Charity: the pure love of God

When the Apostle Paul says that love believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things, he refers to what Moroni calls 'the pure love of Christ' – charity. It is not a vague emotion but a divine power that changes hearts, heals wounds, and builds communities. It is God's own way of being, and He invites us to let that way resonate in every detail of our daily lives.

Serve humbly

True charity begins with humility. Humility reminds us that no one is above service and no one falls below dignity. When we cook a meal for a neighbor, teach a child the gospel, or simply listen to someone struggling, we do it not to shine, but to uplift the other. We literally stand in the place of the Savior, who called Himself 'merely' a servant while even washing the feet of His disciples. Charity asks that we follow the same pathchoose: to bend the knees, extend the hands, and open the heart, without hierarchy, without agenda, without the urge to be seen.

The art of acceptance

But there is another, often forgotten, side of charity: being able to accept. Not only accepting God's love – which we gladly do – but also the attempts of mortal fellow human beings to help us. Sometimes we are so used to being a giver that we consider receiving a burden. Yet the Savior teaches us that giving and receiving are two wings of the same virtue. If I refuse to receive help, I deny someone else the privilege of following in Christ's footsteps.

Acceptance also requires humility. It means daring to admit: ‘I need support today.’ It means smiling and remaining grateful when help is clumsy, half-finished, or downright messy. The button not perfectly sewn on my jacket, the visit that arrives five minutes late, the speech where the speaker stumbles over his words – these too are offerings to the Lord. By receiving these offerings in love, we build a culture in which every talent – no matter how small – finds its place in the orchestra of thekingdom.

Imperfection as a rope between hearts

Let's be honest: none of us serves perfectly. We forget appointments, sometimes say awkward words, and might shed a tear where we intended to give a pat on the back. It is precisely in these moments that the true nature of charity becomes visible. If I can tolerate your imperfection, even cherish it, I confirm that our relationship is not based on perfection but on grace. I see you as the Savior sees you – as a brother or sister on their way, growing, learning, recovering.

So when we say that charity never fails, it doesn't mean that we never fail. It means that love endures despite our failures. The Lord has a perfect solution for our imperfect service: His Atonement. Through that power, broken gestures are healed, and even a cup of lukewarm soup becomes a sacred offering when given and received with a pure heart.

An invitation to connection

I invite you to take two simple steps this month. First: find at least one opportunity to serve humbly. Choose something small and inconspicuous – a prayer for someone who annoys you, a thank-you card to an overworked teacher, a discreet anonymous donation. Let no one know but the Lord.

Second step: allow someone else to serve you. Let a young person carry your groceries, accept advice from an elder, let your family 'take over' dinner even if you know the potatoes will burn. Smile and praise their effort, not their perfection. I testify that when giving and receiving come together in humble harmony, we create a community resembling the heavenly kingdom. The Holy Spirit will testify in our hearts that we are truly sons and daughters of God, connected by the pure love of Christ.May that love dwell in us, so that when He appears, He may recognize us as His own. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.