Why we need more Charity

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Charity is a widely discussed topic within the scriptures as well as heavily reviewed within the church. It is a pursuit that all people should strive to incorporate more entirely into their lives. We are taught that “if you have not faith, hope and charity, you can do nothing” (Doctrine and Covenants 18:19). Yet “above all things have fervent Charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).

 Charity can be anything from simply opening a door for someone to organizing a food drive. It places others in front of you which tears down pride. One of my favorite parables is of the loving kindness exhibited with perfection by the Good Samaritan as he happened upon a wounded, mugged, stranger.  “A certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he [stranger] was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him” (Luke 10:33-34).

Charity is one of my favorite gospel principles because it is not about you, but about others. Charity is truly the purest love we can display in our hearts. May we follow the counsel of our beloved prophet Thomas S. Monson when as counsels “Charity never faileth.” May this long-enduring Relief Society motto, this timeless truth, guide you in everything you do. May it permeate your very souls and find expression in all your thoughts and actions” (General Conference report October 2010). May we always remember to have this pure love of Christ in our hearts and souls.