Charity

Charity is a word commonly used to indicate giving to those in need. The full meaning of charity refers to the gift of life given to us by our Savior. We are all in need. Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to willingly sacrifice that all may be saved. His gift is charity. What He did was charity. Charity is the love He had. He came to suffer and die that we may return to God. Moroni explains: "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." (Ether 12:34) Unless we possess the love of Jesus Christ, or His Atonement, we cannot be saved in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Once we accept the suffering and death of our Lord for ourselves we can then learn to have charity for others. First we must receive charity, then we can give it. When our concern is less for ourselves and more for the salvation of others we have charity. We would do anything, suffer any pain or deprivation, and expend every effort for the salvation of one person. Everyone is a candidate for salvation, if they so desire it is theirs for the asking.

Mormon had charity for everyone. He understood the love of God. He had tasted of the goodness of the Lord. He knew the need for repentance, and what Jesus Christ had done for him, and the rest of us. At the young age of fifteen he was put in charge of an army of tens of thousands. At this same time, he began to teach his people about Jesus Christ so they might be saved, however, the Lord told him not to waste his breath because of their rebelliousness, they had rejected the word of God already.

Nephi also had charity, and explains this concept very clearly:

I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

I have charity for the Jew -- I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.

I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.

(2 Nephi 33:6-9)

Nephi starts by declaring his sure knowledge that Jesus had redeemed his soul. Then he talks about charity for his people because those who have faith in Christ will be with him. Then he says he has charity for both Jew and Gentile, that they can also be saved by obedience to Christ.

I too have felt to sing the song of redeeming love. I have charity for others because I know what Jesus Christ suffered for me -- and them. As I have come to understand what Jesus did for me, I realize that I'm not the only one. He suffered and died for every person who ever lived. That means I don't have any feelings of judgment or envy for any others, but rather I desire that they would accept the suffering and death of Jesus Christ for themselves so they won't have to suffer. I want them to be saved. This is charity. I have charity for all. I would suffer anything for any individual to come to know Him.

The process of helping others come to know Him is often long and hard. Most are heavily invested in the physical body and feelings, and have little, weak, and ignorant spirits. To nourish the spirit back to health requires time and effort. For example, if someone is lying in bed for years with little nourishment, they will be weak in body which would require time and effort to overcome. The spirit is no different. Longsuffering is required to nurse a spirit back to health. However, if the weak person doesn't desire to be strong, there is no way to force them just as the body will not get muscles without a person making the effort.

The greatest poetry in all of scripture comes from the Apostle Paul regarding charity:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Those who know the Lord, and have tasted of His goodness possess these qualities because they know what the Lord did for them. As I have come to understand what salvation means I find it easy to be longsuffering, kind, and unselfish. I see everyone as a child of God with the potential to be part of Him through the merits of Jesus Christ. I feel sorry for those who wander aimlessly in life, not knowing their full potential, without hope of a glorious resurrection. It doesn't matter if one is rich or poor, male or female, in bondage or free, all that matters is their knowledge of, and commitment to, Christ. On the other hand, I feel joy for all those who know our Redeemer.

My greatest desire is to give to others what I have, to teach them what I know, that they may love the Lord as I do, that they may also have hope, joy, peace -- and charity.