The success of love is in the loving – it is not in the result of loving. Of course it is natural in love to want the best for the other person, but whether it turns out that way or not does not determine the value of what we have done.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
So, I ask the question to myself, “Which of Jesus Christ’s teachings or stories is the most meaningful or relevant in my life today as a woman, a psychologist, and a professor . . . and why?” And, as a member of the Mormon faith, “What compels me to voluntarily commit so much of my time and money engaged in things besides my career/family, when both can be in short supply?”
I look to Christ. In my opinion, EVERY teaching of Christ leads to the atonement, and arguably my three favorite scriptures describe the essence of the Atonement—that is, Christ’s willingness, ability, and eternal commitment to find, fix, bind up, repair, make whole and holy everyone who is lost or broken. One of the most touching moments in Christ’s mortal life that illustrates His profound commitment to heal us is recorded in Matthew 14:12-14. Jesus had just received word that His beloved cousin and closest friend, John the Baptist, had just been murdered by Herod. He is devastated by grief. He goes away by Himself to mourn and weep, but the multitudes follow Him, clamoring for help—and, at this moment of His deepest need, He rises up, goes to them and begins ministering to their needs. Because that’s what Christ does: He ministers, He heals, He fills us, no matter His own fatigue or sorrows.
Second, there is a particular component of Jesus’ life that has always overwhelmed and touched me. It is best reflected in the shortest verse in the Bible: “Jesus wept.” The scene in John 11:35 . . . Christ at the side of Mary and Martha grieving at the death of their brother, Lazarus. Can you just picture the Savior of the world, overcome with sadness because of a profound loss? The scriptures do not say that he cried or just shed a few tears—but the Master wept! What a model of pure empathy.
And my third favorite “one-liner” from Christ, in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, tutors me about relationally responding to all of His children when He says, “Go and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37). Really, I believe we can almost encapsulate the entire Gospel message in these three passages: In a moment of His own pain the Savior ministers to others; He displays God-like empathy, and then He acts.
Marilyn S. Wright
Personal Testimony of the Power of Christ’s Empathy, Mormon Scholars Testify
Charity is a concept found in many cultures, its meaning ranging from a general selfless love of humanity to the specific alms-giving that is often its focus in modern times. Latter-day Saints take their understanding of charity from the Book of Mormon: “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him” (Moro. 7:47; cf. Ether 12:34; 2 Ne. 26:30).
As the love of Christ, charity is characterized as selfless and self-sacrificing (1 Cor. 13:5), emanating from a pure heart, a good conscience, and faith unfeigned (1 Tim. 1:5). Thus, more than an act, charity is an attitude, a state of heart and mind (1 Cor. 13:4-7) that accompanies one’s works and is proffered unconditionally (D&C 121:45). It follows, but surpasses in importance, faith and hope (1 Cor. 13:13).
This may have been what Jesus was trying to teach Peter in John 21:15-17,wherein he asks Peter three times if he “loves” him, and, to Peter’s affirmative answers, responds, “Feed my sheep” and “Feed my lambs,” teaching that the true love of Christ always goes out to others. Loving all of God’s children and being willing to sacrifice for them are the depth and breadth of the pure love of Christ. This “bond of perfectness and peace” (D&C 88:125; Col. 3:14) becomes the foundation of all human relationships (cf. 1 Cor. 13). The everlasting love of charity is intended to be an integral part of one’s nature: one is to cleave unto it (Moro. 7:46) and be clothed in it (D&C 88:125). In fact, all things are to be done in charity. Charity is everlasting; it covers sins (1 Pet. 4:8), it casts out all fears (Moro. 8:17), and it is a prerequisite for entering the kingdom of Heaven (Ether 12:34; Moro. 10:21).
Throughout its history, the law of the LDS Church has been that its members are to do all things with charity. Since its inception in 1842, the LDS Relief Society has had the motto Charity Never Faileth (1 Cor. 13:8; Moro. 7:46). The concept of charity is fundamental to the teachings and the procedures of the Church, being the very core of all it does, including missionary work, Welfare Services, temple work, tithes and offerings, and home and visiting teaching. As the spiritual welfare of the individual member of the Church is contingent upon charity, so is the welfare of Zion dependent upon the charity in the hearts of Latter-day Saints (2 Ne. 26:28).
Addie Fuhriman
Charity, The Encyclopedia of Mormonism