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Scripture Story Sketch Notes · 1 Corinthians 13

Charity
Never Faileth

“Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4

Tongues, prophecy, faith to move mountains: Paul says none of it matters without charity. Then he shows what charity looks like, and whose love it is.

See what love looks like ↓ Read 1 Corinthians 13 first
Hand-drawn doodle map: a person playing a loud cymbal alone, a person pushing a mountain alone, a person giving away goods, a person kindly helping a child, a person stepping aside for others, a person looking into a blurry bronze mirror, three lamps with the third burning brightest, and Jesus helping a fallen person up while others watch with love.

Before you begin

The story in brief

The Saints in Corinth were proud of their spiritual gifts and were comparing them. Paul answered with one of the most famous chapters in the Bible. Speaking with the tongues of angels, prophesying, knowing all mysteries, having faith to move mountains, even giving everything away: without charity, he said, “I am nothing.”

Then he described what charity is: it “suffereth long, and is kind,” it “envieth not,” it “is not easily provoked,” and it “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Prophecy, tongues and knowledge will end, and now “we see through a glass, darkly.” But “charity never faileth.” Faith, hope and charity remain, “but the greatest of these is charity.” The Book of Mormon names it plainly: “charity is the pure love of Christ.”

Who’s who

  • Paul: the Apostle writing to the Corinthian Saints
  • The Corinthian Saints: members comparing their spiritual gifts
  • Jesus Christ: whose love is the pure example of charity

Where and when

Corinth, a Greek city famous for its bronze work, including mirrors.

Watch for the Savior

Watch how every line about charity also describes the Savior.

Read it yourself: 1 Corinthians 13

Part 1 of 7

The way of love, mapped

Eight stops from a lonely cymbal to the pure love of Christ. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.

    Part 2 of 7

    The story, plainly

    Four scenes: the cymbal, the kindness, the mirror and the love that never fails. Look for the Savior in each one.

    Read it plainly

    The words that trip people up

    Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.1

    1. 1 Corinthians 13:1 “sounding ”
    2. 1 Corinthians 13:4 “charity not itself”
    3. 1 Corinthians 13:5 “doth not behave itself ”
    4. 1 Corinthians 13:12 “through a , darkly”
    5. 1 Corinthians 13:8 “charity never ”

    Part 3 of 7

    Look closer

    Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from prophets or Church resources. Each card says which.

    0 of 9 turned

    Part 4 of 7

    Where are you?

    Running out of patience, comparing, keeping score, or praying for more love. Which feels most like you right now?

    Try it

    Charity is, charity is not

    Paul described charity by what it does and what it never does. Read each word and decide: is it charity, or not?

    “Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” 1 Corinthians 13:4

    Part 5 of 7

    Their world, their words

    A little background helps us hear Paul’s words the way the Corinthians did. Outside sources are labeled.

    Apostle

    Corinth’s contest of gifts

    Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin: Paul’s message “was simple and direct: Nothing you do makes much of a difference if you do not have charity.”4

    The Saints were proud of their gifts.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Bronze mirrors

    “Polished metal mirrors were used in the ancient world.”5

    Corinth was famous for its bronze.

    Church resource · Student manual

    Charity outlasts

    “Charity never ends; thus, it stands in contrast to even the wonderful gifts of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, which Paul said would end.”5

    Gifts are for now. Love is forever.

    Book of Mormon

    Mormon’s witness

    “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.”2

    The same truth, on another continent.

    Word study · Greek

    agapē ἀγάπη · “charity” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

    Bible Hub: “Love.”6 Outside · lexicon

    The same word in “God is love.” The King James translators chose “charity.”1

    Word study · Greek

    makrothumeō μακροθυμέω · “suffereth long” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

    Bible Hub: “To be patient, to endure, to be long-suffering.”7 Outside · lexicon

    Literally “long-tempered,” slow to boil over.1

    Word study · Greek

    esoptron ἔσοπτρον · “glass” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

    Bible Hub: “Mirror.”8 Outside · lexicon

    Not window glass, but a mirror.1

    What the text does not say

    The story does not say we must already have perfect charity. Mormon tells us to “pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.” It is a gift we ask for.2

    Part 6 of 7

    Look to Him

    True charity is His love. Every line of 1 Corinthians 13 describes Jesus Christ.

    Paul’s answer: “The greatest of these is charity.”

    1 Corinthians 13:131
    “True charity has been known only once. It is shown perfectly and purely in Christ’s unfailing, ultimate, and atoning love for us.”
    Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, quoted in the student manual5
    “If we wish to learn truly how to love, all we need to do is reflect on the life of our Savior.”
    Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin4
    “Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down.”
    President Thomas S. Monson3

    Mormon

    Filled with this love

    “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.” Moroni 7:48

    Paul

    Face to face

    “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

    Part 7 of 7

    Seek Him today

    A question to ask in prayer

    Who do I see “through a glass, darkly”? 1 Corinthians 13:12

    Ask Heavenly Father to help you see one person the way He sees them. Write down what you notice.

    Try it today

    One step each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.

    0 of 7 today

    This week:0 of 7 days

    A quiet moment

    “Charity never faileth.”

    Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–8 slowly, putting “Jesus” in place of “charity.” Then thank Him for loving you that way. 1 Corinthians 13:4–8

    A verse to hold

    Talk about it

    1. What did Paul say we are without charity?
    2. Which “charity is” do you see most in Jesus?
    3. What does “through a glass, darkly” mean?
    4. How can we get more charity?
    Open

    For adults and deeper study

    Go deeper

    Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
    Prophet

    President Thomas S. Monson, “Charity Never Faileth” (2010)

    Charity as the opposite of criticism and judging, with stories of looking past appearances.3

    Read the talk →
    Apostle

    Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Great Commandment” (2007)

    Loving God and neighbor as the measure of a disciple, with Paul’s cymbal as the warning.4

    Read the talk →
    Church resource

    New Testament Student Manual: 1 Corinthians 12–14

    Charity compared to other gifts, bronze mirrors, and Elder Holland on Christ’s love as true charity.5

    Read the chapter →
    Book of Mormon

    Moroni 7:44–48

    Mormon’s parallel teaching on charity, and how to receive it.2

    Read Moroni 7 →
    To ponder

    Harder questions

    • Why would Paul write this chapter right in the middle of teaching about spiritual gifts?
    • Elder Holland says true charity has been known only once. How does that change how you read the chapter?
    • What would seeing God “face to face” change about how you treat people now?

    Sources

    Every quotation, gloss, and piece of background on this page is listed here: scripture first, then Church sources, then outside scholarship (labeled).

    Scripture

    1. 1 Corinthians 13: “Charity never faileth.”
    2. Moroni 7:45–48: “Charity is the pure love of Christ.”

    Church leaders and Church resources

    1. President Thomas S. Monson, “Charity Never Faileth”, general conference, October 2010.
    2. Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, “The Great Commandment”, general conference, October 2007.
    3. New Testament Student Manual, “1 Corinthians 12–14”, Gospel Library. Includes Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, President Henry B. Eyring and President Howard W. Hunter.

    Outside sources (labeled on the page)

    1. Strong’s 26, agapē, Bible Hub lexicon.
    2. Strong’s 3114, makrothumeō, Bible Hub lexicon.
    3. Strong’s 2072, esoptron, Bible Hub lexicon.

    Quotations checked against the linked pages on October 10, 2026. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version as published in the Gospel Library.

    “Charity never faileth”

    His love lifts us first, and it never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:8

    Back to this week: August 23–29 Earlier: The Body of Christ Next story: Run the Race All New Testament Story Sketch Notes
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    Charity Never Faileth, ready to print $3.99

    Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.

    See the printable · $3.99All New Testament sketch notes

    Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The story is told in 1 Corinthians 13; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.