Pahoran, Moroni, and Charity

Alma 61

9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.

I love this scripture. It says so much. Doesn't it make you want to be like Pahoran? It is a wonderful lesson on forgiving others and not being offended easily, but it is also a lesson in charity or Christ-like love. He was more concerned with listening to what Moroni was trying to say, than how he was saying it. (Forgiving others and not being offended easily are qualities of a person with charity.)

It reminds me of this quote by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, which I have quoted before, but which I need to read over and over again:

"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."

It is good to put in the scripture in Moroni 7:45 that tells us what charity is:

45 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.

(It is also in 1 Corinthians 13, starting with verse 4)

I like the verses from Moroni that follow verse 45:

46 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—
47 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.
48 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.

When I read Alma 62:11, which reads:

11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.

It made me wonder what would have happened if Pahoran had not reacted to Moroni's anger the way he did. He responded with love and charity, and they were able to work together to accomplish great things. If someone's ego had gotten in the way, or someone were to hold a grudge, etc. they would not have been able to solve the problem. They would have made their problems a lot worse. By responding with charity, Pahoran was able to retain the Spirit, which helped him to find a solution to their problem.

I also wanted to include a talk given by Bonnie B. Parkin and also the original talk that Marvin J. Ashton gave that includes his famous charity statement:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-401-33,00.html

http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1992.htm/ensign%20may%201992%20.htm/the%20tongue%20can%20be%20a%20sharp%20sword.htm?fn=document-frameset.htm$f=templates$3.0

Charity

While looking for something on one of my flash drives, I found a quote I had used in a talk that is so good I thought I would put it here so that I might find it easier and more often.
This is from Elder Marvin J. Ashton, and it was used in 2 different Visiting Teaching messages within 2 years so you know it must be good! I need to remember this when I am thinking about Christ-like love:
VT message quote by Marvin J. Ashton (June 2004 and 2006)

“We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more.
“Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again. …
“Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended. … Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other” (“The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, May 1992, 18–19).

And, while I am on the subject, I used to love hearing from Elder Ashton when he spoke in General Conference. He always gave messages of hope and love. He died in 1994. He was a very good man.