Developing charity and compassion

During the past month, several of my friends have experienced intense suffering. One is recovering from a painful surgery. Another faces the heartbreak and uncertain futures of her foster children. I love these strong women. I desired to comfort and support them in their trials.

As I reflected on my feelings about these situations, I noticed that I have less charitable reactions to strangers who either ask for or appear to need help. Feelings of disgust, impatience, anger, or judgment of others can easily become reasons not to act with kindness. These emotions distance us from people in need and prohibit the spirit from guiding our actions. Compassionate feelings arise more easily for those we know well. And yet, all who suffer can benefit from our kindness, service, and love.

Jesus Christ provides the perfect example of love and service. He “went about doing good” and healed all who came unto him in faith (Acts 10:38). Reyna Aburto, of the General Relief Society presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, recently spoke of Christ’s healing power. She outlined some similarities among all who are healed by him. “Each person had to exercise faith in Him and act to receive His healing. Some walked for long distances, others extended their hand to touch His garment, and others had to be carried to Him in order to be healed. When it comes to healing, don’t we all need Him desperately?”

I thought of the healing in Mark 2: 3-5, where a man with the palsy is unable to walk or come unto Christ on his own. He is carried by four others, who went to great lengths to lower his bed into the presence of the Savior. Likewise, some who suffer may need our help to come to Christ for healing. We can carry their burdens and bring light to their lives.

Aburto continues, “Let us follow the Savior’s path and increase our compassion, diminish our tendency to judge, and stop being the inspectors of the spirituality of others.

Listening with love is one of the greatest gifts we can offer, and we may be able to help carry or lift the heavy clouds that suffocate our loved ones and friends so that, through our love, they can once again feel the Holy Ghost and perceive the light that emanates from Jesus Christ” (Reyna Aburto, October 2019 General Conference).

Demonstrating charity, the pure love of Christ is the greatest indicator of our progress along his path. When we are filled with Christ’s love, we can forgive offenses. We begin to see the potential and eternal value of each soul. We seek for ways to lift and bless those around us.

The Latter-day Prophet Joseph Smith clarified the difference between compassion and self-righteous judgment in an 1842 address. He said, “God does not look on sin with allowance, but when men have sinned, there must be allowance made for them. All the religious world is boasting of righteousness: It is the doctrine of the devil to…hinder our progress, by filling us with self-righteousness.

“The nearer we get to our heavenly Father, the more we are disposed to look with compassion on perishing souls; we feel that we want to take them upon our shoulders, and cast their sins behind our backs” (History of the Church, 5:24).

Self-righteousness is a sin of comparison and vanity. It fills us with impatience for other people’s imperfections and mistakes and keeps our focus on others. Without humble introspection, we won’t recognize or repent of our sins.

In contrast, charity fills our hearts with compassion and reflects outward to shine on his children. Charity inspires us to “lift up the hands that hang down” (Hebrews 12:12). Some may not be ready to change or accept help when offered. But we will be happier, kinder people if we seek to increase charity in our lives.

Amity Condie lives in Palmer and enjoys reading, writing, and skijoring with her dogs and family. She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.