Charity: The Pure Love of Christ

By Brother Keith L. Brown

The following Sacrament talk was delivered to the congregation of the Annapolis Maryland Ward of the Annapolis Maryland Stake of Zion on Sabbath day morning, 27 February 2005.

Good morning Brothers and Sisters. The theme for our Sacrament meetings this month is Charity: the Pure Love of Christ. It is a theme that runs throughout the entirety of Scriptures and it now becomes my privilege to share a few remarks regarding this theme. I pray that some of what I have to say this morning will be a blessing to you

I should like to begin by turning in the scriptures to 1 Corinthians 13 which is known as the great love chapter of the Bible and reading the words which we find there.

1 THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

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

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

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

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

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Now turn with me in the Book of Mormon to Moroni 7: 42-48 and let us read the words that are found there.

42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

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.

48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.  Amen.

So then, what is charity? Mark E. Petersen once said that charity in its true sense “is the pure love of Christ which helps us to love both God and our fellowmen.” (Ensign, May 1977, p.75.) Hugh Nibley stated, “For charity there is no bookkeeping, no deals, interests, bargaining or ulterior motives; charity gives to those who do not deserve, and expects nothing in return; it is the love God has for us, and the love that we have for little children, of whom we expect nothing, but for whom we would give everything.” And N. Eldon Tanner reminded us that “it is easy to do things for our own families and loved ones, but to give of our substance for the stranger who is in need is the real test of our charity and love for our fellowmen.”

Of all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one to be most desired. Charity is more than ordinary love; it is everlasting love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endures for all eternity. It is a love that is centered in righteousness. So much so that the person who possesses it has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him. We are taught this in 2 Nephi 26:30:

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.

“Above all things,” the Lord says, “clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:125). The Apostle Peter instructed the saints that “above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8).  And in 1 Timothy 1:5 we are taught that “the end of the commandment is charity.” “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

Charity is an essential qualification for the ministers of Christ (D & C 4:5) – no one can assist in the Lord’s work without it (D & C 12:8; 18:19) and the saints of God are commanded to seek and attain it (D & C 121:45; D & C 124:116; 2 Nephi 33:7-9; Alma 7:24). We are taught in 1 Corinthians 16:14, “Let all your things be done with charity.” And we are reminded in Doctrine and Covenants 18:19 that “if you have not faith, hope, and charity, you can do nothing.”

Charity is a gift of the Spirit which must be gained if one is to have salvation. Moroni writes in Moroni 10:20-21 these words:

20 Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.

21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.

To Moroni the Lord said: “faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness,” and Moroni replied to the Lord: “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. 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 12:28, 33-34)

Elder John H. Groberg in a talk which he gave entitled “The Power of God’s Love” made these remarks:

What is it about true love that touches every heart? Why does the simple phrase “I love you” evoke such universal joy?

Men give various reasons, but the real reason is that every person who comes to earth is a spirit son or daughter of God. Since all love emanates from God, we are born with the capacity and the desire to love and to be loved. One of the strongest connections we have with our premortal life is how much our Father and Jesus loved us and how much we loved them. Even though a veil was drawn over our memory, whenever we sense true love, it awakens a longing that cannot be denied.

Responding to true love is part of our very being. We innately desire to reconnect here with the love we felt there. Only as we feel God’s love and fill our hearts with His love can we be truly happy.

God’s love fills the immensity of space; therefore, there is no shortage of love in the universe, only in our willingness to do what is needed to feel it. To do this, Jesus explained we must “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, strength, and … mind; and thy neighbour as thyself” (Luke 10:27).

The more we obey God, the more we desire to help others. The more we help others, the more we love God and on and on. Conversely, the more we disobey God and the more selfish we are, the less love we feel.

Trying to find lasting love without obeying God is like trying to quench thirst by drinking from an empty cup—you can go through the motions, but the thirst remains. Similarly, trying to find love without helping and sacrificing for others is like trying to live without eating—it is against the laws of nature and cannot succeed. We cannot fake love. It must become part of us. The prophet Mormon explained:

“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.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moro. 7:47–48).

God is anxious to help us feel His love wherever we are.

(John H. Groberg, “The Power of God’s Love,” Ensign, Nov. 2004, 9) 

I will close my remarks this day by leaving you with the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith which I believe puts the final period in place on this discussion about charity and describes to us fully what charity truly is. He said, “Let everyone labor to prepare himself for the vineyard, sparing a little time to comfort the mourners; to bind up the broken-hearted; to reclaim the backslider; to bring back the wanderer; to re-invite into the kingdom such as have been cut off, by encouraging them to lay to while the day lasts, and work righteousness, and, with one heart and one mind, prepare to help redeem Zion, that goodly land of promise, where the willing and obedient shall be blessed. Souls are as precious in the sight of God as they ever were; and the Elders were never called to drive any down to hell, but to persuade and insight all men, everywhere to repent, that they may become heirs of salvation.” (HC, 2:229.) Brothers and Sisters it is my sincere heartfelt prayer that I may exercise more charity in my own live, that each and every one of us may exercise more charity in our own lives in that those around us may come to know of the blessed faith and hope that abides within each and everyone of us and will want to gain more knowledge and understanding of that faith and hope that they too will want to become members of Zion, that goodly land of promise, where the willing and obedient shall be blessed. This is my humble prayer this day, in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Tags: Charity Love Christ Gospel