Charity

Selected Teachings

Bible Dictionary

“Charity. The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive (1 Cor. 8:1; 13:1–4, 8; 13; 14:1. Cf. Moro. 7:47)” (p. 632).

President Ezra Taft Benson

“The process of adding one godly attribute to another, as described by Peter [in 2 Peter 1], becomes the key to gaining this knowledge that leads to eternal life” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 63; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 48).

Elder Marvin J. Ashton

“Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of being [critical or verbally abusive] repulsive.

“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1992, 24; or Ensign, May 1992, 18–19).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie

“Above all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one most devoutly to be desired. Charity is more than love, far more; it is everlasting love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endureth forever. It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him. (2 Ne. 26:30; Moro. 7:47; 8:25–26.)” (Mormon Doctrine, 121).

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

“Stated simply, charity means subordinating our interests and needs to those of others, as the Savior has done for all of us. The Apostle Paul wrote that of faith, hope, and charity, ‘the greatest of these is charity’ (1 Corinthians 13:13), and Moroni wrote that ‘except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God’ (Moroni 10:21). I believe that selfless service is a distinctive part of the gospel” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1991, 20; or Ensign, Nov. 1991, 16).

Related Scriptures

See Matthew 5:46; 1 Corinthians 13:13; Colossians 3:12–15; 1 Peter 4:8; 2 Nephi 26:30; Alma 7:24; 34:29; Ether 10:32; 12:34; Doctrine and Covenants 18:19; 31:9.

Consider the following attributes of charity listed in Moroni 7:45–47:

Suffereth long
Is kind
Envieth not
Is not puffed up
Seeketh not her own
Is not easily provoked
Thinketh no evil
Rejoiceth in truth
Beareth all things
Believeth all things
Hopeth all things
Endureth all things
Endureth forever