Charity

I seem to be neglecting this blog, not on purpose though.

Tonight I wanted to share the lesson that I taught for Family night tonight. The lesson was on Charity. I've posted my outline and few a quotes that I used. I hope that you can take something from this and better understand what Charity is.

Moroni 7:47 - But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (this scripture is what we will be memorizing)

- What is Charity?
It is the Pure Love of Christ

- Word that describe Charity: patient, hopeful, truth-loving, innocent, enduring (I can go on but will stop there)

- If you have Charity what will you do?
Good works, or in other words service

Alma 7:24 - And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

- From reading the scriptures I have noticed that Charity is always accompanied by faith and hope b/c without faith and hope we cannot be charitable.

- Pres. Dietr F Uchtdorf (2nd Counselor of the 1st Presidency) describes what Charity is in his talk given in October 2008 titled 'The Infinite Power of Hope'

"The things we hope for lead us to faith, while the things we hope in lead us to charity. The three qualities - faith, hope and charity - working together, grounded on the truth and light of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, lead us abound in good works."

2 Nephi 26:30 - Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

The above scripture segways into a quote that I found by Elder Dallin H Oaks of the quorum the 12 Apostles. It is from his talk "The Challenge to Become" (Nov 2000 Ensign).

"We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason - for the pure love of Christ. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity. The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is tht charity, the pure love of Christ is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes."

I have to agree with Elder Oaks in that to become charitable it takes time. We must become like Christ through our own conversions of service to our neighbors, friends and family. We must be willling to let that change happen.

Ether 12:32-34 - 32 And I also remember that thou hast said that thou hast prepared a house for man, yea, even among the mansions of thy Father, in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared.

33 And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men.

34 And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.

- How do we know Jesus had Charity?
He gave his life for us because he loved us.

- Who need charity?
Everyone

- What happens if we don't have charity?
We can't live with our Father in Heaven


I just want to bear you my testimony that I know that Charity is the pure love of Christ and that if we are willing through our own conversions that we can become charitable and to become like Christ. We may not be perfect but I know that this is one of the ways that we can become perfect and to be able to receive the blessings of heaven.