Taking the Measure of Our Progress

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Taking the Measure of Our Progress

historian · Senior Member

"With malice toward none, and charity toward all." Abraham Lincoln

A nice article, Cat. As it points out, we not only need to forgive the person who cuts us off in traffic, we need to love them, too.

The article proposes this litmus test, "We may judge our progress toward charity by asking, For how many people do you wish heaven?

Having charity towards others is not the only part of living the gospel. We also need to teach correct principles. For example, if the person who cut you off in traffic was your sixteen year old, then you'll probably soon be having a heart-to-heart about that.

Another example, you can wish heaven for a Young Woman, but you'll can't skip teaching about dress standards and moral conduct and hope that your wishes for her happiness in heaven will be enough.

IOW we must have charity for those people around us, but there are many actions that should not be tolerated.

There's nothing I can do about the anonymous traffic cutter-offer, but forgive and have charity. There's not much I can do about people martyring Christians in Indonesia (I can pray for them). There's not much I can charitably do about a member of my ward parking in a handicapped space, beyond mentioning it to the person.

All of us have petty foibles that need to be overlooked. Chew your nails; scratch your rear; wear scuffed shoes -- this isn't any of my business. Take the Lord's name in my presence and I should probably say something about that, at least occasionally, and probably not the first time I meet you.

Charity is not a way to cover sins. As the article points out, the first step is to resist evil. In Helaman 6, the Nephites tolerated the Gadiantons, and the Lamanites preached to them.

37 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.

38 And it came to pass on the other hand, that the Nephites did build them up and support them, beginning at the more wicked part of them, until they had overspread all the land of the Nephites, and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils, and to join with them in their secret murders and combinations.

39 And thus they did obtain the sole management of the government, insomuch that they did trample under their feet and smite and rend and turn their backs upon the ^apoor and the meek, and the humble followers of God.

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

Seems to me that the scriptures kind of infer true charity is kind of the alpha and omega concept of the gospel, aside from the Savior and His Atonement. In fact, Alpha and Omega and His mission are the embodiment of God's charity to each of us.

Moroni 10:20-21, Moroni 7:40-48, 2 Nephi 26:30

While charity, or being philanthropic, may not be cover up sins, 1 Peter 4:8 seems to indicate having true charity will provide a shield against temptations in a variety of sins.

And, it also seems to be more than a nice thing to strive for. It seems to be a commandment.

GUIDE TO THE SCRIPTURES
Charity

historian · Senior Member

Is what you're inferring that you should be able to do and say anything you want to, and no one should disagree with you?

By that reasoning, Korihor could come here with "lying and flattering words" and we could not try to set him straight.

There are more commandments than the one to be charitible.

Cat Herder · Understander of unimportant things

How, pray tell, did you get that out of what I said and the scriptures I referenced?

Matthew 22:34-40

Having and obtaining charity is second only to the commandment to love God. As the Savior Himself said, these two commandments encompass everything else.