I’m excited to begin blogging the talks from General Conference. Rereading and writing about all of the talks from the April 2016 conference was an immense blessing. I got to reecounter favorite talks, and gain new appreciation for talks that had not stood out to me at the time.

Sister Jean B Bingham’s talk about charity and being kind and charitable towards others was absolutely inspiring. These were words that I really needed to hear.

It is remarkable that Christ who was the only perfect human being to walk in this world nevertheless had a great charity for those around him. He was perfect and yet did not judge others for their imperfections. How much more then do we being imperfect need to show kindness and charity towards the weaknesses of others.

“When we see our own imperfections more clearly, we are less inclined to view others ‘through a glass, darkly.’ We want to use the light of the gospel to see others as the Savior does—with compassion, hope, and charity. The day will come when we will have a complete understanding of others’ hearts and will be grateful to have mercy extended to us—just as we extend charitable thoughts and words to others during this life.”
The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is one of hope. It is the promise that we can change. It is the guarantee that we can be transformed.” The great beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the reality of eternal progression—we are not only allowed to change for the better but also encouraged, and even commanded, to continue in the pursuit of improvement and, ultimately, perfection.”

So whether we treat others with that same hope and optimism is a true mark of our conversion. Whether we are kind, forgiving, and long suffering is an indicator of how truly we understand Christ and his Atonement.

So let us choose kindness and cloak ourselves in the mantle of charity. Let us see the good in others and aspire to uplift rather than put down. Let us avoid harsh or unkind words. 

“Yes, we can bring the light of the gospel into our homes, schools, and workplaces if we look for and share positive things about others and let the less-than-perfect fade away. What gratitude fills my heart when I think of the repentance that our Savior, Jesus Christ, has made possible for all of us who have inevitably sinned in this imperfect and sometimes difficult world!”