The Lord taught, “And above all things, clothe yourself with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace” (D&C 88:125).
We recognize charity in myriad ways, among them:
The way we feel. For example, the “word of the Lord came to [Mormon] by the power of the Holy Ghost, sayingI am filled with charity, which is everlasting love” (Moroni 8:7, 17).
What we do. “Relieve the oppressed” (Isaiah 1:17).
How we do it. “Let all your things be done with charity” (1 Corinthians 16:14).
Those bits of scripture are a small sample of all that prophets ancient and modern have written about charity. Yet they identify significant ways to recognize the charitable.
In my teenage years, I thought that charity would distill upon me like puberty. I believed that when I grew into womanhood, like my magnificent mother, I would willingly serve, care for others’ children, help my family, deliver endless casseroles, and do all the other fine things I watched Mom do.
It’s been in my adult years that I’ve learned that my youthful notions were both right and wrong. While casseroles are not charity per se, in the creations borne of our hearts and hands, we demonstrate charity. The onset of puberty does not automatically signal the development of charity, of course, but no matter what our ageor abilities, we must be exceedingly charitable.
Matt, a man I know well, found himself in a difficult dilemma. His boss attended a neighboring ward weekly, but because of his shoddy business ethics, his company experienced a dramatic decline. In a fit of hubris and desperation, the boss demanded that my friend fire a colleague who had raised concerns to their boss about certain business practices.
The boss insisted that Matt enumerate his colleague’s shortcomings and tell him what a lousy human being he was. Matt refused. He told his boss, “It’s one thing to let the Joe go. It’s something quite different to demean him. For me to do so lacks charity and I cannot in good conscience deliver that message.”
The boss roared, “Then I’ll have to let you go too.”
Shocked, hurt, and angry, Matt prayerfullyconsidered several options:
He could tell his story. He held a responsible stake position and knew many people in his boss’s ward.
He could sue. After all, his boss fired him without cause.
He could report the boss to government authorities. Several of his boss’s business practices verged on the illegal.
He finally concluded that since he’d lost his job over an issue of charity, he would maintain his integrity by living charitably. With new eyes he read:
“And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, 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” (Moroni 7:45).
It wasn’t easy and finding a new job took months, but he took strength from knowing that “if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth” (Moroni 7:46). He trusted in that when the days grew dark.
He knew that charity is not a doormat doctrine. By being charitable, he was not waiting to be kicked again. Rather, he felt called to work with long-suffering and kindness towards resolution of his feelings while he sought a good job.
Months later he saw his former boss at stake conference. When he looked that man in the eye without qualm, he experienced sweet proof that charity never faileth.
Past hurts and challenges, in the office and at home, charity, “the pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47) endures and blesses all who espouse it.
