More particularly the fruits of righteousness and the fruits of unrighteousness.
Now I understand that not every one believes the same as I do or perhaps they have not had the opportunities to come to the knowledge or insights that I have come into through study, pondering and asking. I am also not an "expert" in scripture or the gospel and anyone who says they are is wrong. There is no end to learning, there is no end to growth, there is always room for correction. We go from grace to grace, line upon line, at our pace and receive according to the effort we put into it and what we are ready for. That being said if I say anything that may be confusing or that needs further clarification I am more than willing to try and address what I can.
So, as I've said I've thought a lot about fruit and my own final judgment, the parable of the talents and what fruits are my decisions and actions producing.
In the parable of the talents, a man who was going to go away for a bit called his servants to him before he left. He entrusted each one to a different task according to his ability. To one he gave five talents, to another two and to another one and then he left. I'm sure he gave instruction to each of them but obviously we don't know what exactly he instructed them to do. I can imagine, however, he might have said something like "do with this what you will, you have the tools and education. You know what I would do and I have taught you well".
So, the ones who were given five and two talents ended up going out and doubling what they had originally received. However, the one who received the least decided that because his master was a strict man that it would be best to hide what he was given so that he could return the exact same amount back to him. This obviously isn't what the master intended nor wanted.
The unfaithful servant given the least to do, did nothing.
The fruits of one's labor is solely based on what you do with what's been given you.
In my own final judgment when I stand before the bar, my biggest fear is to stand before him with empty hands having no fruit to show.
President John Taylor taught "that record that is written by the man himself in the tablets of his own mind—that record that cannot lie—will in that day be unfolded before God and angels, and those who shall sit as judges".
In my quest to fill my hands, I have asked myself the question, what lack I yet? I have come to realize that what I lack is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Charity.
I think in the church we look at charity as being good works. Yes but it really isn't.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks in his talk The Challenge to Become he states:
"We are challenged to move through a process of conversion toward that status and condition called eternal life. This is achieved not just by doing what is right, but by doing it for the right reason—for the pure love of Christ. The Apostle Paul illustrated this in his famous teaching about the importance of charity (see 1 Cor. 13). The reason charity never fails and the reason charity is greater than even the most significant acts of goodness he cited is that charity, “the pure love of Christ” (Moro. 7:47), is not an act but a condition or state of being. Charity is attained through a succession of acts that result in a conversion. Charity is something one becomes.""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. Charity never faileth" 1 Cor. 13
"But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him." Mor. 7:47
So is charity simply good works? No, Charity is the fruit of continued faith and hope. It is what you become. Charity is the embodiment of the pure love of Christ and the "works" you do are the fruits of Charity.
I have been given at times glimpses into what it is like to have the pure love of Christ within my heart for someone. It is very rare that I don't like someone or don't get along with them. One person, in particular was going through, for a lack of a better term, "issues". Things that made this person even harder to be around. It really bugged me that I couldn't like this person. So I did the only thing I could, I prayed. I prayed that I would be able to see this person the way that God saw them.
Now, when I say it bothered me that I couldn't like this person, I prayed for a whole WEEK about it. I talked about it constantly with my husband, asking questions like why I couldn't get along with them, what was wrong, help me to like this person etc. So fast forward a week and this person was still having these issues and was talking about them. I could feel myself starting to get irritated but I said to myself "stop" and right at that moment, I felt this overwhelming feeling of love and a great desire to just go up and hug this person. I KNOW that wasn't me. I know it and now that I know it I can never look at this person the same way again. We may not ever be best friends and that's ok but ever since that moment I have never thought anything bad ever again.
Being so overwhelmed at that moment in time, I can't imagine feeling that way about everyone I meet but that is what Charity is and that is what I desire.
So how do I get there? By exercising the abilities and expounding upon the talents/gifts that are God given. So that when the time is right and when I am ready I will become Charity.
Moroni 7:
"And Christ hath said: If ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me...it is by faith that miracles are wrought...I hope that when this miracle of becoming Charity happens in me, that he will see me as I see him.
Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope...brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is".
It is my hope that Charity will be extended to all who diligently seek it so that our fruits will run over the floors of heaven.
