Choosing Charity

The more I learn about the gospel, the more I realize we aren't blessed with Christlike attributes if we aren't willing to work to get them. Every virtue—be it patience, humility or gratitude—comes over time as we seek to develop spiritual gifts with help from the Savior.

Charity is no different. Charity is a choice. Like all other principles of the gospel, we have to work to develop charity, and we have to work to keep it alive. President Thomas S. Monson illustrates the importance of charity with this humorous story:

Thomas S. Monson

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash.

“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!”

John looked on but remained silent.

Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments.

A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.”

John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!”

We find joy in this life by serving and finding good in others. Choose to be charitable. It will change your life.