Redeeming Love

To redeem is to buy back, to free from distress or harm, to change for the better, to atone for, to make worthwhile and good, to save. At least according to good 'ole Merriam Webster. Now couple that with love. Not even all the dictionary definitions can fully encompass the breath and depth of this particular emotion. I'm a firm believer in the power of love, in it's power to mold us and help us grow, in it's ability to heal both those who give it and those who receive it. So taking that a step further towards a redeeming love and we find this incredible love that has the power to change us for the better, to save us (often from ourselves), and to enable us to fulfill our true purposes in this life and in eternity.

A well know quote from The Notebook is from the last letter Noah writes to Allie when he thanks her for the kind of love she gave to him saying, "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds..." I feel grateful to have, in some measure, felt that kind of love, but I would add that the best kind of love also changes our perspective and matures the soul.



Receiving this kind of love is life-changing. It's like the sunshine after months of overcast skies and sub-zero temperatures. Like the first breath of air after being under water too long. A precious gift, one that changes everything no matter how long it is active in our lives. I guess the truth of the matter is that this love is always active--it never dies though the giver might. The Savior is the ultimate example of this kind of love (I'll talk more about that in a minute). Andy gave me just a glimpse of this miracle and after feeling this kind of love, nothing less will ever be enough.

Giving this caliber of love is transformative. Though there is no set way to achieve giving this level of love, the process of doing so is character refining and soul expanding. Learning to love is by far the most defining achievement or journey, more than a career or degree, more than developing skills or talents, more than any and all awards or tributes. In fact, when we learn how to give redeeming love we are becoming more like our Redeemer. I saw this on my mission as I was overwhelmed by an incredible love for those I had the opportunity to serve and serve with- just a tiny portion of our Heavenly Father and Savior's love for each of them.

I first saw the phrase "redeeming love" in Alma 5:9, 26: "Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved....And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?" This is Alma preaching to the people about salvation and the redemption through the Savior. Elder Gong expands on this idea ( using atoning love in place of redeeming) in his article in July 2014 Ensign entitled, Becoming Perfect in Christ :

"We sing with our children, “I feel my Savior’s love, the love he freely gives me.

His atoning love, freely given, is as “milk and honey, without money and without price” (2 Nephi 26:25). Infinite and eternal (see Alma 34:10), the Atonement invites us to “come unto Christ, and be perfected in him” (Moroni 10:32).

Understanding the Savior’s freely given atoning love can free us from self-imposed, incorrect, and unrealistic expectations of what perfection is. Such understanding allows us to let go of fears that we are imperfect—fears that we make mistakes, fears that we are not good enough, fears that we are a failure compared to others, fears that we are not doing enough to merit His love.

The Savior’s freely given atoning love helps us become more forgiving and less judgmental of others and of ourselves. This love heals our relationships and gives us opportunities to love, understand, and serve as our Savior would.

His atoning love changes our concept of perfection. We can put our trust in Him, diligently keep His commandments, and continue in the faith (Mosiah 4:6)—even as we also feel greater humility, gratitude, and dependence on His merits, mercy, and grace."

What an incredible opportunity we have to learn to love as He loves us! Can you imagine if in loving others we can help them and ourselves let go of fears, be more forgiving, and trust more? And this applies to all relationships, not just romantic ones. Family, friends, etc. If we can learn to love those around us with this purity and purpose, I have a feeling we will all draw closer to the Savior together.