Director of Family and Church History Department teaches BYU-Idaho students about true love

Richard E. Turley Jr., director of the Family and Church History Department of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to Brigham Young University-Idaho students about true love in a devotional address given Tuesday, October 23.

Turley began by teaching that although it is normal for students to fantasize about what the future will hold, it is often unrealistic. "We sometimes think that being happy means avoiding all problems, and we may grow disillusioned if our superficial dreams seem to shatter," he said.

Turley said an essential requirement of life is overcoming challenges, regardless of what those challenges may be. Most people do not foresee sickness, money problems, a wayward spouse, or the challenge of never marrying, but for many Latter-day Saints these problems are a reality.

He said the point of sharing what seems to be harsh reality was to teach that even though challenges arise, happiness is a matter of agency and not of circumstance. Turley taught the secret is to have true love, not the version of love "often touted on television and in movies seems to be an endless pursuit of a selfish romantic high."

"Anyone-regardless of physical appearance, emotional appeal, or marital status-can have this true love. It has two components: a selfless attitude, and selfless action," Turley said. He added that true love comes over time after it has been tested for commitment and faithfulness.

Turley compared the love of newlyweds to missionaries saying that although brides and grooms are certainly infatuated with each other, they often still need to shed selfish, inward feelings that will stifle the growth of true love.

Missionaries, he went on to say, often show true love as they go about people, engaged in a good cause with faithfulness. He also described the easily seen love between senior couples who labor together with a selfless spirit of mutual love. Quoting President Spencer W. Kimball, Turley taught, "We should live by faith, accept what has been allotted to us, and go forward unselfishly in the spirit of true love to advance the Lord's purposes."

Referring to Moroni 7:47, Turley pointed out that although beauty, health, and prestige may fade, charity, which is the pure love of Christ, endures forever. He said, "It all comes back to charity-true love-unselfish attitudes and unselfish actions. It doesn't matter what else we accomplish in life."

Next week's devotional speaker will be Larry Richman, director of Internet and Project Coordination for the Church. Devotionals are held every Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Hart Auditorium with additional seating in the Hinckley Chapel, Taylor Chapel and Kirkham Auditorium. Devotionals are broadcast on KBYI-FM 100.5 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast Tuesday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m.