The following is based on a portion of a transcript from a sermon from November 21, 2015.
In the Torah, in Leviticus 19:18, the Lord says, “Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord” (Holy Bible, KJV).
Further down, in verses 33-34 we read:
And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.
Let’s tie this together. In verse 18 we’re commanded to love our neighbors, the people we know. In verses 33-34 it extends to anyone coming into the land. This is important, because this is the Law. When refugees come we don’t say, “let’s see what they can do for us, let’s see what skills they have.”
Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:43-48:
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
In the Book of Mormon, Christ teaches the same doctrine to the Lehites.
And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy; but behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good. Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled. Old things are done away, and all things have become new. Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. -3 Nephi 4:70-73 RAV, 12:43-48 OPV.
This is the great work we show after we’ve been born again. We too love our neighbors, just a Christ set the perfect example for us to do. It’s that compassion for our fellow beings. We see that we were in a fallen state, that Jesus Christ descended below it all, and suffered for us. He died for us. And, all he asks us to do in return is love him. To accept him. To come to him with a broken heart and contrite spirit. And by doing this, the Holy Spirit moves us. We grow in Grace and become Christlike, loving our neighbors. Not turning them away, but helping them in any way we can.