Love is a Commitment

"The commandment taught by Jesus shortly before His crucifixion was: "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another" (john 13:34). Love is the core of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Love, also called nurturance, affection, warmth, and support, is consistently the most predictive variable for favorable child outcomes in research on parenting. Nurturance is defined as behavior that helps the child feel safe, valued, and accepted. Effective loving is the most important thing a parent can do for a child."

"Love is more than a feeling. It may be considered a commitment to act in the best interest of another person."

"When we take time to be with children, doing things that they value, they feel loved."

H. Wallace Goddard and Larry C. Jensen (2000), Understanding and Applying Proclamation Principles of Parenting; in David C. Dollahite, ed., Strengthening Our Families: An In-Depth Look at the Proclamation on the Family (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft), 124-134.