you want," he says shyly, still not completely trusting that you're not going to turn this all around and make fun of him.

"Only if it doesn't bother you," you smile, "I'll be super quiet, promise!"

His smile is getting more genuine as you talk so casually to him. He just starts feeling a bit more comfortable, when sudden movements in front of the glass door make his head lift up.

A group of guys is standing there, pressing their faces against the door, clearly mocking his fox ears with their hands behind their heads. His heart sinks, he should've known this was going to happen today, it always happens when he's out in public.

"What-" you ask, noticing the pained look on his face and the way his ears are pointing down as he feels a wave of shame overcome him. You turn around, taking in the group of guys who're still silently making fun of the fox hybrid. "What the fuck..."

Renjun's ears twitch in surprise as you stand up, and he waits anxiously for what's about to happen. You rip open the glass door, lifting your finger into their face before speaking to them, hushed but still loud enough for a few people to lift their heads. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Did your mom not teach you manners? You should be ashamed of yourselves, you're university students, cut the crap with your preschool bullying, you fucking assholes," you tell them, and Renjun's eyes widen comically. You... you're standing up for him? For him?!

"If I see you doing this one more time, I'll get you kicked off campus... Now go back to being worthless idiots somewhere else. Leave him alone, I swear to God..." you say before closing the door, flipping them off, pulling down the blinds, and heading back to Renjun. To Renjun's upmost surprise, the guys actually left, and looking embarrassed at that, possibly because you just made one hell of a scene – and it's probably the sexiest thing Renjun's ever witnessed.

You sit down again, this time next to him. "You okay?"

Renjun breathes out shakily, ears twitching, tail swaying back and forth nervously. He's not sure what to make of this, someone standing up for him, it has never happened to him before. And before he can stop himself, he blurts out the question he's been asking himself since the moment your ass cheeks touched the surface of the chair next to him in that first philosophy lesson. "Why are you so nice to me?"

You halt, furrowing your brows. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He seems even more confused by that answer. "Um... You know, I'm a hybrid? Maybe you find that weird?"

You blink at him, "why is that weird?"

"Don't you... think I'm weird?" He asks. "Odd? Repelling? Freaky? Off-putting?? Anything???" He keeps listing adjectives as you keep shaking your head no. "Why... would you stand up for me?"

"I just don't like bullies," you state nonchalantly, "plus you're really cute."

Renjun's eyes bulge out of their sockets, tail curling up so suddenly that he feels like he's almost broken something in there. Maybe you're an animal friend, maybe that's all he is to you? "Cute? Like the fox parts or...?"

"Everything about you is cute. The fox parts are cute, but you'd still be cute without them."

Renjun just stares at you. This can't be real. He pinches the palm of his hand several times without you noticing, but he's just not waking up. If this is a dream, which he's almost certain it has to be, he could do anything he wants right now... like making your head explode- just to be sure! He concentrates greatly on it, but your head stays intact. He gives up. "You're not disgusted?"

"What?!" You look utterly confused, then your features soften into a look of concern. "Are people... usually disgusted by you?"

He nods without hesitation. "Usually, they just point and laugh, sometimes it even gets worse than that..." Renjun can't even bring himself to cringe as you put on a brave expression and tell him you're going to protect him from now on, because this is honestly the best thing that's ever happened to him. His heart melts at your words and it's hard to believe he's actually being comforted. There are no jokes being thrown around, no mockery, not even any pity. For once, Renjun feels like there's someone who wants to protect him. His lower lip quivers slightly as he holds back tears, and without thinking, he leans forward and places his head on your shoulder.

He hears you coo quietly, lifting your hand to his back and pulling him closer. "Is... is it okay if I stroke your hair?"

Renjun closes his eyes and nods. The warmth of the hug is comforting, the touch of your hands is gentle and soothing. His tension quickly dies down as he melts against you as he realizes that he has never felt like this before. And as you begin gently scratching and massaging his scalp, his ears begin twitching and relaxing at the feeling of your nimble fingers. He tries to hide the innocent pleasure that's shooting though his body, not sure if you would think it's odd, but his heartbeat is increasing rapidly. Your fingers feel like magic as they brush against his ears and scratch the base of his scalp. Suddenly a little too unhinged for his liking, he begins purring and nuzzling your neck, enjoying every single bit of your touch.

"God, you're adorable..." you say softly, making sure to pet him behind his ears and Renjun's entire body fizzles with pleasure at the feeling. As if it has a mind of its own, his tail curls around your legs. "Is this okay? Have you ever been pet like this?"

Renjun hums in delight, "I've always dreamed about getting pet like this..." Your fingers begin gently playing with his ears. At first, they twitch nervously, but soon, he relaxes into the touch. He notes that his ears are very sensitive when being touched by someone else that isn't himself, and he loves the sensation.

"They're so soft... I could pet you like this all day," you say softly, making Renjun smile.

"Do you...," he hesitates for a bit, "want to touch my tail too? It's even softer..."

"Do you want me to?"

Renjun nods shyly, lifting his tail a bit for easy access. The moment your fingers begin brushing over his fur, he shivers, whimpering slightly. Every other time, whenever someone's touched his tail before, it was rough and mean, but the way you oh so gently run your fingers through his fur makes him almost lightheaded.

"Your fur is so soft...," you whisper and he hums in response, eyes already closed as he gets lost in the feeling. His tail makes small circles behind your leg when you brush over the fur, he whimpers softly as your fingers move further up towards the base of his tail.

Your fingers feel so good, unlike anything he's ever felt before. He keeps questioning if this is love, or if this is what it feels like when someone really cares, but all he knows is that he craves more and more of this all consuming feeling, when suddenly, he lets out a short, loud moan. The tips of your fingers have unknowingly reached the base of his tail, causing a jolt of pure, white, hot pleasure to shoot through his body.

Shamefully, he buries himself into your shoulder, his tail curling around your leg. He's mortified as your movements pause for a second, he's sure he's messed up now, but then your scratching picks up again and he breathes out shakily, body twitching at the feeling.

You keep going and going, and he begins moaning softly.

"Is this still okay for you?" The softness of your voice makes his heart melt.

"Mhm..." is all he is able to bring out at the overwhelming sensation of being touched there for the first time.

"Have you been touched here before?"

"N-never..." Renjun whines softly. He's feeling himself harden in his pants, cock straining against the fabric of his jeans and he's sure you noticed.

"Are you a virgin, Renjun?"

The question catches him off guard, but honestly, he's too far gone now to feel shy about it. It seems that you have picked up on how sensitive he is, and he can't really blame you for your assumption. You seem so open and accepting of him that he doesn't even hesitate before slightly nodding his head, "yeah..."

"And you're sure that you want to experience... this with me?"

The feeling of your fingers on his tail intensifies with every second, Renjun feels dizzy, there's barely any blood left in his brain at this point, all of it damming up in his cock and every other sensible part of his body. "yes.. yes...!"

It seems like this is all you needed to hear to speed up your movement, fingertips scratching and petting him in the most arousing way possible, forcing whimpers and moans from his mouth. "Aahh... Ah..." He tries to hold back, but the sensation is too much for him. Your touch is too nice and it's making him lose control as he bites his lip to keep himself from letting out a vocal response, but it's not enough. He's starting to tremble, breath getting heavier as he begins panting harshly. This sensation surely feels very close to how he feels when he's about to cum.

And just the attentive person you are, you speak up about it. "Are you gonna...?"

"I... Aahh... I think so..." He says, his voice shaking as he speaks. "It feels so nice..."

Experimentally, you move your fingers to the underside of his tail, and Renjun's body jolts in pleasure, his whole body jerks as he moans out, mouth slightly open while keeping his voice down as much as possible given your current location. He reaches up and grabs your wrist to make you keep touching him there. "Please..." He says in a thoroughly pleading voice. "Don't stop.."

As he forces his eyes to open, he notices your eyes on him, your face so close to his, and his eyes inevitably dart down to your lips as he gasps for more.

Of course, you take it as an invitation to kiss him, and as soon as your soft lips merge with his, Renjun knows that he's going to cum. He feels like he's actually going to faint as the pleasure reaches new heights, your kiss building the tension up and up, his head spins as he feels himself tighten up.

Your movements quickly send him over the edge. The intensity of the sensation is making his body shudder as he pulls you closer toward him and he lets himself go, muscles tightening even further as he releases into his pants with a high-pitched moan.

Your hands carefully stroke over his tail again, your unoccupied hand coming back up to his hair to help him calm down. He's breathing heavily, body feeling fuzzy inside at the attention and from his intense release. "O-oh, God..."

"That was so hot...," you whisper, gently kissing the top of his head. He lets out a soft giggle. You successfully have made him blush once again. But just as he's really, fully calming down, he inevitably notices the sticky feeling between his thighs and cringes.

You chuckle softly as you notice the look on his face. "Maybe we should get you to a restroom..."

© 2024 YUTASBELLYBUTTONPIERCING all rights reserved — please DO NOT translate, take, nor repost any of my works.

[julesofnature]

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each other’s eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair. Someone is trying to make music somewhere, with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum, with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice. A woman and her son wait for the bus. A farmer considers the changing sky. A teacher says, Take out your pencils. Begin. We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed, words to consider, reconsider. We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of some one and then others, who said I need to see what’s on the other side. I know there’s something better down the road. We need to find a place where we are safe. We walk into that which we cannot yet see. Say it plain: that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of. Praise song for struggle, praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign, the figuring-it-out at kitchen tables. Some live by love thy neighbor as thyself, others by first do no harm or take no more than you need. What if the mightiest word is love? Love beyond marital, filial, national, love that casts a widening pool of light, love with no need to pre-empt grievance. In today’s sharp sparkle, this winter air, any thing can be made, any sentence begun. On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp, praise song for walking forward in that light. — Praise Song for the Day By Elizabeth Alexander

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

Sunday Afternoon Session

Conducting: Quentin L Cook

Come Rejoice

D Todd Christofferson

A limiting trait is not being valiant in your testimony

Wholehearted devotion is what we should strive for

To make it to and stay in the Celestial Kingdom we must have a firm testimony of Jesus Christ and act on that testimony

Being Valiant in your testimony of Christ

Includes nurturing and strengthening that testimony

Heading His messengers

Encouraging others by word and example

We will not let anything keep us from being together forever

Do the things Jesus shall teach and command you

Taylor G Godoy

God hears our prayers and answers them in a personalized way

Mosiah 5:12

This life by its nature brings about experiences

Call Him, don’t fall

Just because you aren’t answered immediately doesn’t mean your call wasn’t answered at all

Confidence in the Lord’s answers requires accepting that they are not always what would expect in our minds for them to be.

The Lord is the first option for help

Call Don’t Fall (pray)

After prayer do all you can to obtain the answers you pray for

Humbly accept His answers

Softly and Tenderly, Jesus is Calling

Gary E Stevenson

Where is the foundation of your bridge?

The two towers are love the Lord thy God and love your neighbor as thyself – these are the towers that the bridge of the gospel is supported by

Loving the Lord leads to eternal Happiness

Bridges our heavenly upward gaze to our heavenly outward gaze

Love of the Lord is not complete if we do not love our neighbors

Loving your neighbors includes Christlike deeps of love and service

How are you building your tower of love?

“did God call on you specifically, or were you simply the one who listened?”

These towers need to function together in balance, equal devotion, and harmony

God loves everyone and so should we; we seek out those in need and serve them regardless of race, wealth, gender identity, sexual orientation, or anything else

God commanded us to love one another. Leave judgement up to Him

How do we build our own bridge of faith and devotion?

Early drafts become polished blueprints

Mathias Held

Consequences are a part of agency

Repentance is where growth happens

Seek to learn and accept support from the Lord

In the darkness of night we can turn on our lights

We can still choose how to respond to things out of our control

We are agents not objects.

Opposites don’t exist apart from each other, they can complement each other.

Where there is sunshine, shadows must be there too. Floods brings destruction but they bring life as well

Our difficulties do not define us – it is our attitudes and choices that define us much better than our situations

How Firm a Foundation

Niel L Anderson

It is breathtaking to see the works of God

Discipline your faith, what does that mean to you?

Eleazer Cearcy – sealing story – this is why listen to promptings

Angels have charge over us

Through the power of the Holy Ghost we are filled with strength and peace and joy and unspeakable hope.

Many different ways to see the face of Christ and no better place than in His holy house

Mark L Pace

Transform our homes into sanctuaries of faith

The scriptures are here to help us draw closer to Him

How can you avoid personal apostasy?

We are responsible for our own personal spiritual growth

The most important copy of the book of Mormon is the one you read

Heavenly Father wants you to know yourself – but you must put in the effort

Russell M Nelson

Called to apostles 40 years ago!

Six temples when he was born

Ponder what the Lord’s promise means for you personally

The priesthood was restored prior to the church – to ensure that the church could be organized with the correct authority

The priesthood keys are the only way we get the essential ordinances and covenants, the only way we can have blessings the way we do – we can extend all the blessings promised to/by Abraham to all God’s children

D&C 110

The gathering of Israel is evidence God loves all of His children everywhere

The gospel of Abraham is further evidence that God loves all of His children everywhere

The sealing power is supreme evidence that God loves all of His children everywhere and wants them to return to Him

Study Kirtland temple dedicatory prayer in D&C 109

Regular temple worship will enhance how you see yourself

The temple empowers us to take on the challenges of life

You do not have to face life alone

What courage does it give you to know that angels really will help you?

No combination of wickedness will prevail over those who worship in the house of the Lord

Nothing will help you more to hold fast to the iron rod than attending the temple as regularly as you can, nothing will protect you more, nothing will bolster your testimony of Christ and His atonement, or recognize the significance of His plan, nothing will soothe your spirit more, nothing will open the blessings of Heavens more

15 temples:

Uturoa, French Polynesia

Chihuahua, Mexico

Florianopolis, Brazil

Rosario, Argentina

Edinburgh, Scotland

Brisbane, Australia South Area

Victoria, British Colombia

Yuma, Arizona

Houston, Texas South Area

Des Moines, Iowa

Cincinnati, Ohio

Honolulu Hawaii

West Jordan Utah

Lehi Utah

Maracaibo, Venezuela

Now Let Us Rejoice

[nerdygaymormon]

Do we allow the same for our queer neighbors as we allow for other members? Treat them how you want to be treated

The commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself, but too often we love the law and use it against our neighbors. Paul used the great commandment to argue against the law that required circumcision or eating kosher. Do we use love when approaching our queer neighbors or do we wield the law against them?

Honestly, these sound like the fruit of a good relationship--life, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness and so on. These fruits are seen in queer relationships

To add to another's burdens is not fulfilling the law of Christ. Do we bear the burdens that our queer members carry, or do we add to them?

Do good and you shall reap goodness

[hopethroughscriptureministries]

The Joy of Serving Others:

Embracing Christ's Call to Love and Compassion

Introduction:

Start a compelling journey of service and compassion as we delve into the transformative impact of serving others, as illuminated in the Bible. Together we'll uncover the joy and fulfillment that comes from following Christ's example of selfless love.

Scripture Passage: Matthew 25:35-40 (KJV) Cross References: Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Peter 4:10-11

Commentary: Matthew 25:35-40 recounts Jesus' teaching on serving others, emphasizing that when we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and care for the needy, we are serving Him. This passage highlights the integral role of compassion and service in the Christian life.

Galatians 5:13 exhorts us to serve one another in love, for all the law is fulfilled in one word: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." This verse emphasizes the connection between love and service within the body of Christ.

Philippians 2:3-4 encourages us to esteem others better than ourselves, looking not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others. This passage underscores the humility and selflessness required in serving others.

1 Peter 4:10-11 reminds us that each one should use the gifts received to serve others, as good stewards of God's varied grace. This verse highlights the importance of using our talents and abilities for the benefit of others and God's kingdom.

Questions:

How does serving others contribute to your spiritual growth and relationship with God?

In what ways can you identify and utilize your unique gifts and talents for serving others?

What obstacles hinder you from engaging in acts of compassion and service?

How can you cultivate a lifestyle of service that reflects Christ's love and compassion in your community?

Prayer Heavenly Father, we thank you for the privilege of serving others in your name. Teach us to embrace the joy of selfless love and compassion, following the example of Christ. Help us to use our gifts and resources to bless those in need and to glorify your name. May our acts of service reflect your love to the world. Amen.

[if-not-now-tell-me-when]

Something something writing a Jesus and his disciples allegory into my magnum opus fanfic. Something something "why can't you love yourself as I love you." Something something "you shall love thy neighbor as thyself."

[keithsandwich]

Let's submit Oliver and Sariel since it's been a moment since we last spoke on them! Oliver is a Leo, Sariel is a Capricorn-Aquarius cusp

✨Oliver ♌ x ♒ Sariel✨

Something funny about opposite signs is that they always have much in common -- the same quality, friendly elements --, but they bring different perspectives to the table.

Leo is high Summer, Aquarius is high Winter. Both are Fixed. Both know who they are, what they want, what they stand for. And they stubbornly defend their own positions. Although Oliver and Sariel both can be a bit jealous, this is a mature kind of love. They know they can rely on each other, and they understand the way each other deal with their (many) responsibilities.

The opposition here is Winter and Summer. Sariel brings cold, Oliver brings heat. Sariel brings collectivism -- love thy neighbor, put an ideal or the needs of others before your own. Oliver brings individuality in a good way -- self-love, self-sufficiency. You can't love thy neighbor if you don't love thyself, after all. One spends his days dealing with people, the other spends his days working alone (but seeking recognition). And in this, they find an equilibrium. They can teach what the other needs to learn.

They are the perfect complement to each other.

[notyourmotherscomefollowmeblog]

1 Nephi 11-14- Who is your neighbor?

There’s a story in Luke 10 where someone asks Jesus how to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks, “what is written in the law?” and this person says “Love God with all your heart soul strength and mind, and love thy neighbor as thyself” and then he asks Jesus “but, who is my neighbor?”

Jesus answers by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man from Jerusalem is beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. A priest walks by and doesn’t help him. A Levite walks by and doesn’t help him. A Samaritan stops and helps him.

Who was this man’s neighbor? The Samaritan, the one who treated him like a neighbor despite being from different cities and despite the animosity between their different ethnic groups. We learn from this parable that you choose who is in your in group and who is in your out group. You choose who to make your neighbor.

In Nephi's vision in 1 Nephi 11-14, Nephi sees two churches- the Great and Abominable Church and the Church of God. Lately, I haven't felt entirely comfortable with this kind of good vs evil imagery, where one group of people is clearly good and one is clearly evil. It all too often leads us to imagine ourselves as wholly good and some other group of people as wholly evil, and more often than we like to admit, it leads people to justify actual violence and harm against the group they imagine as evil.

Growing up, the discussion on these verses has centered around the question "who is my enemy?" The great and abominable church has often been interpreted as a specific group of people, or any group of people who are not part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As Fatimah Salleh and Margaret Olsen Hemming pointed out in The Book of Mormon for the Least of These, the actual text of the Book of Mormon characterizes the Great and Abominable Church as worshipping wealth and power while perpetuating captivity and oppression of innocent people. They write:

“Disciples need to work to eradicate the values of the great and abominable church from our society. To do so, we need to look at our own organizations and institutions and our own history to see where we have worshiped at the altar of the great and abominable church. If we read these verses thinking that this evil church is always somewhere else and never within our midst, then we miss what God asks us to do. We have to remove it from our own walls and from our own hearts.”

How do we remove the great and abominable church from ourselves and our communities? We must stop asking ourselves "who is my enemy?" and begin asking ourselves "who is my neighbor?" We must stop seeking to justify ourselves by saying "I am good and you are evil so I don't have to love you." Instead, we must follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who actively chose to reach out across boundaries, to invite all into his in group, to make everyone his neighbor.

[girlactionfigure]

We are fast approaching Tisha B’Av. A national day of mourning marking numerous horrific and tragic events that struck the Jewish people.

One of those events, the fall of Jerusalem and destruction of the Second Temple, took place because of division and senseless hatred (Sinat

Hinam). The Jewish people, despite being surrounded, were divided from within.

Out of anger and spite between Jewish factions, food storages were brunt. Killings and looting were rampant.

Instead of being united in our fight to save Jerusalem, we fought over our differing ideologies.

The power of senseless hatred is strong. Yet the power of Ahavat Hinam (groundless love) is even stronger.

Tisha B’Av couldn’t have come at a better time. We are a people blessed with a rainbow of opinions, it is part of our DNA. But we must always remember, we are one big family.

“Love thy neighbor as thyself” isn’t about the neighbor that agrees with you - it’s about the neighbor that doesn’t.

‎Chaim Smierc - חיים סמיערק‎ is in Jerusalem, Israel.

[askmeamormonanything]

Do you think Ron DeSantis has a forcefem kink?

I’ll start off by saying that I personally don’t agree with a lot of what Ron DeSantis has to say and could do with a little more of following the second great commandment (Love thy neighbor as thyself)

I had to google the rest of this question and immediately set up an appointment with my bishop, and I encourage you to do the same, or set up a meeting with your local missionaries if you don’t know who the bishop in your area would be.

[apenitentialprayer]

My mistress had taught me the precepts of God's Word: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." [Matt 22:39b] "Whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, do ye even so unto them." [Matt 7:12a] But I was her slave, and I supposed she did not recognize me as her neighbor.

Harriet Jacobs (from Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, Chapter I)

[largerthanaveragedragon]

And the vision of the Lord said to me in my dream, "Protect the asymmetrical, for I have created your species as such. Walk the shores with the unconventional, the foreign, and those feared by the irrational feelings in your heart. Speak to and listen to those you disagree with, those you have been taught to hate, and those who you never even considered."

I asked the vision of the Lord a question, but I forgot all about it aside from it being one I already knew the answer to.

The vision of the Lord said unto me, "A symmetrical world is one doomed to be destroyed."

I could not help myself, I tried to say something smarmy to the vision of the Lord, something along the lines of 'So of I meet someone perfectly symmetrical, someone born perfect and untouched by the world, I don't protect them?' The moment the thought crossed my mind I felt a wave of disappointment, as if the entire human race let out an annoyed sigh all at once.

"No." Said the vision of the Lord, with a voice like the beating wing of a hawk. "A person who is perfect, symmetrical, a person that follows the blueprint for a living person perfectly, paradoxically, this person is the most asymmetrical of all, as nobody else in the universe shares this perfection."

The air rippled with strange...something or another, music filled my ears as I gasped for air.

"Hold sympathy in your heart for those around you. Love thy neighbors, love thyself as I love you all."

I hit my head on the nightstand.

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

The 10 Commandments

1 And Moshe called kol Yisroel, and said unto them, Shema, Yisroel, to the chukkim and mishpatim which I speak in your ears today, that ye may learn them, and be shomer to do them.

2 Hashem Eloheinu made a Brit with us in Chorev.

3 Hashem made not this Brit with Avoteinu, but with us, even us, who are all of us here alive today.

4 Hashem talked with you panim b’panim in the har out of the midst of the eish,

5 (I stood between Hashem and you at that time, to show you the Devar Hashem; for ye were afraid by reason of the eish, and went not up into the har) saying:

6 I am Hashem Eloheicha, Which brought thee out of Eretz Mitzrayim, from the bais avadim.

7 Thou shalt have no elohim acharim before Me.

8 Thou shalt not make thee any pesel, or any temunah of anything that is in Shomayim above, or that is in Ha’Aretz beneath, or that is in the mayim beneath ha’aretz;

9 Lo tishtachaveh (thou shalt not bow down thyself) unto them, nor serve them; for I Hashem Eloheicha am an El Kannah, visiting the iniquity of the avot upon the banim unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me,

10 And showing chesed unto thousands of them that love Me and are shomer over My mitzvot.

11 Thou shalt not take the Shem of Hashem Eloheicha in vain; for Hashem will not hold him guiltless that taketh Shmo in vain.

12 Keep shomer Shabbos to set Shabbos apart as kodesh as Hashem Eloheicha commanded thee.

13 Sheshet yamim thou shalt labor, and do all thy work:

14 But the Yom HaShevi’i is the Shabbos of Hashem Eloheicha: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy ben, nor thy bat, nor thy eved, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine donkey, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy ger that is within thy she’arim; that thy eved and thy amah may rest as well as thou.

15 And remember that thou wast an eved in Eretz Mitzrayim, and that Hashem Eloheicha brought thee out thence through a yad chazakah and by an outstretched zero’a; therefore Hashem Eloheicha commanded thee to be shomer Shabbos on Yom HaShabbat.

16 Honor thy av and thy em, as Hashem Eloheicha hath commanded thee; that thy yamim may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in ha’adamah which Hashem Eloheicha giveth thee.

17 Lo tirtzah (thou shalt not murder).

18 V’lo tinaf (neither shalt thou commit adultery).

19 V’lo tignov (neither shalt thou steal).

20 V’lo ta’aneh v’reacha ed shav (neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor).

21 V’lo tachmod (neither shalt thou covet, desiring) thy neighbor’s wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor’s bais, his sadeh, or his eved, or his amah, his ox, or his donkey, or any thing that is thy neighbor’s. — Deuteronomy 5:1-21 | Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) Orthodox Jewish Bible Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2008, 2010, 2011 by Artists for Israel International and the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Cross References: Genesis 15:13; Exodus 18:20; Exodus 19:18; Exodus 20:2-3 and 4; Exodus 20:17; Exodus 34:7; Leviticus 19:11; Numbers 14:18; Deuteronomy 29:1; Psalm 81:9; Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33; Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:18; Mark 2:27; Luke 13:14; Luke 23:56; Romans 7:7; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 8:9

[nerdygaymormon]

Mark 12:30-31 - Love God & Love People

30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Love God & Love People, there’s no greater commandment. And yet, LGBTQ people often don't feel love from Christians and churches. Anti-queerness seems to have become a large part of modern Christian identity. Some believers think that the best way to show love to queer people is by preaching that they need to deny this important part of who they are.

I think any believer should be asking, "How can I love queer people?" and "Do they recognize what I am doing as love?"

For LGBTQ people, it is a challenge to reconcile the message about a loving God with rejecting messages preached at church. It feels like many Christians put an asterisk on the commandment to love their neighbor *unless they are queer.

Christ says to love, so don't let other things get in the way of that.

For a person to feel loved, they need to feel respected. If I identify as gay, don't say that I struggle with same-sex attraction, that feels like you are reject my understanding of myself. If someone shares their pronouns with you and you instead use the pronouns you're more comfortable with, it shows you're unwilling to make even this small effort show respect and we should be on guard around you.

Your love shouldn't be conditional. People get to choose how to live their own life. Self-determination is an important of being an adult, and teenagers need a growing amount of agency as they mature. Even if you don't agree with our choices, don't stop loving us.

If you love someone, you show an interest in them. Ask questions. If there's something important to me, ask me about that. If I'm dating, ask how it's going.

Speak up if people say negative things about us, even if we aren't in the room. If you love us you will stand with us when someone says something offensive, even if it possibly costs you social standing in your religious community. Similarly, speak positively about me and the other queer people you know. Speaking about LGBTQ people and topics will help others become more comfortable with our existence.

Support policies which allow us to be treated with fairness and equality. It's hard to believe you love me if you vote for my oppression.

For queer people, let me remind you that the commandment is to love others as yourself. This presupposes that you love yourself. I know it's easy to replay those negative messages in your head, to believe the worst things said about queer people, that is not self-love. Sometimes we turn our fear and anger inward against ourselves, that is not love. We need to accept ourselves and recognize the goodness in us, then learn to love the different parts of who we are and develop the talents we have and appreciate the things which interest us.