THEOLOGY

LECTURE SIX

On the doctrine of Christ

Of Charity

How Charity is Obtained

1. Having defined what charity is (and what it is not) and the objects and virtues on which it rests, we now continue on to how charity is obtained.
2. Mormon provides the answer in his second epistle to his son Moroni as recorded in Moroni chapter 8 verses 25 and 26 (which we quoted at the end of Lecture Five): “And the first fruits of repentance is baptism; and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins; And the remission of sins bringeth meekness, and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love, which love endureth by diligence unto prayer, until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God.”
3. In this progression of gospel principles and ordinances Mormon outlines the foundational steps leading to perfect love or charity. Each principal or virtue deserves its own lecture; however, for this purpose we will only touch upon each and allow the reader to seek out further detail. Most of this progression has been outlined and explained in Lectures Two through Five.
4. First is faith. Faith is treated very well in the seven Lectures on Faith which deal directly with the topic and the effects which flow from a faithful disciple of Christ.
5. Foremost amongst these effects is the desire to keep or fulfill the commandments of the Lord. This includes the commandment to be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Even Christ entered the waters of baptism to “fulfill all righteousness”, and Nephi exhorted us to “…do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do…” speaking specifically about baptism.
6. At baptism, we witness or testify to the Father that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, that we are willing to keep his commandments, that we are willing to enter into the way and receive of his spirit, that we are willing to bear one another’s burdens, to mourn with those who mourn and comfort those who stand in need of comfort.
7. Baptism is ordained of God—it is one of his ordinances. It is an outward performance reflecting an inward commitment to truly become a disciple of Christ and to be numbered as one of his fold.
8. But that is not all. We cannot simply submit to a water baptism and think that our commitment to God is fulfilled. We must with earnestness seek to obey and fulfill all the commandments of the Lord. In this we must look to Christ as the perfect example, not only his baptism, but in all that he did. For he truly did nothing of his own will but sought the will of His Father in all things.
9. Christ obeyed the law, but focused on the spirit of the law more than the letter of the law, as we see in his condemnation of those who focused on the letter only: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
10. Note here that Christ is not dismissing the letter of the law, only putting it in its proper order, and place, as secondary to the spirit of the law which he called “weightier matters” such as judgement, mercy, and faith.
11. It is the fulfilling of the commandments which brings remission of sins. This is an interesting point which Mormon makes. We often think of baptism as washing away our sins; but, in reality, it is the act of fulfilling the commandments which causes our sins to go into remission. We change because we have committed to change and therefore our sinful nature becomes less, it goes into remission. One who enters the waters of baptism only to come out and return to their sins, has not fulfilled the commandments, has not repented, and as such, receives no remission of sin.
12. As we put off the natural man and fulfill the commandments of God, the Spirit of the Lord will come to us and testify to us that we are on the right path. We will receive a personal witness that our sins truly are remitted. This is a powerful and humbling experience. We are receiving something, a remission of our sins and a personal witness of the same, which is something that we could never receive were it not for the atonement of Jesus Christ.
13. The realization that without the atonement it is impossible for us to have our sins remitted is humbling. We become meek, submissive, and lowly of heart before the Lord. He is no longer just the Savior of the World but he is Our Savior, and a very individual and personal relationship begins. He has given us a gift that we could not obtain without his grace. He has washed us clean in his blood and we cannot receive this gift without offering a broken heart and contrite spirit.
14. It is in this spirit of meekness and lowliness of heart that we can receive the visitation of the Holy Ghost.
15. This is not to be confused with the ordinance of confirmation and laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost as discussed previously. In that ordinance, the recipient is admonished to “receive the Holy Ghost”. The baptism of fire and the receipt of the Holy Ghost is the event which is the actual fulfillment of that directive.
16. The Holy Ghost comes to us when we have exercised faith, repented of our sins, entered into the waters of baptism, fulfilled the commandments of the Lord, and are making the unconditional offering of a broken heart and a contrite spirit.
17. This event is the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost.
18. This is the Holy Ghost comforting the individual and revealing to them that their sins are remitted.
19. This visitation purges out the carnal man.
20. It purges out the worldly blood.
21. It brings the mighty change of heart.
22. It speaks peace to the soul and the individual knows their place and station before God as one of his Sons or Daughters who is worthy to stand at his right hand.
23. It is a powerful and singular event. It is an event that will shake and shape the receiver’s life from that day forward.
24. The reception of the Holy Ghost fills each and every one of us with two spiritual gifts, two perfect virtues. The first is hope obtained. The second is perfect love or charity.
25. Other spiritual gifts can come, yes: power to heal or to be healed, the gift of tongues, the ability to prophesy, greater understanding of the scriptures, and knowledge of the mysteries of God. Yes, any or all of these can come, and many more not mentioned here, but to each follower of Christ who receives the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost comes hope and charity. These are denied to none.
26. Obtaining a hope in Christ, we have discussed. It is the personal knowledge that we have been washed clean of our sins: that we stand on the right hand of God; that we are sanctified by His blood; that we are joint heirs with Christ.
27. With this knowledge comes the realization that we have just been given something of which we are undeserving. The power of the event is overwhelming and profound. In humility, we recognize that without Christ and his atonement we never could have received this gift.
28. Recall Enos? “And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed. And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen.” Enos 1:5-8
29. Knowing that we are forgiven, that we are clean, and realizing that this cleansing is only possible through the blood of the Lamb, to our hearts comes a new level of humility; and with this realization and humility comes the understanding that this is the way and the path that all mankind must follow.
30. We see this process enacted in individuals and in entire groups in scripture. One of the plainest displays of this event is seen in the people of King Benjamin as he delivered the words which an Angel gave him to speak to his people regarding Christ, who would come and redeem them from their sins and from the grave.
31. “And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had made an end of speaking the words which had been delivered unto him by the angel of the Lord, that he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and behold they had fallen to the earth, for the fear of the Lord had come upon them. And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men. And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.” Mosiah 4:1-3
32. And we see the effects immediately upon them: “And now, it came to pass that when king Benjamin had thus spoken to his people, he sent among them, desiring to know of his people if they believed the words which he had spoken unto them. And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.” Mosiah 5:1-4
33. When we have this experience, there is no pride in what we have obtained for we know that it has been given us by the grace, the enabling power, of the atonement of Jesus Christ.
34. The near immediate result is that we desire the same gift for all mankind.
35. We want all to receive what we have received.
36. We want all to experience what we have experienced.
37. We want all to come unto Christ and obtain the same blessings we have obtained.
38. We want all to have sins remitted, receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, and experience the mighty change of heart.
39. As a new creature in Christ we do not—more so, we cannot—want it withheld from any one of God’s creations.
40. We see this in the sons of Mosiah upon their conversion and baptism of the Holy Ghost. “Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble.” Mosiah 28:3
41. As we come to the conclusion of this lecture, let us turn again to the history of our first father, Adam, who laid out the pattern we all must follow.
42. “And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time. And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me. And it came to pass, when the Lord had spoken with Adam, our father, that Adam cried unto the Lord, and he was caught away by the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water, and was brought forth out of the water. And thus he was baptized, and the Spirit of God descended upon him, and thus he was born of the Spirit, and became quickened in the inner man. And he heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost. This is the record of the Father, and the Son, from henceforth and forever; And thou art after the order of him who was without beginning of days or end of years, from all eternity to all eternity. Behold, thou art one in me, a son of God; and thus may all become my sons.” Moses 6:62-68
43. Charity and its relationship with becoming a son or daughter of God was also taught by Mormon in his first epistle to his son Moroni. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray 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 followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.” Moroni 7:48
44. Having been filled with charity we become a son or daughter of God, and his work becomes our work. Our eye becomes single to His glory. Our desires are no longer our own and our will becomes his. We begin to become like him!
45. “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39
46. Because his work and glory are to bring to pass salvation, immortality, and exaltation for man, this becomes our desire.
47. Our actions become “good works” because our motive is pure and guided by the Spirit of the Lord.
48. We love as God loves.
49. We love as Christ loves.
50. We have received the gift of charity.