My friends, I have found it. I have found the world’s cure for road rage. Not only that, I have found the way to drive in the worst of conditions almost stress-free. To those of you who feel that the Savior’s command to “love your enemies” is difficult enough in normal life, but absolutely impossible in heavy traffic, would you please consider the following story? (see Matthew 5:44)

Recently, a friend of mine was traveling down Interstate 15 from Idaho to Provo, Utah. As she drove, she began to ponder what it would be like to love all men as the Savior commanded. Her thoughts were particularly relevant since she was traveling through one of Utah’s most infamous construction zones, with its equally infamous traffic, a stretch of highway, as some of you may well know, where road rage takes on a whole new dimension.

Well suddenly, the idea came to her that rather than looking at each car that passed her and thinking, “Stupid driver,” or some other such unkind thing, she decided she would look at them and say in her mind as they went by, “I love you.”

So accordingly, the next car that passed her, she looked over at the driver
and said in her mind, “I love you.”

Now please note: She said this in her mind, not out loud. The Utah Highway Patrol would probably have had her in handcuffs within five miles if she had said it aloud.

Well, she kept doing it, and it actually became fun. All the way from Kaysville on the north to Provo on the south, she told every driver that passed her, “I love you.”

The remarkable thing about this experience was that the more she said it, the more she really felt it. The usual tension and grumpiness that comes with heavy traffic in close quarters – well, it just wasn’t there! Instead, she felt the kind of peace and joy that comes to all those who love as the Savior loves.

When my friend finally got to Provo, there wasn’t the usual huge sigh of relief as she exited the freeway. She – she was actually having fun; she didn’t want the trip to end. When she walked in to greet her family, the feeling went with her, and it even intensified. At that moment she loved all men, even Utah drivers, with a pure love. The warmth of that love lingered for days, and left her yearning for its return.

Recently I was asked how we can come to love people. I have pondered that question deeply, and this is my answer: Just do it! Consider what kind of a world we would have if every driver, every parent, and every person stopped listening to their fears, and started listening to their hearts.

My dear friends, we love those we serve, we love those we pray for, and we love most when we give rather than take. In other words, love begins in our actions and moves from there to our heart.