“If He Offereth a Gift”

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

No matter what the gift, he that is evil attaches thereto a condition, or an unclean motive. At least he expects a gift in return. Someone has said that a gift without the giver is bare. That means just this, that the giver of a gift who gives not himself therewith, gives nothing, and the receiver thereof receives nothing that is of worth. Both gift and giver are vain. As a gift is empty which is given with no real intent of the heart, so prayer to God, without real intent, is void of meaning. Such a prayer profiteth the giver thereof nothing. It is only that a few words are recited, and like a shadow, it is but the outline of something real, and shall pass away. As to gifts, neither the giver nor the receiver profits unless that gift abounds to our credit in the world to come. In other words, a gift attached to evil, whether it is of the giver or of the receiver, is not a gift of righteousness, and it, too, as a shadow shall pass away, and as a treasure in Heaven it will not be counted.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 7

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