THEOLOGY

LECTURE THREE

On the doctrine of Christ

Of Charity

The objects and virtues upon which charity rests –

Part 2: Humility, Repentance, Prayer, Personal Revelation

1. We now turn to other scriptures and examples of objects and virtues upon which charity rests. Although no formal outline or progression is given on humility, repentance, prayer, and personal revelation which we will present in this lecture; it will become apparent as we show how charity is obtained that these topics must be discussed due to their central nature in obtaining this great gift from God.
2. First let us discuss humility. We know from scripture that “none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart” and that we must “offer for a sacrifice [unto Christ] a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”
3. If one is not acceptable before God or unwilling to offer a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then how can one expect to have charity? We have to be willing to set aside our own pride, our own desired outcomes, and trust fully in the arm of the Lord if we are truly deserving of receiving the greatest of His spiritual gifts.
4. Humility, meekness, and lowliness of heart are interesting concepts to ponder. While we might be meek in our nature towards our fellowmen, the true power of this attitude of meekness is only seen when we are humble before our Father in Heaven.
5. Truly we are taught in scripture to “fear God”. This means that we should humble ourselves before Him, our creator, and acknowledge our position before him.
6. Moses, upon witnessing only a small fraction of God’s creations said, “Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.” Moses 1:10
7. We see similar reactions from many of God’s prophets—especially following their first visions of the Almighty. Isaiah proclaimed, “Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5. Joseph shared, “When I came to myself again, I found myself lying on my back, looking up into heaven. When the light had departed, I had no strength; but soon recovering in some degree, I went home.” JS-History 1:20. and Saul (later Paul) stood “trembling and astonished” as the Lord pronounced “Saul, why persecutest thou me? I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Acts 9:5. And then Saul remained without his sight for three days until Ananias was sent by the Lord to heal him.
8. Alma’s experience in the Book of Mormon caused he and his companions similar reactions as he recounted: “God sent his holy angel to stop us by the way. And behold, he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us.” Alma 36:6-7. Continuing, he shared, “And it came to pass that I fell to the earth; and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs.” Alma 36:10
9. Shall we not take these and other examples from scripture and humble ourselves before the Almighty—the creator of the universe?
10. How much better off are we if we heed Alma’s admonition and humble ourselves without having to be compelled? “Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.” Alma 32:16
11. Humility and repentance walk hand-in-hand. How can we acknowledge our sins before God without meekness and lowliness of heart? And how can we truly show our humility without repenting of our sins? There is such a deep connection between these two principles that the two cannot be separated in scripture or in practice.
12. As we turn to repentance we should remember the Savior’s parable – “There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:41-48
13. Christ always went to those most in need. “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:15-17
14. It is not until we turn with full purpose of heart to the Lord and recognize our sins before him that we can allow him to come into our lives and heal us—granting a forgiveness of sins. He does not ask that we come to him sinless—but that we bring to him our burdens that He may make them light. He is the breaker of the chains of hell and the bands of death (See Appendix A on addiction). We can repent and turn to Him but it is only He that holds the power to free us from our sins, trespasses, pains, sicknesses, and death—both spiritual and physical.
15. The Lord proclaims: “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.” D&C 58:42-43
16. We must be willing to bring our sins and lay all these on the altar, just as Lamoni was willing to do when he cried unto the Lord saying: “…if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.” Alma 22:18
17. Knowing these things, my brothers and sisters, how can we not humble ourselves, repent of our sins, and come unto Him, the Savior and Redeemer of mankind, and allow him to become our Savior and Redeemer?
18. And how is it that we come to him if not on bended knee, humbly pouring our hearts out to him as did Lamoni?
19. Can it be that we, perhaps in some way, think that we can enter Heaven without forgiveness? If so we certainly deceive ourselves! For no one is sinless but Christ. And no unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
20. As we seek the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins we cannot forget the importance of forgiving others. “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12. It is impossible to expect forgiveness of our own sins if we are unwilling, or unable, to forgive others for their wrongs against us or those we love.
21. Part of our repentance process needs to be repairing and reconciling the past. We can meet with and forgive those who have harmed us and repair whatever damage might exist and ask forgiveness for those faults and wrongs we have caused. This must be something we actively seek out and do. It is a difficult process; but the importance of this portion of the repentance process cannot be overlooked.
22. One cannot bring a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the altar if it is accompanied by an unforgiving spirit or if we have sins for which we have not made restitution against others. 
23. “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matthew 5:23-24
24. Perhaps there is nothing harder to do than to forgive. Whether it be wrongs against us or those we love, or larger sins against nations, peoples, tribes, etc., we must learn how to and then forgive that we might be forgiven. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.” D&C 64:10
25. Nothing can help us as much in this process as prayer and communication with our Father in Heaven.
26. Nephi stressed the importance of prayer when he said, “But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.” 2 Nephi 32:9
27. Prayer is not just about coming to Christ in humility for repentance but it is about coming to Christ regarding all our actions, that our actions might receive the consecrating power of Heaven.
28. Indeed, we are taught by Amulek: “Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him. Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness. Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. Alma 34:17-27
29. And we must never forget prayers of gratitude for all received. The Lord taught us through Joseph Smith, “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” D&C 59:21. and “And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.” D&C 78:19
30. In Mormon’s first letter to his son, Moroni, he finishes his discussion of charity by exhorting: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love…” Moroni 7:48
31. From this we learn that charity is a gift for which we must petition God, the Father, in order to receive. Therefore, prayer is a foundational requirement to receive charity. However, this is not just any prayer—this is a prayer “with all the energy of heart”. Meaning that our petition must be singular. We must desire this pure love for God and for our fellow man above all else.
32. How, may I ask, does one come to this point where they ask in such a manner? We will build upon this in the following lectures but wish to leave off the discussion at this point stating that prayer is clearly one of the objects upon which charity rests.
33. We come now to personal revelation. Volumes can and have be written upon this subject alone. Here we will make a few pertinent points.
34. The Lord proclaims “Behold, that which you hear is as the voice of one crying in the wilderness—in the wilderness, because you cannot see him—my voice, because my voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.” D&C 88:66 and “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28
35. We must then come to know the voice, or the Spirit, of the Lord. How is this done?
36. First, we must serve him, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” Mosiah 5:13
37. Next, we must realize how it is the Lord speaks with us, “Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.” 1 Nephi 17:45. Also, “And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
38. Note that it is not to our physical ears this voice comes, “Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.” D&C 8:2-3
39. Finally, we must immerse ourselves in his word and hold fast to it, “And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life…” 1 Nephi 11:25
40. We know through Joseph Smith that “The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.” And that “It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” D&C 131:5-6
41. Therefore, the day must come when each saved individual learns through personal revelation that they are sealed up unto eternal life! If we have no such knowledge then we must prayerfully turn to the Lord, humble ourselves, and repent of our sins, and ask for, and work towards that knowledge, as it is impossible for us to be saved without.
42. It is incumbent then upon us all to take the Lord up on his invitation to “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18
43. It is only though this personal relationship – this reasoning together – and this more sure word of prophecy that we know where we stand before God.
44. As we will see, none can expect to receive the greatest of the gifts of God, charity, without this knowledge.
45. Coming full circle, we should remember the Lord’s words: “Be thou humble; and the Lord thy God shall lead thee by the hand, and give thee answer to thy prayers.” D&C 112:10
46. This lecture has dealt with some of the objects and virtues upon which charity rests including humility, prayer, repentance, and personal revelation. Each help us build the foundation without which charity cannot be obtained.

Author’s note: I am putting the final points into this lecture as I sit near my father’s graveside. I find it fitting. Shortly before he died, in private conversation with me, he said, “When I am gone I do not want you to worry about me. I know where I will be when I pass, because the Lord has revealed it to me.” Although far from perfect, my own father was always humble before and feared God. And in this life, he obtained what we all must obtain—a sure knowledge of where we will stand as we graduate from this life to the next.