I recall a time as a high school student when I was not feeling very happy. I was running an errand at a local Wal Mart, and some random woman stopped and asked if I was OK. I was kind of surprised, but I said that I was fine. Then she surprised me further by saying, "Well just remember... God loves you..." I nodded and continued on. I recall thinking to myself, 'so what? God loves everyone... That puts me in the same category as Hitler, Stalin, and Woodrow Wilson.'
Since that time, I noticed how many times religious leaders and teachers emphasized that point. "God loves you." It seems a particular area of emphasis when it comes to lessons and talks directed toward women of the LDS church. I frequently hear comments about lessons that point out subjects such as individual worth and divine nature from reports on Relief Society.
Perhaps I have a slightly different perspective for a couple of reasons.
One session of our General Conference is dedicated to priesthood holders, which are all men. While these subjects are mentioned to the men, it many times feels as though the emphasis is on obedience and repentance, and the tone is in the spirit of 'quit playing for the other team.' For example, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said during his talk in the aforementioned session "You cannot travel down what Lehi called “forbidden paths” and expect to guide others to the “strait and narrow” one—it can’t be done." It represents a contrast with the "God loves you" that is found in Relief Society talks.
Another reason comes from my own personal study of the scriptures. I find that there is an abundance of quotation in manuals and lessons for the scriptures that emphasize the love of God, the promise of forgiveness, or the hope of mercy. A more in-depth study of the scriptures finds that there are many scriptures of a somewhat darker tone that seem to be intentionally omitted by almost all Christian curriculum.
Some passages that portray God in a less benevolent light include the following:
"For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." (Malachi 4:1)
"The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." (Zephaniah 1:14-18)
Although these passages clearly describe the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, there may be those who dismiss these verses as harsh because they come from the Old Testament. Examine the following from the New Testament:
"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household." (Matthew 10:34-36) (I might add these are the words of Christ himself.)
"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." (Revelation 19:11-18)
There may be those who are quick to dismiss the intense style of ancient scripture. Modern revelation however is not all lollipops and rainbows:
"But, behold, I say unto you that before this great day shall come the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall be turned into blood, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and there shall be greater signs in heaven above and in the earth beneath; And there shall be weeping and wailing among the hosts of men; And there shall be a great hailstorm sent forth to destroy the crops of the earth. And it shall come to pass, because of the wickedness of the world, that I will take vengeance upon the wicked, for they will not repent; for the cup of mine indignation is full; for behold, my blood shall not cleanse them if they hear me not. Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them; And their tongues shall be stayed that they shall not utter against me; and their flesh shall fall from off their bones, and their eyes from their sockets; And it shall come to pass that the beasts of the forest and the fowls of the air shall devour them up." (D&C 29: 14-20)
The scriptures are indeed full of passages that promise death and destruction to the enemies of God. Since all men are guilty of some sin or another, it might be easy to conclude that God does not love people. In fact, it might not be unreasonable in this light to say "God hates you, and probably wants to kill you."
The truth behind this lies in context. When we incorporate the scriptures that promise reward and mercy with those that threaten death and destruction, we begin to see more clearly the nature of the Most High.
God does not hate us, nor does he desire our demise. The effort he invested in creating the world, and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ are proof of this. That having been said, it is also totally inaccurate to only emphasize the love of God and pretend that his wrath and power do not matter. The warnings and prophecies of prophets in all generations are evidence that God is not simply there to make people feel good. We need more than love. We need power to overcome the problems that confront us.
In my youth, it was easy to misinterpret the phrase "God loves you". I was thinking in terms of "God loves you" or "God loves you". Neither of these forms are unique. Many people love. Some people can be very helpful, but there are some things that no other man or woman can heal with their love. You may have significance in a small circle of influence, but in the end, there are so many people, and you are only one.
The more valuable emphasis is "God loves you". It is not some idle sympathy of a stranger at Wal Mart... not the empathy of a friend... not even the bond or affection of a parent or sibling... it is the same one before whom thousands of people have fallen... it is the same one that sent the great plagues upon Egypt to free his chosen... it is the same one that personally defeated death and hell... There is no problem that is to difficult, no task to great, no person beyond his knowledge and strength... If God loves you... that makes all the difference.
