Having posited charity as an essential quality of our change from the natural human to the godly human, Mormon needs to describe those qualities so that we understand what we are to develop. Therefore, verse 45 gives the definition of those qualities that we are to develop if we are to embody the principle of charity. Lest we think that those form a finite list, Mormon declares that “charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.” Since our hope is in the kingdom of God, Mormon notes that “whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.”
This definition is essentially the same as the one Paul gave in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7. Although the language comes from Paul, the meaning and principle are eternal and describe the qualities we should be developing to become more Christlike.