Dalin H. Oaks gave a talk where he stated that Jesus taught us to love our neighbor as ourselves and that that is the 2nd great commandment according to Jesus.
He also said Christ taught us to love our enemies. He further stated that contention is not of The Lord but of the Devil.
What I took from his talk is that we can disagree with the words or actions of others but we mustn't ever be disagreeable.
We can be as The Savior was toward the adulteress caught in the act who was about to be stoned to death until the mob asked what Jesus had to say. When He said "He who is without sin may cast the first stone" the crowd was humbled into submission and let their stones fall as they walked away.
Jesus asked her "Where are thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?" She said " No man, Lord" and Jesus said "Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more."
Jesus was compassionate yet firm in His position. And we can take His example and try to lead our lives by it.
President Monson gave my favorite talk about the importance of being Christlike.He told a story about a woman who traveled to the Holy Land to walk where Jesus walked but he said walking where Jesus walked is not as important as walking as Jesus walked. Being Christlike brings you closer to Jesus than any tour of the Holy Land.
But what keeps us from accepting the offer to follow Christ or walking as He walked?
Jesus told a rich man he should sell all he has and give it to the poor upon being asked by this man what it was he lacked. The rich man walked away sorely grieved because his wealth meant more to him than the chance to take part in Christs' ministry.
But sometimes it's not a lack of giving up our stuff or even skipping meals that stops us its holding onto assumptions of others and prejudices that harden our hearts against our brothers and sisters.
There was a talk where the speaker said something like "we ought not to judge according to appearances." We ought to consider more than what we might assume at a glance or with limited knowledge.
Sometimes we are quick to convict others in the court room of our mind. We ought to weigh the scales of judgment towards innocence rather than guilt in order to judge righteously. And only The Lord knows their story and the content of their hearts which is why judgment is His alone. As for us we are commanded to forgive.
I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. D&C 64:10And it is an example in one of Christs personal prayers "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:10-15
Being Christlike involves much work, it involves loving every one of God's children as Jesus loved all He met. It involves sacrifice and being of service to those in need. It involves doing the right thing because it's the right thing to do and not because we seek to avoid punishment or to earn a blessing. Righteousness is its own reward.
When we are in a moment where we are truly Christlike we will feel a great sense of contentment and peace. But peace exists within us regardless of any external influences. We can be the calm of the storm. We can be right in the epicenter of the storm and be at total peace.
Christ has that effect on each of us but we can share that effect as well. Sharing the light of Christ by example is to me what it means to be a disciple it is what being a true Christian really means.
