“Charity Is the Pure Love of Christ”

Brant Gardner

The reason love is so important is that it witnesses the humility of our souls. Love is the foundation for our hope and faith. Hope and faith traits move us closer to God. Therefore, in the last days, it may be “well” with us.

Translation: Mormon concludes his arguments by emphasizing charity as the love of Christ. Of course, the need for this definitional statement is directly related to the KJV translators’ rendition of the Greek. Other modern English translations (for example, the New International Version and the Revised English Version) use “love” here instead of “charity.” Therefore, this specific sentence should be read as a clarification of the English text, not as part of the translation of the plates’ text. (See commentary accompanying Ether 12:34 for a more detailed discussion of charity.)

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 6

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