News Story

Faith Leaders Discuss Commandment to 'Love Thy Neighbour'

Leaders from two religions, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Jewish faith, spoke to a public gathering in Auckland last night, on the commandment to love thy neighbour.

Elder James J. Hamula, Pacific Area President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and Rabbi John Crites-Borak from Amud ha-Shachar/First Light in Los Angeles, California, shared insights from their respective faith traditions on the subject.

Rabbi Borak quoted from the Torah during his remarks and in the question and answer session afterwards.

He suggested that love was something you do, rather than just something you have or feel.  For Jews, he said, “loving and helping others was a religious obligation.”

Elder Hamula quoted from the New Testament as well as from other Latter-day Saint scripture.

He said that losing ourselves in the service of God, our families and others, and in putting the needs of others before our own, help us to become more loving and kind, as well as to find our true selves.

The event was held at the Raye Freedman Arts Centre in Epsom, Auckland. 

Attendees included faith leaders, academics, families and youth. 

The evening was hosted by Elder Mike Roberts, an Area Seventy in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A third speaker, Reverend Uesifili Unasa, was unfortunately unable to attend.

Read and watch videos about Latter-day Saint beliefs with respect to loving your neighbour at JesusChrist.lds.org and Mormon.org.nz.

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