Moroni 7:44

If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

Our conversion is not complete without charity. Faith and hope are of no value if they are not guided by charity. The natural outcome of faith and hope is charity, but charitable behavior works against our mortal nature. The natural man says he never has enough, and whatever he gives away diminishes him. Charity, however, operates on the economy of abundance. One who has charity believes he has enough and to spare, because he has faith that God is the source of all things, and he has the hope (expectation) that God will always provide from his infinite source of abundance. Thus, charity is the ultimate victory over the natural man and is the infallible consummation of our conversion.

Mosiah 1:7

And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers.

The Nephites are promised over and over that they will prosper in the land if they keep the commandments. To prosper is to grow materially and succeed. It does not always mean financial growth. We can grow in righteousness, in peace, in love, in charity. We can succeed in raising righteous families, in coming unto Christ, and in receiving the grace of the atonement in our lives. "In the land" means in mortality. It is true that financial means often find their way into the hands of righteous individuals, but riches are a byproduct. Faith and salvation are the true prosperity.

Jacob 2:17

Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.

A simple, practical explanation for the practice of charity. We have to move away from the economy of scarcity and operate in an economy of abundance. When we believe in abundance, we are able to share with others, for we know God can always replace what we give away. When we operate from scarcity, however, we assume that our resources are limited and irreplaceable, and so we hold tightly to all we have, fearing we can never acquired more. To give to others is to diminish ourselves. Such is the fear of the natural man and the selfishness that comes from his fear. Only faith in God overcomes fear.