Defining Charity

Charity is defined not only by the action itself, but by the love that inspires the action.

Ever since I was a little girl, I have struggled to understand what the word charity means. Of course, it does not help that the term has multiple definitions. For example, the word could refer to a donation center or a humanitarian organization. As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I hear charity most frequently defined as the “pure love of Christ” (Moroni 7:47). To further my mounting confusion, Church leaders and the scriptures consistently implore us to have charity, but how am I supposed to have something I can not even define?

Recently, I read an address by Sister Elaine L. Jack titled “Strengthened in Charity” that informed my understanding of charity. While recounting the story of how Rebekah became Isaac’s wife, Sister Jack observed, “From [Rebekah] we learn that charity, though often quantified as the action, is actually the state of the heart that prompts us to love one another.” In other words, charity is the Christlike love behind the action, not the action itself.

After reading Sister Jack’s address, I finally understand what charity means to me. When the scriptures and the Apostles speak of having charity, they admonish us to willingly and joyfully learn how to love others in a Christlike manner. They desire for us to see the people around us as children of God and to show them love like Christ would. While we can show charity through service, we must remember that charity is defined not only by what we are doing, but also by the love we feel for the people we are doing it for.

Read Sister Elaine L. Jack’s full address “Strengthened in Charity” to learn more about how you can better define yourself through charity.

Source: General Conference

—Chaning Cunningham, Latter-day Saint Insights

FEATURE IMAGE BY ANETE LUSINA

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To learn more about Rebekah, read Genesis 24.