Charity is the Pure Love of Christ
The doctrine of charity, as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is neither superficial benevolence nor mere human kindness. It is, in its highest and most exalted form, the pure love of Christ — an attribute that lies at the very heart of the gospel. Rooted deeply in both ancient scripture and modern revelation, charity is presented as the crowning virtue toward which any true disciple of Jesus Christ must aspire to. It is not a sentiment reserved solely for the exceptional few; it is the divine quality that the Savior exemplifies perfectly and that His disciples are commanded to develop. Its quest is the transcendent journey from natural man to saint, from self-focus to selfless service.
Foundations in the Standard Works
Charity’s essential definition is found in the Book of Mormon: “Charity is the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). This definition does not describe charity merely as love for Christ or from Christ, but rather as love like Christ. This love is infinite and eternal, extending beyond the narrow horizons of worldly affection and selfish motivation. The Apostle Paul, writing centuries earlier, taught the same principle: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; … seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil” (1 Corinthians 13:4–5). In both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we encounter a love that is patient, enduring, merciful, and ultimately transformative to any individual who achieves gaining it.
In the Book of Mormon’s culminating discourse on faith, hope, and charity, Moroni preserves the words of his father, Mormon: “If ye have not charity, ye are nothing” (Moroni 7:46). The magnitude of this statement suggests that every other virtue or spiritual gift, absent the pure love of Christ, falls short of divine expectation. Similarly, Paul’s letter to the Corinthians declares that without charity, even possessing great spiritual gifts and performing mighty works profits nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1–3). The foundational message of these scriptures is clear: charity is not an ornamental quality but rather the essence of Godliness — the indispensable, animating force of a disciple’s life.
Insights from Modern Revelation and Prophetic Counsel
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord teaches that influence and leadership, to be righteous and enduring, must be maintained “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned” (D&C 121:41–46). These verses illuminate the internal conditions under which charity flourishes: sincere, unaffected love. The “love unfeigned” that characterizes celestial relationships and priesthood service is charity by another name. It is the love that seeks to bless rather than to control, the love that willingly bears another’s burdens (Mosiah 18:8–10).
Modern prophets and apostles, speaking in general conference, have further clarified and deepened our understanding of charity. President Thomas S. Monson frequently emphasized the need to care for the widow, the orphan, the sick, and the lonely, reminding Latter-day Saints that the gospel’s efficacy is measured in how well we love and lift others (“Charity Never Faileth,” Oct. 2010). Elder M. Russell Ballard has taught that when we cultivate charity, we see as God sees, noticing divine potential in those around us rather than their flaws (“Finding Joy through Loving Service,” April 2011). Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained that charity is not a single act but a state of being — an attribute we strive to take upon ourselves through consistent righteous living and humble reliance on the Atonement of Jesus Christ (“The Challenge to Become,” Oct. 2000).
The Development of Charity
Charity, being a Godly attribute, cannot be cultivated through willpower alone. Moroni taught us to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart” that we may be “filled with this love” (Moroni 7:48). Herein lies a profound truth: charity is a spiritual gift, bestowed as a result of earnest prayer, sincere intent, and patient discipleship. Just as a seed must be nourished by good soil, sunlight, and water, so too must the seeds of charity be nurtured by scripture study, service, repentance, and temple worship.
Moreover, the process of growing in charity often involves the refining fires of trial and sacrifice. In striving to love as Christ loves, one finds that patience is learned in the face of impatience, forgiveness is cultivated when one is wronged, and compassion expands amid sharing in another’s suffering. As we practice kindness, offer empathy, and choose to see divine worth in others, the Holy Spirit sanctifies these efforts. Over time, what begins as conscious striving becomes second nature — an abiding capacity to feel genuine love for all of God’s children.
Results of Possessing Charity
When charity takes root in the heart, it reshapes every dimension of life. The disciple who has charity experiences a softened heart and a broadened vision. Pride and envy are crowded out by humility and goodwill. The inclination to judge others harshly diminishes, replaced by a sincere desire to understand and lift. With charity, the disciple’s faith and hope increase, as charity serves to anchor the soul in the reality of Christ’s unconditional love. (Ether 12:4) The fruit of charity is peace — peace with oneself, peace with others, and peace with God.
In family life, charity fosters unity, forgiveness, and patience. In the ward community, it prompts service rendered joyfully rather than dutifully. In interactions with those of other faiths or with those who have no faith, charity illuminates similarities rather than magnifying differences. It turns missionaries into patient teachers, leaders into nurturing shepherds, and neighbors into cherished friends. Ultimately, charity enables one to feel God’s love not only flowing into one’s own soul but also radiating outward to touch the hearts of others.
Effects That Flow from Charity in the Broader Eternal Perspective
In the eternal scheme, charity is tied to our destiny as sons and daughters of Heavenly Parents. The cultivation of charity is integral to our becoming “even as [the Father and Son] are” (3 Nephi 27:27). It is not merely a nice quality to have; it is essential for exaltation. This eternal perspective clarifies why charity is paramount and why no lesser quality can substitute for it. Without charity, celestial glory would be unattainable because celestial beings love as God loves — they do not withhold affection or discriminate in their kindness.
Moreover, charity can be understood as the very motive force behind God’s dealings with His children. The plan of salvation itself is an expression of divine charity: the Father’s gift of His Son, the Son’s willing sacrifice, and the Spirit’s comforting presence all manifest the “pure love of Christ.” As we align ourselves with this love, we participate more fully in God’s work. We become instruments in His hands, helping to bring to pass His eternal purposes. Thus, charity not only blesses us and those around us; it weaves us into the very fabric of God’s redemptive plan.
Conclusion
In summation, charity as understood in Latter-day Saint doctrine and practice transcends ordinary notions of love and goodwill. Grounded in the standard works and elucidated by prophets and apostles, charity is the pure love of Christ — a love that is patient, kind, enduring, and redemptive. It is developed through faith, hope, persistent prayer, and the diligent practice of gospel principles. As it takes hold, charity transforms hearts, reshapes communities, and prepares souls for eternal life. Ultimately, charity is the summation of Christian discipleship, the spiritual signature of the Savior upon the hearts of those who follow Him. To possess charity is to draw near unto the Lord Himself, to love as He loves, and to become like Him in every thought, feeling, and action. It is, in every sense, the “greatest of all” (1 Corinthians 13:13) virtues and the surest path to peace, holiness, and exaltation.
Charity must also be carefully distinguished from what might be called toxic empathy — a misplaced compassion that excuses sin, enables harm, or blurs moral boundaries out of a desire to appear loving. The pure love of Christ never requires us to sympathize with evil, validate destructive behavior, or abandon truth in the name of kindness. Christ loved sinners perfectly, yet He never affirmed their sins; He offered mercy alongside repentance, compassion alongside correction. Genuine charity seeks the eternal welfare of souls, not their temporary comfort. It is willing, when necessary, to speak truth gently, to establish righteous boundaries, and to withdraw enabling support from destructive patterns. To excuse wrongdoing out of misplaced empathy is not charity — it is spiritual negligence. True charity loves the individual enough to desire their transformation, not merely their approval. It refuses to confuse tolerance with righteousness or sentimentality with holiness. In this way, charity remains anchored in both love and truth, reflecting the Savior’s perfect balance of mercy and justice.
And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.