Excerpt
We cannot choose one and ignore the other. In the Lord’s plan, love and law stand together. They do not compete. They complete each other.
Intro — Where the Path Narrows, the Balance Appears
The walk toward Balanced Rock reminded me that the gospel path often asks us to hold two eternal truths at the same time. Love on one side. Law on the other. And somewhere in the middle is the place where disciples learn to stand steady. President Oaks teaches that real discipleship is not one-sided. It is “loving” and “lawful” at the same time.
As I stood in front of that massive rock balanced on a narrow pedestal, I felt it — the weight, the tension, and the steadiness that only God can create. The same steadiness He tries to build within us.
Notes From President Oaks
- God’s love is perfect, eternal, and unchanging.
- But His love does not override His laws.
- Salvation comes through the Atonement, but exaltation comes through obedience.
- True love never asks us to ignore commandments.
- Real charity is anchored in truth, not permissiveness.
- “The love of God does not supersede His laws and His commandments.”
Perspective — The Rock and the Law
We often hear the world say, “Love is all that matters.”
But President Oaks reminds us that love without law becomes drift, and law without love becomes harshness.
Balanced Rock became a symbol of that message for me.
The top looks impossible, almost defying gravity. Yet it stands. Why? Because the foundation beneath it holds firm.
Love lifts.
Law steadies.
And together, they create a foundation strong enough for eternity.
Sometimes we want everything to be easy. Sometimes we want the Lord to remove the tension. But President Oaks teaches that growth happens in that tension — the balancing, the choosing, the returning, the trying again.
Practice (Today, Not Someday)
- When I feel pulled by emotion, I anchor myself in the commandments.
- When I feel weighed down by commandments, I remind myself of God’s love.
- When someone hurts me, I choose charity instead of judgment.
- When life feels unsteady, I remember that balance is part of discipleship.
Today, I practice holding both — loving deeply while obeying faithfully.
Final Reflection
The Lord’s path is not a straight line. It is a balance.
Not the balance the world teaches, but the balance the Lord shapes within us — a heart full of charity and a life aligned with His laws.
Standing there under Balanced Rock, I remembered something simple and quiet:
Discipleship isn’t about choosing between love and law. It’s about learning to walk with both.
Pocket I’m Keeping
“When we understand both love and law, we grow closer to the Savior whose life embodied both perfectly.”
What I Hear Now (Direct Quotes)
- “The love of God does not supersede His laws.”
- “Because of His love, He cannot change the commandments.”
- “Real love for the Lord is shown through obedience.”
- “The gospel is a message of love, but it is also a message of law.”
Link to the Talk
Photo Caption (BTS)
Balanced Rock, Arches National Park. A place where the wind is strong, the foundation is narrow, and the rock stands only because its base holds firm. A reminder that in discipleship, love and law work the same way.