D&C 4:5 (Charity)

"And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work."

*Charity*

(Bible Dictionary)

The highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection; the pure love of Christ. It is never used to denote alms or deeds or benevolence, although it may be a prompting motive.

• 1 Cor. 8:1 -Knowledge puffeth up, but c. edifieth.
• 1 Cor. 13:1-3 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not c., I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling crystal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not c., I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,m and have not c., it profiteth me nothing.
• 1 Cor. 13:13 - And now abideth fiath, hope, c., these three; but the greatest of these is c.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (Characteristics of Charity)

• suffereth long
• is kind
• envieth not
• vaunteth not itself; is not puffed up
• doth not behave itself unseemly
• seeketh not her own
• is not easily provoked
• thinketh no evil
• rejoiceth not in iniquity
• rejoiceth in truth
• beareth all things
• believeth all things
• hopeth all things
• endureth all things
• never faileth

It is easy to get a little overwhelmed for a self-proclaimed perfectionist like myself when I look at all of the descriptions of charity. Yet, instead of throwing up my hands in futility, I am choosing to instead be humble and recognize that with the Lord, I can do all things. I have so many weaknesses and shortcomings. I too often find fault with others. I gossip at times. I am easily offended, easily provoked. Sometimes I envy; sometimes I am prideful. However, I do have a few redeeming qualities as well. I feel like I am kind. I do not rejoice in iniquity and truth causes my heart to soar. I bear and suffer much, endure much, believe all things, and have hope in all things. My thoughts are not generally evil either. :) Seeketh not her own... that is a tricky one. As a mother, by the very nature of that calling, I spend the majority of my day in selfless tasks. Yet there are times when I most definitely seek "my own"- whether it be time to myself, my way of doing things, or picking what I want to do. I need to give even more fully of myself, mentally and emotionally- not just my time. I will pray for charity in every prayer this week.