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,
charityis 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
- Doth not behave itself unseemly
- 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
Charity is more than love,
far more; it is everlasting love,
perfect love, the pure love of
Christ which endureth forever.
—Elder Bruce R. McConkie19