THEOLOGY

LECTURE ONE

On the doctrine of Christ

Of Charity

1. Charity, being the greatest spiritual gift and virtue in revealed religion and the object of all seekers of righteousness, necessarily claims a place, as a course of lectures, which are designed to enhance the understanding of the doctrine of Jesus Christ.
2. In presenting the subject of charity, we shall observe the following order:
3. First, Charity itself–what it is (and what it is not):
4. Second, the objects and virtues on which it rests;
5. Third, how it is obtained; and
6. Fourth, the effects which flow from it.
7. Agreeably to this order we have first to show what charity is (and what it is not).
8. Charity is the pure love of Christ.
9. Without charity man is nothing.
10. Charity is long suffering.
11. Charity is grateful.
12. Charity is kind.
13. Charity is forgiving.
14. Charity does not envy.
15. Charity has no pride or self-righteousness.
16. Charity does not fear.
17. Charity rejoices in the truth wherever it is found.
18. Charity is not easily provoked–and then only when moved upon by the Spirit of God.
19. Charity aligns one’s thoughts, words, and deeds with God’s work and God’s glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man; therefore, it does not seek its own will, but God’s will.
20. Charity thinks no evil.
21. Charity bears all adversity and trial.
22. Charity believes all truth.
23. Charity hopes for a place at the right hand of God.
24. Charity endures all things.
25. Charity never fails.
26. Without charity, we are nothing, if we look upon life from an eternal perspective.
27. Charity is a gift from God and it is the virtue which brings about all pure and righteous action in Celestial beings (and those on the path to become a Celestial being) as shown in every aspect of the life of Christ. 
28. It is important to note the difference between having charity and acting in a charitable manner. We note Paul’s clarification in his first epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 13, v3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor…and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
29. Paul takes our traditional definition of charity and clarifies that just the act of giving our goods to the poor does not mean that we have charity. Yes, we are acting in a charitable manner–but we can act in a charitable manner without having received the gift of charity.
30. Therefore, it is important to note that there are many worthy causes, many honorable services, many kind acts, many noble deeds that can be performed; however, the motivation for these deeds remains between the individual performing them and God. While an individual can be blessed for their charitable acts, if they ultimately lack charity, then in the end they will be found lacking–and fail.
31. Should we therefore leave off all charitable acts until we are sure that we have obtained the gift of charity? No, the thought makes reason stare. Our acts of service, kindness, gratitude, and nobility all have their place and each act can and should be part of a progression in coming to Christ.
32. But we should hold up Christ and his standard of charity–his pure love–as our own measuring stick and allow the Spirit of God to work within us that we might assess ourselves and judge righteously as to whether or not we have charity or are simply acting in a charitable manner.
33. As Paul says, continuing from chapter 13 of First Corinthians “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” Corinthians 13:9-10
34. Charity is that which is perfect. “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” Colossians 3:14
35. “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” 1 Corinthians 13:11
36. Here Paul is using a metaphor to show the difference between acting in a charitable manner and having charity. When we have charity, our thoughts, words, and deeds align with the will of God and we become “adults” in the way of Christ. We are no longer “children” who act in their own willful manner.
37. Charity is greater than speaking in tongues.
38. Charity is greater than the gift of prophecy.
39. Charity is greater than understanding the mysteries.
40. Charity is greater than the gift of knowledge. 
41. Charity is greater than faith.
42. Charity is greater than hope.
43. Charity is the greatest of all spiritual gifts we can receive. (1 Corinthians 13:13, Moroni 7:46)
44. Moroni stated “And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father.” Ether 12:33-34
45. Charity is the virtue of pure love possessed by Christ which empowered him to fulfill the will of His Father in laying down his life for mankind–atoning for our sins and making the way possible for our own immortality and eternal life.
46. Charity is the virtue of pure love which we must all obtain if we desire to receive the inheritance made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ.
47. Charity, once obtained, becomes the motivation for all our godly thoughts, words, acts of service, kindness, and gratitude.
48. We see that unlike worldly gifts–once we obtain charity it possesses us. We do not possess charity.
49. Charity is God.
50. God is charity.