Included in the old law as understood by some of the ancients was the notion that we could love our friends but hate our enemies (compare 4 Nephi 1:39). The group known as Essenes, for example, who lived during Jesus’ mortal life in Jerusalem and in Qumran near the Dead Sea, openly taught as a fundamental tenet of their brand of Judaism that one should love the children of light but hate the children of darkness.44 But the higher law of the gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us a better way to respond to opposition and persecution: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.”
Heavenly Father and the Savior are our example. An essential attribute of God is love. And we have a mortal example: Joseph Smith, who said: “I have no enemies but for the truth’s sake. I have no desire but to do all men good. I feel to pray for all men.”45
Thus Jesus commands his audience to love their enemies, bless those who hurl curses at them, and pray for those who despitefully use them. The reason? “That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven.” After all, God the Father is kind and loving toward all his children, even those who forsake or ignore him. He is patient and long-suffering. “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.” It is no accident that Jesus concludes this section of his great sermon by commanding his listeners to be perfect, as their Father in Heaven and he are perfect. Loving kindness and tolerant restraint are hallmarks of God’s perfection.