--- title: Times and Seasons description: Issues of 1841 to 1842. authors: - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints editors: - Ebenezer Robinson - Don Carlos Smith - Smith, Joseph, Jr. - Taylor, John collections: - periodicals tags: - newspaper - times-and-seasons - nauvoo - nineteenth-century periodical: Times and Seasons volume: 3 number: 4 published: 1841-12-15 publisher: E. Robinson and D. C. Smith; later John Taylor publisher_place: Commerce and Nauvoo, Illinois language: en type: article reference: "“Charity,” *Times and Seasons* 3, no. 4 (December 15, 1841): 627–630." printed_title: CHARITY. source: url: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-12-15_3_4 transcription: Text from the Centerplace.org transcription (https://www.centerplace.org/history/ts/v3n04.htm), with its page breaks; this Internet Archive scan is the reference copy (its OCR was used only as a witness for OCR repair) identifier: per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-12-15_3_4 start_page: 627 end_page: 630 curator_note: A Mormon newspaper published by the church in Nauvoo; included for historical study. Inclusion does not imply endorsement. rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1841 (Nauvoo, Illinois); published before 1931, so public domain in the United States source: https://archive.org/details/per_utah-and-the-mormons_times-and-seasons_1841-12-15_3_4 publication_year: 1841 --- # Charity In consequence of our bold testimony and the much plainness and simplicity which we use in describing the apostacy [apostasy] of the church, we are often accused of not having charity for all people who profess to worship God according to the various systems of religion that are extant. Therefore I think it necessary to insert a few remarks upon this subject, and set forth in plain terms some of the apostles' ideas of true charity. Some have supposed that it is impossible for us to be actuated by true charity, when we are so particular in describing the awful condition of apostacy [apostasy], that so many of the human family are in; and also when we contend that there cannot be but one right way to serve God, or in other words but one plan of salvation. Some say they have charity for all. Very good; but does true charity lead any person to believe that the doctrines of all societies are right, or that there is more than one true plan of salvation. The apostle Paul has given the following description of charity. "Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 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 Cor. xiii chapter. From the above we learn that charity rejoiceth not in false doctrines, but rejoiceth in the true doctrine of Christ-"Charity rejoiceth not in iniquity," &c. We will now examine this subject and see whether or not the scriptures teach more than one true gospel. Paul says, "Though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you, than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." Gal. i. 8. Here we see that the apostle has denounced a curse upon any individual who should be so presumptous [presumptuous] as to preach any other gospel than the gospel of Christ. Certainly no other gospel than the one the apostles preached, and the ancient saints obeyed, is the power of God unto salvation; and the curse of God inevitably will follow any person who deviates from it in his teaching. Christ said, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way the same is a thief and a robber."-John x. 1. Now it is plain that there is but one entrance into the kingdom of God: all other pretended entrances are the works of men who try to climb up some other way. How many doctrines did Christ acknowledge to be true? I answer, only one, and that was the one that the apostles preached; and pronounced a curse upon all who should preach a different one. But says one, those Christian societies that call themselves orthodox, only differ in nonessential points. I reply the scripture says nothing about nonessential points of the doctrine of Christ. The gospel is a perfect law of liberty, because a perfect being devised it, and if it is changed in the least, it is rendered imperfect. For this reason I conclude that it is the very height of folly, to believe there can be more than one true order of the gospel. And a man must be obedient to every principle of it, or it can not be said in truth that he is obedient to the gospel of Christ. But to proceed. Charity in the full sense of the word is the love of God shed abroad in the hearts of the people of God; love towards your neighbors; assistance and friendship in the time of distress and danger. For instance we see a person in danger, and he ignorant of it, it would not be charity in us to flatter him in his dangerous condition, and thus expose him to more danger, or in other words, if any person is deceived, and is in a dangerous condition, and we know his condition to be an awful one; it is charity in us, not only that, but is our duty to warn him of his danger and entreat him to forsake the evil way, instead of acknowledging his delusion to be good, and thus flatter him in wickedness. Now let us examine the charity that Christ had for the Jews. At the time he made his appearance among them, they were divided into sects and parties, and had broken the covenant the Lord had made with their fathers while in the wilderness. Notwithstanding, the Mosaic law was given by divine direction, and the children of Israel blessed when they performed all the ordinances of that law, yet the Jews had made it void through the tradition of their elders, and imbibed erroneous opinions, grieved the spirit of God, apostatized, and were fit subjects to reject the Messiah. Christ said to the Pharisees and Sadducees, &c., "But woe unto you Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in: for ye are like unto whited sepulchres [sepulchers], which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" (See Math. xxiii chapter.) The Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees at this time professed to be Moses' disciples and to worship God according to the law. Christ commanded his apostles saying "go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature, and he that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved and he that believeth not shall be damned." From the above we learn that with all the religions that the human family professed, that they all had to come to the standard of Christ, and comply with the requisitions of the gospel, or be damned; none were exempt from this command. Furthermore, Christ said to the Pharisees, "you are of your father the devil and his works ye will do: for he was a liar from the beginning." Paul said, "O child of the devil," &c. No person who believes the bible doubts but what Christ and the apostles were actuated by true charity, when they described the wickedness of the above mentioned people, notwithstanding the boldness of their testimony, and plainness of their assertions. Now if Christ and the apostles had the same kind of charity that the people want us to have, they would have said to the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, Alexandrians, Syrenians, &c., go on, you are doing well; this difference of opinion is only of minor consequence. And if they had thus flattered them, what would have been the consequence? Would it not have involved them deeper in sin and iniquity, and caused them to drink a greater draft of the intoxicating spirit of delusion, and encouraged them in their works of darkness? Let the reader answer this question for himself. It certainly was pure charity that inspired Christ and his apostles to reprove the world for their sins, and corruptions; and why should it be considered an uncharitable act in the Latter-Day Saints to do the same, providing the world are in similar circumstances. Indeed, the Jews were in a state of apostacy [apostasy] when Christ came, and they were all commanded to bow to his sceptre [scepter], and obey his gospel and no other way, plan, gospel, or system of religion would save them from the consequences of their sins. Now if the Christian world in general are in a state of apostacy [apostasy], which by the by, we have already proved, as will be seen in the first number of this work, and we have knowledge of it, or in other words a knowledge of the predictions of the prophets and apostles, on this subject: if we have charity for them, we will warn them of these things: "Knowing the terror of the Lord," says the apostle, "we persuade men." Therefore, knowing the apostacy [apostasy] of many who profess Christianity and the awful consequences except they repent, and that Christ will come in the clouds of heaven, and with a flame of fire to take vengeance on them who know not God, and obey not the gospel of Christ; charity prompts us to lift up our voices, and proclaim repentance, and the necessity of obedience to the commands of God. Again, the apostle says as we have before quoted: "Though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and have not charity I am nothing." No one who believes the bible doubts but what Christ and the apostles were influenced by a philanthropic spirit, or charity, when they prophecied [prophesied] to the Jews their destruction. But we would naturally infer from the above quotation, that it is possible for a man to have the spirit of prophecy, or a knowledge of future events, and yet be in a degree destitute of charity. With the spirit of prophecy, or knowledge that Christ had of the destruction that was coming upon the Jews, if he had remained in silence, would he have showed that he had charity for them. Certainly not. The circumstance of Jonah disobeying the command of God and taking a passage on board the ship for Tarsish, instead of going to Ninevah, is a remarkable instance of this kind. The Lord by the spirit of prophecy discovered to Jonah the great wickedness of the inhabitants of that city and the awful destruction that he had resolved to bring upon them, if they would not repent. Now Jonah having a knowledge of these things, also the pride and haughtiness of the Ninevites, concluded that if he testified these things to them it would cross them in their feelings and the finger of scorn would be pointed at him and he would have to suffer much in order to accomplish this work. Therefore he determined in his own mind (no doubt) not to go to Ninevah, but let them dwell in ignorance, and the destruction overtake them unawares. Thus we see that with all the knowledge he had of the destruction that would have come upon Ninevah had it not been for repentance, he was destitute of charity and turned from the path of duty. Now if we have a knowledge of the second coming of Christ, and the terrible destructions that will come upon the wicked at the time, or those who are not prepared to meet him, shall we hold our peace, and make no exertion to reclaim them, that they may meet the Lord with joy, and not with grief? Furthermore, it would be an act of injustice to destroy a people, without first giving them a fair warning of it. The prophets, Christ, and the apostles, have predicted the following concerning the destruction of the last days, at, or previous to the coming of Christ, "Out of Zion the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, (that he may judge his people") Ps. L. 2-4. Christ speaking of his second coming said: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Math. xxiv. 36-39. "But of the time and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say peace and safety, sudden destruction cometh upon them, * * and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." I Thess. v. 1-5. Now from the above predictions we learn that the Lord has decreed a destruction upon the human family, and that the Lord Jesus is coming, and will overtake them as a thief in the night. And shall we remain in silence? no! we will testify these things, that the honest in heart may arouse from their slumbers, and prepare themselves to meet the awful day. If we have a knowledge of these things, and make no exertion to rescue others from the impending destruction, we will incur the displeasure of the Lord like Jonah. Charity inspires us to proclaim the truth, regardless of private feelings or men's opinions, that the Lord's people may be called out of Babylon, or from the midst or confusion, that they partake not of her sins, and receive not of her plagues, for her sins and iniquities have reached to heaven, and her judgments slumber not, (see Rev. xviii. 4, 5.) "For do I not persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men I should not be servant of Christ."-Gal. i. 10. TIMES AND SEASONS, CITY OF NAUVOO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1841.