Doctrine
Charity
Charity in scripture names Christlike love expressed toward God and neighbor in enduring discipleship. Traditions overlap substantially on its moral centrality while differing in how it is placed within broader doctrines of grace, virtue, and sanctification.
LineUponLine does not pick a “winning” doctrine. These pages summarize where to read in scripture and how some traditions describe those texts—so you can compare sources yourself. This is not Ask (scripture lookup) or Research (conversational Q&A)—only static study notes.
Scripture anchors
When a reference parses to the Church's study site, the link opens scripture there in a new tab; otherwise the label stays plain text. Short notes describe what the text is doing, not a full theological conclusion. Anchor type badges (primary, supporting, contextual) are editor markers for reading order and scope only; they do not rank inspiration, truth, or authority.
Defines charity as pure love of Christ and links it to prayer and discipleship.
Classic apostolic description of charity/love attributes.
Jesus marks discipleship by love one for another.
Charity/love as the bond of perfectness in Christian life.
Restoration counsel ties charity to enduring virtue and influence.
How different traditions summarize the texts
Each block names a tradition or common reading, then describes it in neutral, third-person language. Summaries are representative, not exhaustive. Blocks are listed A–Z by tradition title for a stable order; that order is not a ranking of correctness.
Tradition / reading
Broader Christian / biblical teaching on Charity
Broader Christian teaching presents charity or love as the highest enduring virtue and fulfillment of Christian ethics in relation to God and neighbor. Biblical interpretation commonly foregrounds Pauline virtue discourse and Gospel commands while differing in doctrinal systems for grace and sanctification.
Passages often cited in this summary: 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (opens official scripture study in a new tab); John 13:34–35 (opens official scripture study in a new tab); Colossians 3:14 (opens official scripture study in a new tab)
Tradition / reading
Latter-day Saint teaching on Charity
Latter-day Saint teaching frequently defines charity as the pure love of Christ and presents it as a spiritual gift cultivated through prayer, covenant discipleship, and service. Moroni 7 is regularly read with New Testament commands on love as a core marker of true followers of Christ.
Passages often cited in this summary: Moroni 7:45–48 (opens official scripture study in a new tab); Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 (opens official scripture study in a new tab); John 13:34–35 (opens official scripture study in a new tab)
General Conference teachings
Talks linked here were selected during doctrine review and import. Each entry opens the talk on the Church's site.
Elder Neil L. Andersen · 2024-10
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland · 2025-10
Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus
Elder Robert M. Daines · 2023-10
Adorned with the Virtue of Temperance
Elder Ulisses Soares · 2025-10
President Russell M. Nelson · 2023-04
Related topics
Cross-links for study context only—they do not imply that one topic logically proves another.
- Faith and Works(related study topic)
- Grace(related study topic)
- Prayer(related study topic)
Where readers often connect ideas
Notes describe common discussion threads between topics, not mandatory implications.
None recorded yet.
Argument notes
- Charity texts are best read as both inner disposition and outward covenant action.
Reasoning tags
- exegesis
- comparative-theology