The Latin word carus means dear, costly, or valuable. It’s used to describe something that you care a lot about, that you treasure. The noun form, caritas, means the recognition that something is valuable. It can be translated as “costliness,” “esteem,” “affection,” “love,” or using the English cognate: “charity.”
The Latin Vulgate Bible sometimes uses the word caritas to translate the Greek word agape (ἀγάπη), which refers to divine love, valuing what God values. The King James translators followed that pattern, usually translating agape as “love,” but sometimes using the word “charity,” including in Paul’s discussion of agape in 1 Corinthians 13.
In the Book of Mormon, Nephi tells us that God has commanded us to have charity and that if we don’t have it, we are nothing. (See 2 Nephi 26:30.) At the very end of his writings, he poignantly shares the charity he feels for his own people, for the Jews, and for the Gentiles. (See 2 Nephi 33:7-9.) Alma admonishes the people in the city of Gideon to have faith, hope, and charity, promising them that if they do, they will “always abound in good works” (Alma 7:24). But the majority of the references to charity appear at the end of the book, in the writings of Moroni.
In an editorial note during his abridgment of the history of the Jaredites, Moroni teaches that faith, hope, and charity will bring us to God, who is “the fountain of all righteousness” (Ether 12:28). He testifies that the love which motivated the Savior to lay down His life for us is charity and that without charity, we cannot inherit the mansions He has prepared for us. (See Ether 12:32-34.) Then, he pleads with God to give us—his future readers—grace, so that we might have charity. God responds inconclusively, basically saying that it’s up to us whether we choose to seek this gift or not. (See Ether 12:36-37.)
Think for a moment about the Latin meaning of charity in light of Moroni’s words: Charity means recognizing things that are valuable and treating them accordingly. Jesus gave His life for us because He had charity for us: He recognized our eternal value. We must emulate Him in that way to receive the blessings He has prepared for us.
In Moroni’s final book, he quotes a sermon by his father about faith, hope, and charity (Moroni 7.) He quotes a letter in which his father equates charity with “everlasting love” (Moroni 8:17). And in his final chapter, after listing a number of spiritual gifts, he says:
Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity.
And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if ye have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope.
Moroni 10:20-21
Sister Silvia H. Allred taught, “Charity is not a single act or something we give away but a state of being, a state of the heart, kind feelings that engender loving actions…. Charity is a divine gift which we must seek and pray for.” She encouraged us to pray for charity and also to practice charity by performing small acts of service. Over time, our hearts are changed, and these actions come naturally:
When we have charity, we are willing to serve and help others when it is inconvenient and with no thought of recognition or reciprocation. We don’t wait to be assigned to help, because it becomes our very nature. As we choose to be kind, caring, generous, patient, accepting, forgiving, inclusive, and selfless, we discover we are abounding in charity.
“Charity Never Faileth,” General Conference, October 2011
Today, I will practice charity. I will strive to value what God values, especially His children. I will pray to be filled with His love. I will act charitably so that I can continue to develop this essential Christlike attribute.