"How Do I Love Thee?" was originally given by Elder Holland at a BYU devotional address in February 2000.
I just discovered it this evening - listed one of the TOP 10 speeches of all time on speeches.byu.edu.
It was listed with my other two two favorite talks by him "Cast Not Away Therefore Thy Confidence" and "The Inconvenient Messiah," so I figured I had to watch it.
And wow I'm so glad I did!
Amazing. Just amazing.
It's for married and single people alike. There is so much wisdom about love, marriage and relationships in this 37 minute talk!
Do yourself a favor and watch it!
Or click here to download the PDF & mp3 file, so you can read & listen to it at your leisure.
[Highlights]
There were several parts that stood out to me, about how we to love truly and how to look for the type of person that will not belittle us, or hurt us when we give ourselves, vulnerably, to another person.
"In a dating and courtship relationship, I would not have you spend five minutes with someone who belittles you, who is constantly critical of you, who is cruel at your expense and may even call it humor. Life is tough enough without having the person who is supposed to love you leading the assault on your self-esteem, your sense of dignity, your confidence, and your joy. In this person's care you deserve to feel physically safe and emotionally secure."He also made reference to the Shakespeare and lessons we can learn there - about love.
He went on to end with one of my favorite scriptures in the Book of Mormon, in Moroni that speaks of Discipleship, and he answers a question I have thought about from time to time as I have dated.
"In a final injunction to all his disciples for all time, He said, "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you" (John 13:34; emphasis added). Of course such Christlike staying power in romance and marriage requires more than any of us really have. It requires something more, an endowment from heaven. Remember Mormon's promise: that such love—the love we each yearn for and cling to—is "bestowed" upon 'true followers of Christ.'
"You want capability, safety, and security in dating and romance, in married life and eternity? Be a true disciple of Jesus. Be a genuine, committed, word-and-deed Latter-day Saint. Believe that your faith has everything to do with your romance, because it does. You separate dating from discipleship at your peril. Or, to phrase that more positively, Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is the only lamp by which you can successfully see the path of love and happiness for you and for your sweetheart. How should I love thee? As He does, for that way 'never faileth'."
