Meekness and Love Unfeigned

In a generation filled with hatred and violence, Mormon humbly declared to the true followers of Christ that what they needed most was charity. He taught them about the kind of attributes someone with charity will possess: “And 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). As I considered this morning this list of how charity should manifest itself in us, I wondered, “What is the opposite of charity?” One natural choice is perhaps hatred, but I believe that pride actually encompasses the opposite of these attributes better. Pride is puffed up and indeed does seek her own. Pride is easily provoked when its image is threatened and often envies and thinks evil of others as it tries to put itself above them. Pride does not bear or endure all things but can only accept that which puts it in a higher position than others. And pride does not suffer long but is instead easily hurt and offended. In short, pride rejoices in preserving its image and status before the world, whereas charity rejoices in its true relationship with others as children of God and humble position before Him.

               Perhaps this is why Mormon so explicitly linked charity with humility, the virtue we normally think of as the opposite of pride. He said as a preface to his description of charity: “None is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity” (Moroni 7:44). Only the meek and lowly in heart can truly have charity. He connected these again in his letter to Moroni in the next chapter: “Because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love” (Moroni 8:26). Only through meekness and humility can we have the visit of the Holy Ghost which will fill our souls with His perfect love. Joseph Smith connected these attributes as well when he exhorted the Saints from Liberty Jail: “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41). Gentleness and meekness and love unfeigned all go together for service in the kingdom of God; we cannot truly love without first being meek and humble before God.

                As Moroni struggled with his own weakness when he was recording the history of the Jaredites, he showed humility as he sought to fulfill his assignment, telling the Lord that they did “stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.” Because of that humility and sincere petition to the Lord he thereafter learned about the love of God and was filled with that for those whom he feared would mock him: “And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men. And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity…. And it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace” (Ether 12:25, 33-34, 36). His humility allowed him to learn more fully of the Lord’s love and to feel that towards the Gentiles of our day, even praying for them. His example confirms the teachings of his father, and for us to develop the charity described by Mormon we must first seek diligently to become meek and lowly in heart as he did.