Charity

1) "Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. … Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn’t handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other." (Elder Marvin J. Ashton, May 1992, “The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/05/the-tongue-can-be-a-sharp-sword?lang=eng)

2) “The world today speaks a great deal about love, and it is sought for by many. But the pure love of Christ differs greatly from what the world thinks of love. Charity never seeks selfish gratification. The pure love of Christ seeks only the eternal growth and joy of others.” (President Ezra Taft Benson, Nov. 1986, “Godly Characteristics of the Master,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/11/godly-characteristics-of-the-master?lang=eng)

3) “Most people carrying heavy loads begin to doubt themselves and their own worth. We lighten their loads as we are patient with their weaknesses and celebrate whatever goodness we can see in them. The Lord does that. And we could follow His example—He the greatest nurturer of all.” (President Henry B. Eyring, November 2012, “The Caregiver,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/11/the-caregiver?lang=eng)  

4)  “Think the best of each other, especially of those you say you love. Assume the good and doubt the bad.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, 15 Feb. 2000, “How Do I Love Thee?”, BYU Devotional, http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=326)

 5)  “I consider charity—or ‘the pure love of Christ’—to be the opposite of criticism and judging. In speaking of charity, I do not at this moment have in mind the relief of the suffering through the giving of our substance. That, of course, is necessary and proper. Tonight, however, I have in mind the charity that manifests itself when we are tolerant of others and lenient toward their actions, the kind of charity that forgives, the kind of charity that is patient.

I have in mind the charity that impels us to be sympathetic, compassionate, and merciful, not only in times of sickness and affliction and distress but also in times of weakness or error on the part of others.

There is a serious need for the charity that gives attention to those who are unnoticed, hope to those who are discouraged, aid to those who are afflicted. True charity is love in action. The need for charity is everywhere.

Needed is the charity which refuses to find satisfaction in hearing or in repeating the reports of misfortunes that come to others, unless by so doing, the unfortunate one may be benefited.

Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down. It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily. It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings. It is accepting people as they truly are. It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time. It is resisting the impulse to categorize others.” (President Thomas S. Monson, Nov. 2010, “Charity Never Faileth,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2010/11/charity-never-faileth?lang=eng) 

6)  “What would be the cumulative effect of millions of small, compassionate acts performed daily by us because of our heartfelt Christian love for others? Over time this would have a transformative effect upon all of our Heavenly Father’s children through the extension of His love to them through us. Our troubled world needs this love of Christ today more than ever, and it will need it even more in the years ahead. These simple, daily acts of service may not seem like much in and of themselves, but when considered collectively they become just like the one-twelfth teaspoon of honey contributed by a single bee to the hive. There is power in our love for God and for His children, and when that love is tangibly manifest in millions of acts of Christian kindness, it will sweeten and nourish the world with the life-sustaining nectar of faith, hope, and charity.” (Elder M. Russell Ballard, November 2012, “Be Anxiously Engaged,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/11/be-anxiously-engaged?lang=eng)

7)  “If ye love me, keep my commandments,” Jesus said. So we have neighbors to bless, children to protect, the poor to lift up, and the truth to defend. We have wrongs to make right, truths to share, and good to do. In short, we have a life of devoted discipleship to give in demonstrating our love of the Lord. We can’t quit and we can’t go back. After an encounter with the living Son of the living God, nothing is ever again to be as it was before. The Crucifixion, Atonement, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ mark the beginning of a Christian life, not the end of it.” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, November 2012, “The First Great Commandment,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/11/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng)

8)  “Love is the catalyst that causes change. Love is the balm that brings healing to the soul. But love doesn’t grow like weeds or fall like rain. Love has its price. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That Son, even the Lord Jesus Christ, gave His life that we might have eternal life, so great was His love for His Father and for us.... Where love is, there is no disputation. Where love is, there is no contention. Where love is, there God will be also.” (President Thomas S. Monson, November 1987, “A Doorway Called Love,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1987/11/a-doorway-called-love?lang=eng)

9)  “I believe the Savior is telling us that unless we lose ourselves in service to others, there is little purpose to our own lives. Those who live only for themselves eventually shrivel up and figuratively lose their lives, while those who lose themselves in service to others grow and flourish—and in effect save their lives.... I am confident it is the intention of each member of the Church to serve and to help those in need.... How many times has your heart been touched as you have witnessed the need of another? How often have you intended to be the one to help? And yet how often has day-to-day living interfered and you’ve left it for others to help, feeling that ‘oh, surely someone will take care of that need.’ We become so caught up in the busyness of our lives. Were we to step back, however, and take a good look at what we’re doing, we may find that we have immersed ourselves in the ‘thick of thin things.’ In other words, too often we spend most of our time taking care of the things which do not really matter much at all in the grand scheme of things, neglecting those more important causes.” (President Thomas S. Monson, November 2009, “What Have I Done for Someone Today?”, Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/11/what-have-i-done-for-someone-today?lang=eng)

10)  “May we ever watch over one another, assisting in times of need. Let us not be critical and judgmental but let us be tolerant, ever emulating the Savior’s example of loving-kindness. In that vein, may we willingly serve one another. May we pray for the inspiration to know of the needs of those around us, and then may we go forward and provide assistance.” (President Thomas S. Monson, November 2012, “God Be with You Till We Meet Again,” Ensign, https://www.lds.org/ensign/2012/11/god-be-with-you-till-we-meet-again?lang=eng)