Latter-day Saints Encouraged to ‘Love, Share, Invite’

Like other Christian faiths, faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints take seriously Jesus Christ’s commission to share His gospel with others in simple and natural ways. Several apostles taught these principles in a recent global event titled “Love, Share, Invite.”

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Elder David A. Bednar and Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles joined with other Church leaders and youth for a worldwide broadcast on Saturday, June 26, 2021.

The broadcast originated from the Conference Center Theater on Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women general president, moderated the discussion, which included remote participants who shared experiences and video examples of members who have fellowshipped others around the world.

“It’s interesting to me to see how the Savior is accomplishing His redeeming work through people who are willing to love, share and invite,” President Cordon remarked.

“We’re all really doing the same work — helping Heavenly Father’s children bind themselves to the Savior by making and keeping covenants. And the way we do that is by loving, sharing and inviting,” Elder Cook said.

“Hopefully these principles are familiar to all of us because they really are at the foundation of what it means to be a covenant follower of Jesus Christ,” Elder Uchtdorf added. “When I think of love, I remember the Lord’s two great commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Love ought to be the foundation and motivation for everything we do.”

“I think it’s good that we share the gospel because then other people can feel our love and Heavenly Father’s love,” said 10-year-old Coen Bates, a Church member from Washington state who brought a friend to church.

“I think children are the most remarkable examples to all of us, especially to us as adults, to tap into that inner child to really tap into those spiritual gifts, and in doing so we will be empowered to share the gospel as well in a very natural and authentic way,” explained Kemy Bates, a Primary president in the Seattle, Washington, area.

“It’s not easy for children — or for anyone — to be in a new and unfamiliar environment. But when that environment is filled with love, it’s so much easier. That’s why love has to be at the foundation of everything we do,” Elder Cook said.

Greg Droubay, a mission president in Richmond, Virginia, participated in the broadcast with his wife.

“I think what I love most about ‘Love, Share, Invite’ is that it’s not a new Church program. These are simply inspired, timeless principles that can be applied in authentic ways as we simply live our lives,” President Droubay said.

“Love doesn’t have a timetable or an expiration date. When our sharing and inviting are motivated by love, we don’t get impatient. We keep trying, and we trust the Lord,” Elder Bednar continued.

“We simply include others in the good things we are already doing. This kind of invitation is not intimidating or creating fear. It is inspired by love and care for the other people,” Elder Uchtdorf taught.

President M. Russell Ballard, acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, was the concluding speaker.

“We must act. We must love, share and invite. He will prompt us to share our experience, activities and what we are doing. And He will inspire us to invite others to come and see, to come and help, and to come and belong,” President Ballard said.

Watch the entire broadcast on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.