Today I had the chance to speak in my congregation. I say "chance" not because I love speaking in front of a couple hundred people, but chance because it always gives me the chance when I prepare for these experiences to reflect inwardly and examine if I am being all I can, if I am being a good disciple of Christ...If I am loving everyone as I should. I could do better...that is part of what I learn. Below is the text of my talk. It was about a ten minute talk, so I am not offended if this isn't YOUR THING...or you don't want to read that much...No worries. Today was a journey for me...a journey in remembering the importance of loving others, truly loving them, and a journey in remembering how much the Savior and his Father, our Heavenly Father love us. So again it was a SWEET SABBATH! May you have a blessed Memorial day. It is a hard day for me, because I have many I love and Remember, but I am so grateful for family and friends that selflessly serve our country and provide us freedoms (more on that tomorrow).
So here we go...
What is Charity???
In the Moroni 7:47 we read that "charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever,". Maybe another way to look at it is what isn't charity? It isn't judging, it isn't dismissing someone because you can't see how they could ever come to Christ. It is a feeling that grows and wells up in your heart. It is the unabashed feeling to see someone as they can be NOT as they are. It is loving and seeing others through Christ's eyes.
In Alma Chapter 7 verses 11-14 We read 11And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. So HOW can we be like the Savior? We can mourn with those that mourn and divide the sorrow of others.
In the address Becoming Instruments in the hands of God, Don R. Clarke said,
"We must have love for God's children...
Then he quoted"Joseph F. Smith, who said: 'Charity, or love, is the greatest principle in existence. If we can lend a helping hand to the oppressed, if we can aid those who are despondent and in sorrow, if we can uplift and ameliorate (or make better) the condition of mankind, it is our mission to do it, it is an essential part of our religion to do it' (in Conference Report, Apr. 1917, 4). When we feel love for God's children, we are given opportunities to help them in their journey back to His presence" (Ensign, Nov 2006, 97–99).
Continuing in Alma verse 12 we read
And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. What can we do? We can help, succor, serve others and then we will be filled with mercy and compassion. We can lift and strengthen and support those in need. This is the gospel in action, this is what it means to become charitable, to become like Christ.
In the talk, The Tongue can be a sharp sword, Marvin J. Ashton said,
"Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself....
"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other" (Ensign, May 1992, 18).
How often have we caught ourselves thinking: So and so would never want the gospel. They...Fill in the blanks, drink, smoke, cuss...etc. DO WE BELIEVE CHRIST?
In 2 Nephi 25 verse 26 we read:
And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.
We read this, We believe in Him. But do we believe Him? Do we believe He can do what he says He can do? Do we believe he can do it for anyone? For our neighbor? For US in all our weaknesses and imperfections? Do we believe Him? Or do we sometimes think we know better and that they or we are too broken for the Savior's Atonement to fully reach us, to fully change us.
We continue in Alma verse 13
Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
The SPIRIT KNOWETH ALL THINGS. But the Savior of the world suffered according to the flesh. It was not enough to KNOW about our hurts and sorrows, weakness and sins, He needed to DO something about them. He suffered and felt every one of them so that He could:
Lift, Heal, Help, Comfort, Succor, and REDEEM us from all of it. The definition of REDEEM is to compensate for the faults or bad aspects of something...or in this case someone...US...
SO....How do we change? How do we put off the natural man and become a saint? How do we develop charity?
IN one of my favorite addresses Entitled Born of God President Ezra Taft Benson says,
Would not the progress of the Church increase dramatically today with an increasing number of those who are spiritually reborn? Can you imagine what would happen in our homes? Can you imagine what would happen with an increasing number of copies of the Book of Mormon in the hands of an increasing number of missionaries who know how to use it and who have been born of God? It was the “born of God” Alma who as a missionary was so able to impart the word that many others were also born of God (see Alma 36:23–26).
He goes on to say...(In my all time favorite quote...)
The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature.
“Human nature can be changed, here and now,” said President McKay, and then he quoted the following:
“You can change human nature. No man who has felt in him the Spirit of Christ even for half a minute can deny this truth. …
“You do change human nature, your own human nature, if you surrender it to Christ. Human nature can be changed here and now. Human nature has been changed in the past. Human nature must be changed on an enormous scale in the future, unless the world is to be drowned in its own blood. And only Christ can change it. Yes, Christ changes men, and changed men can change the world.
Men changed for Christ will be captained by Christ. Like Paul they will be asking, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Peter stated, they will “follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:21). John said they will “walk, even as he walked” (1 Jn. 2:6).
Charity isn't just doing "good deeds", it is doing good deeds because we love the Savior and we give up the will and desires of the natural man, desires of selfishness and selfcenteredness. We give them up and do good because we develop a desire to follow Christ. We develop a desire to be like Him.
"Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity. You can speak with tongues, have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries, and possess all knowledge; even if you have the faith to move mountains, without charity it won't profit you at all....
"Without charity—or the pure love of Christ—whatever else we accomplish matters little. With it, all else becomes vibrant and alive.
"When we inspire and teach others to fill their hearts with love, obedience flows from the inside out in voluntary acts of self-sacrifice and service" (Ensign, Nov 2007, 28–31).
In the talk Choosing Charity: That Good Part, Bonnie D. Parkin said
"The pure love of Christ.... What does this phrase mean? We find part of the answer in Joshua: 'Take diligent heed... to love the Lord your God... and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.' Charity is our love for the Lord, shown through our acts of service, patience, compassion, and understanding for one another....
"Charity is also the Lord's love for us, shown through His acts of service, patience, compassion, and understanding.
"The 'pure love of Christ' refers not only to our love for the Savior but to His love for each of us....
"Do we judge one another? Do we criticize each other for individual choices, thinking we know better?" (Ensign, Nov 2003, 104).
How can we apply this principal to our lives? What can we do to have love and charity for our fellow brothers and sisters, the LOVE of Christ, the pure love. If you have children, you remember that feeling of holding that precious, pure baby. They are easy to love. But what about when they develop a mind of their own, talk back, disobey. How do we LOVE them with the pure love of Christ then? I don't have all the answers and I certainly could work on this...But I challenge you that it is something to ponder, something to reflect on. And I assert that most of us could probably do better at demonstrating this Christlike, pure and unconditional love more often, and more consistently.
Finally, back to Alma...in verse 14 we read...
Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.
Washed from all unrighteousness. It is a beautiful gift. But then what, what about when you aren't charitable after that? Repent, take the sacrament, be sanctified by the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit and resolve to do better...whether that means...not judging, not gossiping, not offending, not being offended, not feeling charitable...Resolve to do better. Then remember, the Lord feels Charity for you. Be gentle and kind to yourself and improve because you love Him and you want to be like Him.
#326 Reason I see the hand of Heavenly Father in my life...He sent His son for me...for us all...and through that testimony I have gained great strength, love and appreciation for my life and the lives of every brother and sister on this earth. I am thankful for Him, for them both.
Make it a great day! Only YOU can!
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