THE LAW OF LOVE—loving as God loves, seeking another’s healing, expecting nothing in return—is a simple principle with profound, life-changing implications. How can we live the law of love? Steve Young shares insights from his own multifaceted life as well as from others who are scientists, fellow Latter-day Saints, Anglican, atheist, Baptist, Catholic, Confucian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and secular people of wisdom, as well as from the scriptures. This practical book may shift your mindset to a more expansive worldview that just might change everything. Whether in football, work, church, or family, the law of love is undefeated.
This was a great book to start the new year with. I loved it. Some of my takeaways: —the law of love: loving as God loves, seeking another person’s healing, wanting nothing in return. —we teach our kids to be obedient as a way to get a reward but eventually but we want to move them (and us) to a preparatory track: acting in love without a desire for reward. —bring everyone up and avoid zero sun games (like his Hall of Fame coach did.) —whenever our relationships become transactional, they rot. —Christ wants to be in the middle of our relationships.
Some books teach good principles. Some share relatable stories. Some give you good tips for being a better person. Few completely change your paradigm. This does all of it. Looking at the laws of the gospel in a new way, we get a greater glimpse of the power of the grace of Jesus Christ through the message and delivery of an unexpected source. Steve has been one larger than life for me growing up watching him win Super Bowls. Certainly he was a great fireside but this has elevated my appreciation and love for who Steve is. I have struggled to put love first in all of my relationships but this book gives me the drive to be better and make it more central. The council in this book can heal families, friendships, neighborhoods, congregations, and the world if we will follow the teachings relayed. Steve better points us to Christ. Thank you Steve! Way more than a hall of fame QB!!
My amazing cousin gave me this book with a glowing recommendation, and I took my sweet time chewing on it but I’m so glad I read it and looking forward to using it to guide and shape my scripture study in 2025. I highly recommend this to all my LDS friends and family. Steve Young— who knew??
As a big fan of the San Francisco 49ers and the BYU Cougars, as well as a longtime resident of the Bay Area, I was keenly aware of the abuse heaped upon Steve Young when he was first traded to the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, back in 1987. He was the “interloper” who came to snatch the ball out of the hands of the legendary Joe Montana, before Montana was ready. Some fans heaped abuse on Steve Young; sportswriters were hurtful, and even some 49er players were less than kind. I watched Steve Young take it all without a single public complaint. I watched him refuse to become bitter and, instead, work to befriend those who had been unkind and unfair to him. I watched him set an example of great maturity and forgiveness, and I have never forgotten that. So I picked up “The Law of Love” with great interest, but I never expected the book to affect my perspective about some of the most important religious principles I’ve been learning all through my life. “The Law of Love” prompts a paradigm shift and provides inspiration for how we can live a the higher law of love right now — in our individual relationships with God and in the way we view and treat every other person we know. Any person who reads the book with an open heart will be better for it. Thanks for the wake-up call, Steve. I’m going to read “The Law of Love” again and start working on allowing it to change who I am.
When I first heard about this book. I thought, "Everyone is just giving him an audience because he is rich and famous." However, when I heard him talk about his study of love over the past decade and his perspective on the idea that love should not be transactional, it gave me a new perspective on love. It helped me see I could love more deeply and find more peace in my life by loving this way. Because that is the way Jesus Christ loves us. He wants us to follow the commandments, not because they are a checklist to cross off, but because keeping commandments is a way to become like him. Jesus loves us despite the fact we have done things that hurt him. He will pay the debt if we follow him, by loving our neighbors and our enemies. All of this greater understanding of love and of Jesus from a rich and famous person. Read this book and find out how be find more peace in your life be learning and living the law of love.
I was surprised by this book. It was given to me by a relative, for whom I have a lot of respect and so I would give it a chance. It had some aspects that were hard to get around, but I gained so much respect for Steve Young after reading this. He quoted the Koran, Thomas Merton, Being the Block podcast, Blair Ostler, and so many more outside the box thinkers, at least for the LDS tradition. I find his distinction between the law of obedience and the law of love very similar to Richard Rohr’s first and second half of life description. So having that kind of a message that will be more accepted by Mormons is such a great thing.
Putting together much that we already know or at least have heard
Steve Young has put together scripture and spiritual teachings in a way that seems obvious now but which was less clear prior to reading The Law of Love.
There is much to think on and even more to practice here until we not only see but feel love for just like Christ.
Thanks foe making things clearer in my mind and giving me to make my heart clearer as well.
I shouldn’t be surprised that this book was more religious than I thought since I belong to the same religion as the author, but I was! I thought his stories were inspiring and of course the law of love is something we can never hear enough. I learned a lot more about Steve young than I knew, and I like the examples he shared. I gave 4 stars instead of 5, because for me each chapter just felt a little repetitive, but overall worth the read.
This title reveals ways to love one another purely. Young gives examples in his life where love made a profound positive difference. His words are conducive to helping find ways to practice pure unselfish love. The text is uplifting and hopeful, suggesting to me that the path to kindness and love is doable.
I particularly enjoyed hearing how he applied the principles of the law of love in his own life. This is the first book by Young that I’ve read, so the stories were new to me. So many good ideas that particularly now, could change the direction the country/world is heading.
Worth the read. a hard task to love one another, the more i read the more personal and challenging the request to follow the savior. nice job, heartfelt
The "Law of Love" taught by Steve Young in this excellent book is a direct instruction for me to change my personality, and its blessings have already been evident. To love all others, especially my wife Maurine just as she is, expecting nothing in return, truly is personality changing for me. Loving as our Heavenly Father loves provides room in other persons lives for the Savior Jesus Christ to heal them -- much more than I or any human being can possibly do. "The pure love of Christ" is taught and encouraged in Moroni chapter 7, which some years ago impressed me. Pray[ing] . . . with all the energy of heart" (Moroni 7:48) will help to remember and maintain the desired personality change. Steve frames the Law of Love in these words -- persuasion, long-suffering, meekness and love unfeigned (from Doc. & Cov. 121:41). Steve has practiced by laying these four characteristics over any situation he encounters. And with both pride (forgive me please) and humility I remember Doc. & Cov. 121:33-46, the main scripture memorization hammered home by President M. Ross Richards and Sister Marie Curtis Richards, my mission leaders.
So good! Steve Young is awesome and shares his thoughts on the gospel and love, accompanied by his experiences as a football player. Sports and the gospel, what more could you ask for?