Sacrament Meeting Talk: 6/28/2020
"Charity never faileth." (Moroni 7:46) It's a common theme throughout the Church, and it's posted in the Relief Society rooms of most buildings, as it is the Relief Society motto, but what is charity? 1 Corinthians 13 and Moroni 7 list many things that charity is not, but both also list a few things that charity IS:
rejoicing in truth
bearing all things
believing all things
hoping all things
enduring all things and enduring forever
kind
long-suffering
pure love
the greatest of all gifts
To me, all these attributes can be summed up in the phrase ‘like Jesus Christ: perfect and purified”
Charity is also often summarized by the quote from Moroni 7:47, "charity is the pure love of Christ… and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." Not only is that the common summary, it is often truncated to just the first half: charity is the pure love of Christ. This is true; charity IS the pure love of Christ, but if we stop there, we miss the bigger point: Moroni 7:48 continues to say, "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love…" and I'd add, be blessed with this gift "...which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ;..."
We have been promised the gift of charity, that pure love and all the accompanying attributes if we are true followers of our Savior, Jesus Christ. One of the things we need to do to receive this gift is to fervently ask in prayer. As we receive the gift of charity, we become like Jesus Christ, "...the sons [and daughters] of God; that when [Jesus] 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."
Talk about a hefty promise: to be like our Savior--purified sons and daughters of God--and recognize Him and see Him as He is. Isn’t that the ultimate goal of life on this earth? But it is more than that, it's also a warning: "...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing..." "...ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God;" (Moroni 7:46, 10:21)
Charity is not just a list of attributes or gifts that we've been promised will be given us if we're followers of Jesus Christ. It is also a change of heart that if we don't develop, we cannot be saved. Fortunately, our Heavenly Father loves us immeasurably, and we have been given the perfect example of charity: the life of our Savior.
Jesus "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). He focused on, served and taught individuals, in usually very personal ways. He ministered personally to the woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8) and the woman with an issue of blood (Luke 8). He dined with and taught "publicans and sinners" (Mark 2:15)--people hated and considered unclean amongst the Jews. He healed Lazarus at the request of Mary (John 11:32). He taught parables of the lost sheep (Matthew 18) and the prodigal son (Luke 15) that emphasize the importance of individuals to Him and our Father in Heaven. He also showed us that both the physical needs--when He healed many, varied infirmities and literally fed thousands--and spiritual needs--anytime He forgave sins--of those around us are at least as important as our own.
We can know we have charity, or that pure love, when we show genuine concern and compassion for all our brothers and sisters. (Gospel Principles chapter 30) No matter our individual circumstance, Jesus wants us to feel His love as an individual, and sometimes that love is shared by another of His followers. Just as He wants us to FEEL His love individually, He wants us each to SHARE His love individually. Remember, Jesus Christ Himself directed us shortly before His crucifixion, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John 15:12) This command, as well as the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) reminds us not to judge whether someone is like us, or worthy of our help, but to have and develop charity for all. “[The Lord] sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45) and He is “no respecter of persons”. (Doctrine and Covenants 1:34) We cannot have charity if we do not love everyone as He does.
Between the unique experiences of the ward recently splitting, followed immediately by the COVID-19 shutdowns, it might be hard to know what to do, but we can still serve, teach and minister to each other. It might take some creativity, but I know as we pray for charity we will be blessed with that gift and directed on how to serve each other.
Remember, we are commanded to create Zion and become "one heart and one mind, and [dwell] in righteousness; [with] no poor among [us]." What can we do to have “[our] hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another”? How can we do that if we don't know what our neighbors need, especially if we don’t know who our neighbors even are? If you need some advice on where to start I would encourage you to go to the Church website’s Ministering page: churchofjesuschrist.org/ministering.
President Thomas S. Monson gave advice in the October 2001 General Conference, "Our opportunities to give of ourselves are indeed limitless, but they are also perishable. There are hearts to gladden. There are kind words to say. There are gifts to be given. There are deeds to be done. There are souls to be saved…"
To me that means not all we do needs to be tangible things. Gifts and in-person acts of service are great. In fact, the [a family in our ward] dropped by a treat and to introduce themselves, which prompted us to look for ways to meet someone new each week. Something so little--just a thought and a very quick porch visit--has helped us feel significantly more included in the ward.
However, President Monson also emphasises how perishable these moments are. We must act as the Spirit directs, or we may miss those opportunities. President Monson recommends kind words to say, which aren't limited by in-person interactions. They can be sent as text or video messages, via social media, email, notes left on the doorstep, or phone calls. Hearts can be gladdened in many of the same ways, and sometimes at the same time, as kind words are shared. And souls to save, this might be the most important one at a time like this. With many not feeling comfortable gathering right now, it's especially important that we reach out not only to those we minister to, but anyone we are prompted to reach out to support spiritually: Mosiah 23:18 states, “Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.” Sharing spiritual thoughts and impressions, or simply reaching out, as directed by the Spirit are probably the best ways to nourish each other with righteousness. One blessing I received during the COVID-19 shutdowns was simply a Sister sending me a text with a thought she had about the Come Follow Me lesson for the week. I doubt it was much effort on her part, but it did remind me that we are all striving for the same thing: to maintain our faith in, and come closer to our Savior each day. Remember, ministering as Jesus did means we have charity, or love, for each other as individuals and do what is needed individually, through the direction of the Spirit.
As we get to know each other in the Ward--whether in-person or via the many virtual ways to do so--we can sincerely come to know and love each other. That will allow us to strengthen each others’ faith and give support and service. As we pray for charity, we will be blessed with that gift and personal inspiration to know how to respond to the spiritual and temporal needs of each member of our Ward, and we will learn to minister to each other individually, as our Savior did.
I know that my Savior lives, I know that He loves me, and each one of us individually. He knows better than we do what we need and want. He has felt our sicknesses, pains and sorrows, and He suffered them as well as our sins, transgressions and mistakes. He will comfort us through any trial. I know that through prayer, we can know that our sins are forgiven, and we can receive the gift of charity. As we develop charity, and share that love with others, we are showing that love unto Him. Any seemingly small act of service, kindness, charity is counted towards Him. If you're struggling to feel the love He and our Father in Heaven have for you or develop that pure love, you simply have to ask. They are always there--as is our Mother in Heaven--and They want you to know Their love for you, especially when you're struggling. They also want you to enter Their presence and inherit the Kingdom of God. As we pray for, desire and let charity develop in us we can feel our Savior’s peace and love, and we can share that love as we minister to others through the direction of the Holy Spirit.
I know that He has done everything so that YOU--not just the ambiguous everyone, but you and me individually--can return to His presence. Now all we have to do is to turn to Him and allow that gift to work in us, that we may be perfected, even as He is pure.
I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
