This can cause the reader to think about all of God’s mercy towards us, as listed in the psalm, and remind us that He will never abandon us, just as we should never abandon each other. This psalm includes a long list of God’s acts of charity towards men, where each verse ends with the phrase “for his endureth forever.” Mormon also included a long list about charity, and similarly stated that God’s charity “endureth forever.” 9 The Hebrew word for charity, which describes both God’s covenantal love for humanity, and our love for each other, appears often in Psalm 136. Mormon then alluded to the Psalms to help explain charity even more. 8 Charity is therefore the true love of Christ in two ways: the love Christ has for all humankind and also the Christlike love that all men and women should have for each other.ĭoctrinal Mastery Moroni 7:45,47–48 Infographic by Book of Mormon Central 7 However, in Ether 12:34, Moroni states that the love that God “hast had for the children of men is charity.” Thus, charity in the Book of Mormon, as in the New Testament, can describe God’s love for us and our love for each other. In 2 Nephi 26:30, for example, everyone is commanded to have charity, “which charity is love.” Later, in 2 Nephi 33:8–9, Nephi says that he has charity for the Jews and Gentiles, showing that charity is not just the love of God, but the love that Nephi possessed for other people. 6 This is how the word is used in the Book of Mormon as well. The Greek word translated as charity in 1 Corinthians 13 can be used to describe both the love of God and the highest form of love people have for each other. Mormon then elaborated that “charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever” ( Moroni 7:47).
However, this could also be translated as “charity is patient and kind, isn’t jealous, isn’t arrogant, doesn’t insist on getting his own way, isn’t easily upset, doesn’t hatch evil plots, doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in faithfulness.” 4 Instead of “believing all things” which makes charity seem naïve, the end of the list can actually be translated as, “endures all abuse, never loses faith, is always confident, and remains patient no matter what happens.” 5 Phrases like “suffereth long” and “is not puffed up” can be confusing for some modern readers. One of the things Paul’s statement helps to explain is the list describing charity. 2 Comparing Mormon’s speech to Paul’s similar description of charity in 1 Corinthians can help shed light on Mormon’s teachings. 1 Mormon stated that “charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” ( Moroni 7:45).
Near the end of his record, Moroni recorded a speech that his father gave, in which Mormon explained the significance of faith, hope, and charity.
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