Sabbath Devotional: By This "Shalmeno"

As a young child, I wondered what a “shalmeno” was. We sang about it often at church, and it clearly mattered to Jesus. This special shalmeno was what showed Jesus we loved him. What could it be? Later, when I could read the words, I was mildly disappointed to learn that it was just the line: “By this shall men know that ye are my disciples — if ye have love, one to another.” 

But I continue to ponder, what is our “shalmeno”? How should we, as Christ’s disciples, show love to others?

In the New Testament, when a lawyer asks how to get to heaven, Jesus tells him to love God and his neighbor. The lawyer wants to know exactly: “But who is my neighbor?” Jesus’ famous answer through the parable of the Good Samaritan not only shows who the neighbor is (a man from a different religion and ethnicity), but who misses the mark. It is the priest and Levite who don’t help. In their focus on keeping a few commandments, they neglected the most important one. As 1 John tells us, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8 NIV).

I received a similar lesson as a teenager. One day I was arguing with my younger brother (one of many days, I’m sure). My mom called me out on it, and said, “You read your scriptures every day, but clearly don’t understand them!” I’ve never forgotten that moment of clarity, realizing that learning about Jesus and becoming like Jesus were not the same tasks. Sometimes, I think about the New Testament story of Mary and Martha serving in different ways. I imagine Jesus putting his arm around me and saying, “Anita, Anita — [put in your name here] —you are righteously careful and worried about many things. But there is one more thing that is needful.” What is that one additional thing that is needful? That essential, good part, Jesus. 

Paul’s famous chapter on charity explains this principle: “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3 NIV). We can expand on how this manifests in our own lives: If I do lots of genealogy, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I read my scriptures every day, and serve lots of missions, and study Come Follow Me, and attend every possible church meeting, but have not love, I am nothing. . . . It’s like that story of two women who arrive in heaven, and are asked, “What do you know about Jesus?” The first lists off scriptures and theology with great detail. The second woman falls to her knees, crying, “O Lord my Redeemer!” It’s not theological knowledge but love that is our “shalmeno.”

Jesus’ harshest words weren’t to sinners, but to those who used religion hypocritically: the Pharisees and scribes. He described them as whited sepulchres (whitewashed tombs) that were beautiful on the outside but full of rotting bones on the inside. The Pharisees were upset that mercy was offered outside the bounds they understood. But that’s the point of Jesus’ grace. He tells us that the merciful are blessed. Joseph Smith also said, “Our heavenly Father is more liberal in His views, and boundless in His mercies and blessings, than we are ready to believe or receive.” These mercies are ones we need, and ones we need to give to others.

Religion today is weaponized, politicized, and used hypocritically. That is taking God’s name in vain. But by their fruits, we are told we shall know them. When someone is invoking the Lord’s name or support, see if they are trying to be like Jesus, as the Primary song teaches: “Try to show kindness in all that you do. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought.” 

The scriptures are overflowing with instructions about showing the kind of love Christ has. Here are a few of my favorites. Paul’s letter continues: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13, NIV).

Moroni elaborates: “But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved [sisters], pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the [daughters] of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure” (Moroni 7:47-48).

“By this shall men know. . ." Is it by our scripture reading, temple work, or mission tags? By our tithing payments or temple recommends? By our excellently prepared lessons and meetings and councils? These have their vital places, but like Paul’s tinkling cymbals, ring hollow without love. The only way we show him he has our heart is by giving it to others with grace and love like his. 

What is our “shalmeno” to Jesus? This is the daily, lifelong question — and — quest for us all.

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image credit: Love One Another by Emma Taylor

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Anita Wells is the faithful root senior director at Mormon Women for Ethical Government.