Charity and Love

One of the things I love most about scriptures are the different translations of each of them. In the King James version of The Holy Bible, the word "charity" is exchanged for the word, "love." I was interested to learn more and found that Charity means, "means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others" (Wikipedia Charity). One thing I found most interesting was the cautionary note that charity, in scripture, does not only refer to donations and giving. No, no, charity is much bigger than that!

In The Book of Mormon, Moroni explains charity is the "love of Christ" and something that all of us must strive to keep in our hearts. Moroni explains charity clearly:

44If so, his ^afaith and hope is vain, for none is ^bacceptable before God, save the ^cmeek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and ^dconfesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45And ^acharity suffereth long, and is ^bkind, and ^cenvieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily ^dprovoked, 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.

46Wherefore, 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—

47But ^acharity is the pure ^blove of Christ, and it endureth^cforever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

48Wherefore, my beloved brethren, ^apray 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 ^bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall ^cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be ^dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.

What wonderful things for us to strive for, and wonderful promises about the blessings that will come from giving such Christ-like love and kindness!