Charity
Overview
Charity is the pure love of Christ. It is the love that Christ has for the children of men and that the children of men should have for one another. It is the highest, noblest, and strongest kind of love and the most joyous to the soul (see 1Â Nephi 11:23).
Charity is “the pure love of Christ,” or “everlasting love” (Moroni 7:47; 8:17). The prophet Mormon taught: “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” (Moroni 7:45; see also 1 Corinthians 13:4–7).
Jesus Christ is the perfect example of charity. In His mortal ministry, He always “went about doing good,” teaching the gospel and showing tender compassion for the poor, afflicted, and distressed (see Matthew 4:23; Mark 6:6; Acts 10:38). His crowning expression of charity was His infinite Atonement. He said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). This was the greatest act of long-suffering, kindness, and selflessness that we will ever know.
The Savior wants all people to receive His love and to share it with others. He declared to His disciples: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:34–35). In relationships with family members and others, followers of Christ look to the Savior as their example and strive to love as He loves, with unfailing compassion, patience, and mercy.
Related Topics
Scriptures
Scripture References
Scripture Study Resources
Messages from Church Leaders
Videos
“Charity Never Faileth”
“Charity: An Example of the Believers”
Learning Resources
Church Magazines
Richard M. Romney, “How We’re Helping Refugees,” New Era, March 2017
Heather Laverty, “Ignoring the Finish Line,” New Era, March 2017
Merillee Booren, “Me? A Bully?” Friend or Liahona, February 2017
Rebecca Cornish, “An Extra-Special Present,” Friend, January 2017
Carlisa Cramer, “5 Tips for Making Friends with Shy People,” New Era, December 2016
Rachel Harris, “Accepting My Shyness,” New Era, December 2016
Charlotte Mae, “A Tree for Travis,” Friend, December 2016
Brooke Jameson, “Serving More Than Soup,” New Era, November 2016
Julia Ventura, “Gone Fishing,” Friend or Liahona, October 2016
Study Manuals
Teachings of Presidents of the Church
Stories
Teaching Resources
Stories and Activities for Teaching Children
“Charity,” Lesson Helps for Teaching Children