Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Lesson 37, “Charity, the Pure Love of Christ”

My Thoughts

The Prophet Joseph expressed concern about "the contraction of affectionate

feelings ... in the world" (page 428). In contrast, he said that we should "enlarge
[our] souls towards each other" and "let [our] hearts expand, let them be enlarged
towards others" (pages 427-28). What do you think it means to enlarge our
hearts and souls toward each other?

"Don't be limited in your view with regard to your neighbor's virtue ... you must
enlarge your souls towards each other, if you would do like Jesus, and carry your
fellow-creatures to Abraham's bosom. ... We must bear with each other's failings,
as an indulgent parent bears with the foibles of his children.

"...As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your
hearts expand, let them be enlarged towards others; you must be long-suffering,
and bear with the faults and errors of mankind. How precious are the souls of
men!"

"It is one evidence that men are unacquainted with the principles of godliness to
behold the contraction of affectionate feelings and lack of charity in the world."

As I read about charity in the scriptures, charity, virtue, and godliness are related.
D&C 121:45-46 refers to charity and virtue with the promise of our confidence
waxing strong in the presence of God. In D&C 4:5-6 we read (compare 2 Peter 1: 4-
8): "And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify
him for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience,
brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence." This list includes
attributes of charity which are patience and brotherly kindness. In 1 Corinthians
13:13 we read "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest
of these is charity." Paul tells us in Timothy 1:5 "Now the end of the commandment
is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."

Although we are commanded to give of our substance to those in need, charity is

more than giving. We must have love, patience, and kindness. In 1 Cor. 13:3 we
read, "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."

As we live with others, we see their faults and failings. To enlarge our hearts
towards others, we need to remember the Savior's teachings in the Sermon on the
Mount.

1 JUDGE not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure
ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine own eye?
 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
(New Testament | Matthew 7:1 - 5)
The following quotes are from the lesson. “Don't be limited in your view with regard
to your neighbor's virtue. ... You must be long-suffering, and bear with the faults
and errors of mankind. ... We must bear with each other's failings, as an indulgent
parent bears with the foibles of his children. ... How precious are the souls of men!”
"...As you increase in innocence and virtue, as you increase in goodness, let your
hearts expand, let them be enlarged towards others."

Our desire is to return to live with God and become as he is. We must be filled with
this charity or love. In Moroni 7:48 we are told how we may do so, "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."

In Luke 2:52 we read "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with
God and man." Although he never committed sin, he increased in wisdom. So we
must increase in love both for God and our fellow man. Our hearts must enlarge and
grow in love. The key as mentioned above is to pray that we may be blessed with
this love. It may be a long time until we approach the love showed by our Savior.
Isaiah 63:9 states "in his love and in his pity he redeemed them."

The Prophet Joseph Smith also said, "You must enlarge your souls towards
each other, if you would do like Jesus, and carry your fellow-creatures to
Abraham's bosom." (pp. 427-428) The ultimate charity is the work of humbly and
lovingly saving others.

Alma's soul was enlarged in love for his fellow men. In Alma 29:1 he cries, "O that I
were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and
speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance
unto every people!" And then in Alma 29:9, "This is my glory, that perhaps I may be
an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my
joy."
From Joseph Smith, “The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are
disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take
them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs.” (pp. 428-429)
As our hearts enlarge with charity, we become Saviors on Mount Zion (3 Ne. 20:40)
in bringing others to Jesus Christ.

“... How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings
unto them, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings unto them of good,
that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion: Thy God reigneth!”
(Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 20:40)
By doing so we fulfill our missionary purpose of inviting others to come unto Christ,
receive the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement,
repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.
 Quotes

CHAPTER 13

Paul extols the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds
almost all else.

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.
(New Testament | 1 Corinthians 13:Heading - 13)

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.
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 7:45 - 48)
21 And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God ...
(Book of Mormon | Moroni 10:21)

30 ... 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.
(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 26:30)

5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good
conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
(New Testament | 1 Timothy 1:5)
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.
(Book of Mormon | Ether 12:33 - 34)

45 Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of
faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax
strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon
thy soul as the dews from heaven.
46 The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging
scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting
dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.
(Doctrine and Covenants | Section 121:45 - 46)

16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye
will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not
suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to
perish.
26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for
the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk
guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor,
every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing
the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and
temporally, according to their wants.
27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite
that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that
he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must
be done in order.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 4:16, 26 - 27)