Feb 3, 2007 Charity: The Purpose of the Law

We are beings that want to quantify existence. Our society has taught us that only that which can be measured using the instruments and observation of men are real. The Lord understands our weaknesses and ministers the gospel in “our language”, using methods and techniques we will recognize and understand. Indeed, He says, “these acommandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their blanguage, that they might come to cunderstanding. ” (D&C 1:24) And so, the list of commandments begins to be generated, a unique set for each dispensation. At times disciples were expected not to eat the meat given to idols. At times, saints were asked to cover their heads when in prayer. In our day, we are asked to avoid coffee and tea. (More commandments needed here)

If we ever ask ourselves, what is the end result, what is the final goal God is trying to accomplish in us, the answer is found in 1 Tim 1: 5: “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” The end result of the commandments is charity: the pure love of God, and hte pure love of man:

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, atempting him, and saying,
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt alove the Lord thy God with all thy bheart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy cmind.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt alove thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the alaw and the prophets. (Matt 22:35-40)

That has been the purpose of all commandments given for the edification of the children of men since the world began.

One of the challenges here is that we do not keep the commandments perfectly, which at times may suggest to our fallen minds and hearts that our lack of perfect performance means we can never hope to realize in ourselves perfect charity. We despair with Paul in Romans 7:15: “15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.” We all fall short of expectations. We don’t serve as purely or selfless as we should. We may think that maybe there is hope that we can pay a perfect tithe, or report one hundred percent hometeaching, but how will we ever be able to report back to the Lord perfect obedience to His commandments? How will we be able to report back perfect charity for those around us? It is an unquantifiable task.

The answer is that the end of the law is charity, but it is also the beginning. Alma reminds us that if, “ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.” (Alma 7:24) Indeed, Christ Himself teaches us, “Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all brighteousness.” (Ether 21:28) It will in large measure be the faith, hope, and charity in our hearts that determines our standing before God and our capacity to serve and keep the commandments. Actually, the Lord reminds us in the doctrine and covenants that “if you have not faith, bhope, and charity, you can do nothing.” (Alma 22:19)

How can that be? Certainly many of us find ourselves in positions were we act and perform actions of service, but our hearts are not in it. Isn’t going through the motions enough. Moroni teaches us no, “for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness.” (Moroni 7:6-7) We have to remember “the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart” (1 Tim 1:5) and not just performing a certain action. The gospel actions we expect for ourselves and others, the concrete events over which we satisfy the questions of “being active” or “being worthy” mean nothing if they do not produce charity for God and charity for man, for that is the end, or purpose, of the commandments. Certainly, the actions will benefit others, but as Moroni says they “profiteth him nothing” and that they are “not counted unto him for righteousness.”

If you are like me, the fledging disciple in me despairs: it is at times hard enough for me to simply perform the actions of a disciple, let alone to do it with real intent. Now I must confront the fact that if my gospel actions aren’t producing charity for God and others, they are vain in my progression (though again, they may mean the world to those who receive them).

How then do I receive this grace, the gentle explosion the proceeds and the fruit at enjoyed at the end of charity-driven gospel actions? In one way: through the grace of Jesus Christ.

The Bible Dictionary teaches us: “It is likewise through the grace of the Lord that individuals, through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and repentance of their sins, receive strength and assistance to do good works that they otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to their own means.” (BD Grace) Again, Moroni teaches us the definition of charity is “that this love which [God] hast had for the children of men is charity.” (Ether 12:34) This is God’s love, and God alone can give it. It is the greatest of God’s miracles, it is this charity that allows Christ to, as He testifies, “make all things new.” (Rev 21:5) One who glimpsed a fraction of God’s love used this language: “He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.” (2 Ne 4:21) Who filled Nephi with this love? God, the one alone who possesses and dispenses charity to His children.

We have to plead, pray, and petition for this charity and realize that God alone can give it. Moroni tell us to, “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.” (Moroni 7:48) May we “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy” (Heb 4:16) or may I be so bold as to say “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain charity.” May we do so, is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Additional Scriptures

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Eph. 3: 19
19 And to know the alove of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
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2 Ne. 4: 21
21 He hath filled me with his alove, even unto the bconsuming of my flesh.
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Mosiah 2: 4
4 And also that they might give thanks to the Lord their God, who had brought them out of the land of Jerusalem, and who had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and had aappointed just men to be their bteachers, and also a just man to be their king, who had established peace in the cland of Zarahemla, and who had taught them to dkeep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with elove towards God and all men.
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Mosiah 4: 12
12 And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the alove of God, and always bretain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the cknowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.
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Alma 38: 12
12 Use aboldness, but not overbearance; and also see that ye bbridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love; see that ye refrain from idleness.
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Moro. 7: 48
48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray 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 bfollowers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall cbe like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be dpurified even as he is pure. Amen.
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Moro. 8: 17
17 And I am filled with acharity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and bpartakers of salvation.

Moroni

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: afor bcharity shall cover the multitude of sins.

8a    
JST 1 Pet. 4: 8 . . . for charity preventeth a multitude of sins.

1 Cor 16:14 Let all your things be done with acharity.

Col3: 12 Put on therefore, as the aelect of God, holy and beloved, bbowels of cmercies, dkindness, ehumbleness of mind, fmeekness, longsuffering;
13 aForbearing one another, and bforgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on acharity, which is the bond of perfectness.

1 Tim 1: 5 Now the end of the acommandment is bcharity out of a cpure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

2 Tim 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a avessel unto honour, bsanctified, and cmeet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
22 Flee also youthful alusts: but follow brighteousness, faith, charity, cpeace, with them that call on the Lord out of a dpure heart.

Alma 7:23 And now I would that ye should be ahumble, and be bsubmissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
24 And see that ye have afaith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

D&C22 18:asalvation.
18 aAsk the Father in my bname, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are cexpedient unto the children of men.
19 And if you have not afaith, bhope, and ccharity, you can do nothing.
20 aContend against no church, save it be the bchurch of the devil.

D&C:124 Cease to be aidle; cease to be bunclean; cease to cfind fault one with another; cease to dsleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be einvigorated.
125 And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of acharity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and bpeace.
126 aPray always, that ye may not faint, until I bcome. Behold, and lo, I will come quickly, and receive you unto myself. Amen.

Ether 12: 36 And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles agrace, that they might have charity.
37 And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made aclean. And because thou hast seen thy bweakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father.

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PAUL THE APOSTLE TO THE
CORINTHIANS
CHAPTER 13
Paul extols the high status of charity—Charity, a pure love, excels and exceeds almost all else.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not acharity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of aprophecy, and understand all bmysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the apoor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 aCharity bsuffereth long, and is ckind; charity denvieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself aunseemly, seeketh not her bown, is not easily cprovoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in ainiquity, but rejoiceth in the btruth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never afaileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 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.
12 For now we see through a aglass, bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth afaith, bhope, ccharity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Ether 12:34 And now I know that this alove 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.

D&C 138:3 And the great and wonderful alove made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the bRedeemer into the world;