Happy Valentine’s Day — the “day of love.” Although many probably roll their eyes at this made-up holiday that seems to only benefit card stores, florists, and candy shops, love is arguably the most important thing in our lives. Yes, we need food, clothing, and shelter, but love is that transcending value that is vitally important to us, both naturally and spiritually.

Love takes several forms, including romantic love, brotherly/friendship-type love of mankind, and love of family. Have you ever thought about living without love, any kind of it? What would life be like?

What about agape love, the love of God? Can you imagine life without that? Honestly, I don’t think we have to because if it didn’t exist, we wouldn’t exist. How do I know? Because, as the song “Jesus Loves Me” says, “the Bible tells me so.”

The foundation of all the scripture, both Bible and Book of Mormon, from page one to the end, is the love that God had and has for you and me. Everything that was and is centers on love. All the events and interactions that God had with man were based on His love for us, even during times of destruction (tough love in these cases). Every action taken by the Lord has been done with the love of each and every person, on an individual level, in mind. So without love, mankind wouldn’t physically exist.

From a spiritual life prospective, it’s all about love, too. The entire Old Testament and pre-Christ time in the Book of Mormon was a setup for Christ’s entrance into the world. Christ’s entire life was about loving us and never taking any mind of Himself. Even when He was at His lowest point and asked God if there was any way the burden of dying on the cross could be taken away, He said, “nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

Love for His creation meant that He would suffer and die so that all of us might have the ability to live. That’s the love that we absolutely cannot live without. We can go our entire lives never experiencing any other kind of love and still live, both in this life and the one to come; however, without this First Love, eternal life would be impossible. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Love, oh, what love.

This article has undergone ministry review and approval.