CHARITY
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth."
Moroni 7:46
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Having charity, or
the pure love of Christ, can seem like an overwhelming demand in a time when so
few people around us seem to show any love at all toward one another. However,
there is never an excuse to not have charity in our hearts. Christ himself faced
terrible persecution and hatred, the early pioneers experienced harassment and
pain caused by those who did not believe. But their charity never failed. Love
of the gospel and love of their fellow men helped them overcome obstacles and
hardships of every kind. Today we face different kinds of persecution, but our
commandment to love one another and have charity toward all remains. Charity
begins in our own hearts. It begins with pure thoughts of others, and driving
out the desire to judge and criticize. From these internal changes, we can
become outwardly charitable in our actions and services. The more love we feel
in our hearts, the more love we willingly give. And by recognizing and
fostering that love, we walk in the footsteps of Christ’s light and become more
like him.
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"There is no finer
way to demonstrate love of God than by serving Him in the positions to which we
may be called. Occasionally, the reward for that service will be prompt, and
we’ll see the light in the eyes of the person whom we have helped. Other times,
however, the Lord will let us wait a little while and let our reward come
another way."
President Thomas S
Monson / How
Do We Show Our Love / Liahona February 1998
"There is a serious
need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed,
hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted.
True charity is love in action. The need for charity is
everywhere."
President Thomas S
Monson / Charity
Never Faileth / October 2010 General Conference
"In a hundred small
ways, all of you wear the mantle of charity. Life is perfect for none of
us. Rather than being judgmental and critical of each other, may we have the
pure love of Christ for our fellow travelers in this journey through life. May
we recognize that each one is doing her best to deal with the challenges which
come her way, and may we strive to do our best
to help out."
President Thomas S
Monson / Charity
Never Faileth / October 2010 General Conference
"Fill your mind with
truth; fill your heart with love; fill your life with service."
President Thomas S Monson /
Be Thou an Example / October 2001
"Broken minds can be
healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed. While God is at
work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful,
nonjudgmental, and kind."
Elder Holland / Likea Broken Vessel / October 2013
"Often, the answer to
our prayer does not come while we’re on our knees but while we’re on our feet
serving the Lord and serving those around us. "
President Dieter F Uchtdorf /
Waiting on the Road to Damascus / April 2011
"Selfless acts of
service and consecration refine our spirits, remove the scales from our
spiritual eyes, and open the windows of heaven. By becoming the answer to
someone’s prayer, we often find the answer to our own."
President Dieter F Uchtdorf /
Waiting on the Road to Damascus /April 2011
"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 to abound in good works."
President Dieter F Uchtdorf /
The
Infinite Power of Hope / October 2008 General Conference
"All of our
divine attributes seem to flow from and be encompassed by [charity]. All men may have the gift of love, but
charity is bestowed only upon those who are true followers of Christ."
Gene R. Cook / Charity:
Perfect and Everlasting Love / Liahona July 2002
"As a man first
immerses his thoughts in love and conveys those feelings to God, man, or self,
a magnified portion of that attribute will surely follow from the
Spirit."
Gene R. Cook / Charity:
Perfect and Everlasting Love / Liahona July 2002