--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: God the Eternal Father did not give [the]…" description: "\"God the Eternal Father did not give [the] first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we dis..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_acceptance_god-the-eternal-father-did-not-give-the_827465.png" --- # God the Eternal Father did not give \[the\] first great… ![“God the Eternal Father did not give [the] first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or…” quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_acceptance_god-the-eternal-father-did-not-give-the_827465.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_acceptance_god-the-eternal-father-did-not-give-the_827465.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd0/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_acceptance_god-the-eternal-father-did-not-give-the_827465.png) > “God the Eternal Father did not give \[the\] first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration."No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!"For what we love determines what we seek."What we seek determines what we think and do."What we think and do determines who we are—and who we will become.” [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Divine love is offered freely; humans must choose to love God, not because He needs it. **In simple terms:** God doesn’t need love; we need to love God. Key Takeaway Choose love, not obligation. Themes faith divine nature human agency spiritual growth Mood reverent reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church service - daily meditation - seeking purpose Key Concepts theology free will relationship Questions to Reflect On - Do you love God for who He is or what He offers? - How does love shape your identity? A Different Perspective Love may feel burdensome if forced; genuine love requires sincerity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acceptance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) [Admiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admiration/) [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/glory/) [Influence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/influence/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time and space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-and-space/) ## Related quotes > [“As human beings, our first commandment is: Something needs to happen”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/as-human-beings-our-first-commandment-is-something-needs-to-happen/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/god-does-not-care-about-our-mathematical-difficulties-he-integrates/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [ \[Let\] the poor the needy and oppressed of the Earth, and those who want Land, resort to the fertile lands of our western country,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/let-the-poor-the-needy-and-oppressed-of-the-earth-and-those-who-want/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [“Jesus taught that "the great and first commandment is to love God completely, totally, and unreservedly -- with all one's heart, with all one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-strauch/jesus-taught-that-the-great-and-first-commandment-is-to-love-god/) [Alexander Strauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-strauch/) > [To be commanded to love God at all, let alone in the wilderness, is like being commanded to be well when we are sick,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-buechner/to-be-commanded-to-love-god-at-all-let-alone-in-the-wilderness-is/) [Frederick Buechner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-buechner/) > [A great commitment to the Great Commandment and the Great Commission will grow a great church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/a-great-commitment-to-the-great-commandment-and-the-great-commission/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [The first and great commandment is: Don't let them scare you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-davis/the-first-and-great-commandment-is-don-t-let-them-scare-you/) [Elmer Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmer-davis/) > [“Yes, brothers and sisters, the mission of the Church is glorious-to invite all of us to come unto Christ through proclaiming the gospel, perfecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/yes-brothers-and-sisters-the-mission-of-the-church-is-glorious-to/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“MCs center their rhythms on growing in relationship with God (UP), with one another (IN), and with those they are reaching out to (OUT).…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-breen/mcs-center-their-rhythms-on-growing-in-relationship-with-god-up-with/) [Mike Breen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-breen/) > [I wish to see the sons and daughters of the world in Peace and busily employed in the more agreeable amusement of fulfilling the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/i-wish-to-see-the-sons-and-daughters-of-the-world-in-peace-and-busily/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Love is the greatest thing that God can give us; for Himself is love: and it is the greatest thing we can give to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-taylor/love-is-the-greatest-thing-that-god-can-give-us-for-himself-is-love/) [Jeremy Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-taylor/) > [“The Great Commandment.\* 4d Hear, O Israel!\* The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 5Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-great-commandment-4d-hear-o-israel-the-lord-is-our-god-the-lord/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The great commandment is that we preach the gospel to every creature, but neither God nor the Bible says anything about forcing it down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-zamperini/the-great-commandment-is-that-we-preach-the-gospel-to-every-creature/) [Louis Zamperini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-zamperini/) > [In my opinion, Donald Trump lives a life of loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the great commandment. He cannot be bought;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-falwell-jr/in-my-opinion-donald-trump-lives-a-life-of-loving-and-helping-others/) [Jerry Falwell, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-falwell-jr/) > [The great commandment of life is to love the Lord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-great-commandment-of-life-is-to-love-the-lord/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) ## More by Dieter F. Uchtdorf > [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/compared-to-god-man-is-nothing-yet-we-are-everything-to-god/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone's life for eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/sometimes-a-single-phrase-of-testimony-can-set-events-in-motion-that/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/i-suppose-the-church-would-be-perfect-only-if-it-were-run-by-perfect/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/this-topic-of-judging-others-could-actually-be-taught-in-a-two-word/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-you-take-the-normal-opportunities-of-your-daily-life-and-create/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [In His plan there are no true endings. Only everlasting beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/in-his-plan-there-are-no-true-endings-only-everlasting-beginnings/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Often the deep valleys of our PRESENT will be UNDERSTOOD only by LOOKING BACK on them from the mountains of our FUTURE experience. Often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/often-the-deep-valleys-of-our-present-will-be-understood-only-by/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [We sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that ‘the worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-sometimes-confuse-sin-with-sinner-and-we-condemn-too-quickly-and/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [I am grateful that early in my life I was blessed with a simple faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/i-am-grateful-that-early-in-my-life-i-was-blessed-with-a-simple-faith/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Latter-day Saints are not asked to blindly accept everything they hear. We are encouraged to think and discover truth for ourselves. We are expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/latter-day-saints-are-not-asked-to-blindly-accept-everything-they/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) [Explore all 377 Dieter F. Uchtdorf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) ## More Acceptance quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [You dont choose your life; it chooses you. Theres no point asking why life has reserved certain joys or griefs, you just accept them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/you-dont-choose-your-life-it-chooses-you-theres-no-point-asking-why/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When one fib becomes due as it were, you must forge another to take up the old acceptance; and so the stock of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/when-one-fib-becomes-due-as-it-were-you-must-forge-another-to-take-up/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [Acceptance of death when it arrives is one thing, but to allow it to upstage the joys of living is ingratitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-blythe/acceptance-of-death-when-it-arrives-is-one-thing-but-to-allow-it-to/) [Ronald Blythe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-blythe/) > [“Loving someone who does not love you back hurts, alot, i know. It is liking seeing these pair of shoes at the retail store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nomthandazo-tsembeni/loving-someone-who-does-not-love-you-back-hurts-alot-i-know-it-is/) [Nomthandazo Tsembeni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nomthandazo-tsembeni/) > [Take responsibily for your past, the bad memories of poor decisions you took were your choices once, and you liked them for the moment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aruho-marvin/take-responsibily-for-your-past-the-bad-memories-of-poor-decisions/) [Aruho Marvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aruho-marvin/) > [Let us learn to accept and appreciate things now, and we'll find more happiness in every moment we live. Happiness comes when we stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/let-us-learn-to-accept-and-appreciate-things-now-and-we-ll-find-more/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [“Love first; ask questions later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-courtney/love-first-ask-questions-later/) [Jeremy Courtney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-courtney/) > [“There was beauty in chaos, she'd just never known it before.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-linsmeier/there-was-beauty-in-chaos-she-d-just-never-known-it-before/) [Amanda Linsmeier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-linsmeier/) > [Accepting the challenges in life makes it interesting and overcoming them makes it eloquent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/accepting-the-challenges-in-life-makes-it-interesting-and-overcoming/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Acceptance is the only thing you should teach. Be it Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Dalit, you must inculcate acceptance, not tolerance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamal-haasan/acceptance-is-the-only-thing-you-should-teach-be-it-christian-muslim/) [Kamal Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamal-haasan/) > [There just seems to be more acceptance now of other kinds of British films, than the picture-postcard ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-roth/there-just-seems-to-be-more-acceptance-now-of-other-kinds-of-british/) [Tim Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-roth/) > [You should never hate anyone, even your worst enemies. Everyone has something good about them. You have to find the redeeming quality and love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeannette-walls/you-should-never-hate-anyone-even-your-worst-enemies-everyone-has/) [Jeannette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeannette-walls/) > [The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-sense-that-in-this-universe-we-are-treated-as-strangers-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 3,960 Acceptance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acceptance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "God the Eternal Father did not give [the] first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. 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