Charity as Book of Mormon Bookends

Book of Mormon Notes - Sunday, July 7, 2024, Moroni 7, Part 3

The concluding verses of Moroni 7 are forever etched in my memory for many reasons. I had read the Book of Mormon a couple of times before my mission, but when I read it again, with even more real intent, in the MTC, and I arrived at these verses, I felt the Lord fill my heart with the gift of charity for people I had yet to meet. The Lord dispensed this gift and others to me at this time because I was ready, with real intent, to embark upon a mission in His service. I have had many other similar experiences in callings and in other service opportunities in which the Lord filled me with His love for those whom He led me to serve.

At the pinnacle of the triad of attributes or virtues that Mormon honors is charity. Mormon teaches that the meek and lowly in heart who confess by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ must have charity. Then Mormon teaches what charity is:

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.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail-

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. (Moroni 7:45-47)

Mormon’s description of this greatest of all gifts and attributes, the most desirable of all things, reminds us immediately of the Apostle Paul’s praise for the same:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

Is this evidence of plagiarism on the part of Joseph Smith? Did Joseph Smith lift these passages directly from the New Testament? No. The same Lord who revealed these things to the Apostle Paul also revealed them to Mormon and Moroni about four centuries later.

I’ve often wondered, however, if Mormon and Moroni somehow had access to New Testament writings or perhaps angelic visitations from the Apostle Paul. There is much in the latter part of the Book of Mormon that points to the New Testament, or else there is much in the New Testament that points to the latter part of the Book of Mormon.

It is even more likely, in my opinion, that both the Apostle Paul and Mormon and Moroni drew from a third source. (see e.g. here, here, and here)

Once an LDS institute teacher suggested that his students reread a couple of these verses by replacing the word “charity” with the name Jesus Christ:

And Jesus Christ suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not His 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.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not Jesus Christ, ye are nothing, for Jesus Christ never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto Jesus Christ, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail- (Moroni 7:45-46)

Moroni’s praise for charity in the concluding bookend to the Book of Mormon reminds me of Nephi’s praise for charity in the opening bookend of the Book of Mormon:

Behold, the Lord hath forbidden this thing; wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing. Wherefore, if they should have charity they would not suffer the laborer in Zion to perish.

But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish. (2 Nephi 26:30-31)

and

I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

I have charity for the Jew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.

I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation. (2 Nephi 33:6-9)

Nephi’s final and bold declarations regarding charity in turn remind me of Mormon’s final and bold declarations regarding charity in his letter to his son Moroni:

Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore, all children are alike unto me; wherefore, I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike and partakers of salvation. (Moroni 8:16-17)

It is one thing to praise charity, and it is another thing altogether to boldly declare with authority from God and no fear of men that one is filled with charity like Mormon or Nephi. Mormon and Nephi received the gift of charity in the path of their duty to bring souls unto Christ, and they teach us the way to receive and enjoy the same Divine gifts:

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, 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; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)