Charity

I recently came across the following quote:

“The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, ‘the pure love of Christ’ (Moroni 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes” (Dallin H. Oaks, “The Challenge to Become,” Ensign, November 2000, 32-34).

After reading this, I immediately thought of the scripture Doctrine and Covenants 88:125, “And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace.”

If we want to become like Christ, we need to not just do, but to become. I never really considered charity as a condition, but if we are to enwrap ourselves with charity “as with a mantle,” then we are surrounding ourselves completely. And to clothe ourselves with charity, we are taking it upon ourselves, just as we take on the name of Christ when we are baptized. I find it interesting to see charity as more than just something you do, but as something you are.

Other scriptures on charity: 2 Nephi 26:30 and Moroni 7:44-47