Sunday Report

Today's lesson was Chapter 30 of the Gospel Principles Book: Charity.  

Sister Pringle introduced the subject by reviewing the definition of charity.  It is the pure love that our Savior has and we must seek to love as He does with a pure heart and genuine concern and compassion for all of our brothers and sisters.  Charity will endure forever, according to scripture, and we can learn what it means to have charity by looking to the example that we were given in the life of Jesus Christ.  Through His teachings we can see that we must minister to the needs of those who are wanting in life's necessities, and by so doing we are serving our God and His Son as well as our fellow men.

We must not judge, only do our best to meet the needs of those we can, after we have met the needs of our families.  Sometimes the needs are material goods, but often the needs go beyond the physical and are things that we can supply, even when our material goods are limited.  A smile, a kind word, a helping hand, a listening ear, just the offer of companionship and understanding, empathy, are all aspects of charity that we can all share with others. Charity requires more that just supplying something to someone in need.  It goes beyond that act to the feeling of compassion that we must have as we seek to supply that need, whatever it may be. 

Charity  endows us with feelings of patience and kindness, forgiveness and acceptance of those we serve, keeping us from judging them, but seeking to minister to their needs and help them.  Charity is a spiritual gift and we are encouraged to seek it through righteousness and fervent prayer.  As we seek to act in charity, with humility and purity of heart, the Spirit will give us this Christ-like attribute which can only be used to further His work and serve His children:  "Pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ." (Moroni 7:48)

Next Week:  Yvonne Lucas will be teaching for Traci Cline.  We will be covering Chapter 31 Honesty, and 32 Tithes and Offerings.

Have a great week and seek for opportunities to show charity in the lives of those around you.

The Relief Society Presidency