I (as normal) look enthoroughly gross. Just ignore me, and it's a rather cute picture.
Deja VuAnyway. This is something that I've wanted to post for a while. I'm just doubling up with pictures of So Young cuz she brightens up my blog.
3 Nephi 12:48
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
This is a scripture that has given many many people grief. I think it has quite a bit to do with the Mormon 'perfectionist' attitude. I am in no way dogging on this scripture. Like all revealed truth I believe it has intrinsic value for us. I am also not apologizing for it. I do believe we should be perfect like Christ, and our Father who is in Heaven.
Look at it this way.
Perfect: entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
This is how many of us view the concept of perfection. We see it as never making any mistakes. We see being perfect as doing everything perfectly. Interacting with others perfectly. Thinking perfectly and being perfect. This is, after all, the life that Christ lived.
But we are told time and time again that Christ was the only perfect person to ever walk on this earth. We know that we can't be perfect. So why would He ask those Nephites (and through the scriptures, us) to be perfect when he knows we have already messed it up? I guarantee that everyone in that congregation had already blew their chance to be perfect. I'm sure every single one of them had at one time or another sinned. So if Jesus knew it was impossible for them to do it, why did he ask them to be perfect?
Perfect: thorough; complete; utter
Maybe we look at the wrong meaning of the word. Maybe instead of exhorting us to live the perfect life (which we've already royally botched) maybe he was asking us to go foward until we were finished. Maybe he wanted us to follow his commandments and follow him into eternal life. Maybe he wanted us to inherent all that the Father has to give. And at that point we will be utterly and thoroughly complete. Perhaps perfection isn't about the path we take but rather perfection is the destination. In which case, all of us, through Christ, can be made perfect. That is something we can achieve, and maybe it is this possibility that Christ was exhorting of all of us.
I hate it when someone can't tell who said what. It causes all sorts of confusion and initiates many 'Mormon myths'. Having said that, I can't tell you who said this. Though, doctrinally true or not, I believe it's something to think about.
Despite knowing you are choosing the right, Satan's ebbings can make you question what you know. That failing, he can throw in your face past failures that plant the question, "can I ever be redeemed of my past?"
I'm sure Nephi felt pangs of regret for killing Laban and not finding a peaceful solution. Paul may of questioned if Jesus could forgive him after gleefully watching Stephen's death. Alma the Younger may have had doubts of his worthiness of preaching the gospel he so desperately fought against.
The simple fact is Jesus' atonement is all encompassing if we allow it to be. It is a form of selfish pride to believe we are too far gone to be sanctified and saved by Christ's all reaching atonement. The ultimatum of repentance never expires.
I like this for many reasons. It shows these great men who did not live the 'perfect' life. You can't deny that they will receive their eternal glory, yet each of them made a mistake in their lives. We aren't supposed to be perfect by ourselves.
We are supposed to be perfect through Christ.
I love the concept of self-hatred and disgust as a form of pride. You feel awful, you feel tiny. You feel like you can't measure up to anything or anyone. Yet at this time you are being so prideful. Essentially you are saying "I am so amazing that I have stepped out of the bounds of Christ's all encompassing atonement. In a sense, I am better than my savior, because he can't save me." Do you see how this is pride?
To be humble is to realize our complete and utter (perfect) dependence on our Heavenly Father, His Son, and the atonement.
Think what our Heavenly Father actually asks of us. He doesn't ask us to be perfect. Think of the covenants we make, namely the sacrament covenant we renew every week. Heavenly Father would not have us make a covenant with Him to be perfect. Even if it is until next week. He would never make that covenant with us because He realizes we could never do it. He would never form a covenant with us that would make liars of us. In making those covenants with Him we would be sinning. See the disparity in that?
The covenants we make are different. Rather we are saying that we are imperfect. That, in this life, we will never be perfect, even for a moment. And we aren't promising that we can go the week, or even two minutes, without sinning. Instead we say this. Father, I'm trying. I know I'm not perfect. I know I won't be. But I promise you that when I do slip up, and this is a WHEN not an IF, that I will come to you on my knees and repent. I'll make sure that I'll come to you in humble supplication. I will confess to you what I did and I will use Christ's atonement that he suffered through that I may have thy Spirit as my companion. When I sin, I won't allow it to be my excuse to become lax in my relationship with thee. Rather I will use the opportunity to repent to come rushing back into thy presence. I will use the repentance process to strengthen my relationship with thee. And as I do this I will become a little better each time. I will be approaching perfection. And someday, after this life, through the atonement of Christ, I will be complete. I will be perfect.
These are the covenants we make (in my own words). Not to be perfect, but to rather turn to our Father and Savior when we do sin. That's what is asked of us. And I believe it's something we can all do.
"I Shouted for Joy" March 2008, The Friend, pg 7I'm sure Nephi felt pangs of regret for killing Laban and not finding a peaceful solution. Paul may of questioned if Jesus could forgive him after gleefully watching Stephen's death. Alma the Younger may have had doubts of his worthiness of preaching the gospel he so desperately fought against.
The simple fact is Jesus' atonement is all encompassing if we allow it to be. It is a form of selfish pride to believe we are too far gone to be sanctified and saved by Christ's all reaching atonement. The ultimatum of repentance never expires.
I like this for many reasons. It shows these great men who did not live the 'perfect' life. You can't deny that they will receive their eternal glory, yet each of them made a mistake in their lives. We aren't supposed to be perfect by ourselves.
We are supposed to be perfect through Christ.
I love the concept of self-hatred and disgust as a form of pride. You feel awful, you feel tiny. You feel like you can't measure up to anything or anyone. Yet at this time you are being so prideful. Essentially you are saying "I am so amazing that I have stepped out of the bounds of Christ's all encompassing atonement. In a sense, I am better than my savior, because he can't save me." Do you see how this is pride?
To be humble is to realize our complete and utter (perfect) dependence on our Heavenly Father, His Son, and the atonement.
Think what our Heavenly Father actually asks of us. He doesn't ask us to be perfect. Think of the covenants we make, namely the sacrament covenant we renew every week. Heavenly Father would not have us make a covenant with Him to be perfect. Even if it is until next week. He would never make that covenant with us because He realizes we could never do it. He would never form a covenant with us that would make liars of us. In making those covenants with Him we would be sinning. See the disparity in that?
The covenants we make are different. Rather we are saying that we are imperfect. That, in this life, we will never be perfect, even for a moment. And we aren't promising that we can go the week, or even two minutes, without sinning. Instead we say this. Father, I'm trying. I know I'm not perfect. I know I won't be. But I promise you that when I do slip up, and this is a WHEN not an IF, that I will come to you on my knees and repent. I'll make sure that I'll come to you in humble supplication. I will confess to you what I did and I will use Christ's atonement that he suffered through that I may have thy Spirit as my companion. When I sin, I won't allow it to be my excuse to become lax in my relationship with thee. Rather I will use the opportunity to repent to come rushing back into thy presence. I will use the repentance process to strengthen my relationship with thee. And as I do this I will become a little better each time. I will be approaching perfection. And someday, after this life, through the atonement of Christ, I will be complete. I will be perfect.
These are the covenants we make (in my own words). Not to be perfect, but to rather turn to our Father and Savior when we do sin. That's what is asked of us. And I believe it's something we can all do.
I shouted for Joy when I heard of God's plan
To create an earth for the family of man.
I shouted for joy when He told us that we
Would each have a body and our own family.
I shouted for joy when I learned we'd be free
To choose to do right and to use agency.
I shouted for joy but I knew that each sin
Would keep me from coming again unto Him.
To live in His presence in mansions above
But I shouted for joy when I learned of God's love.
A love that would offer His very own Son
To atone for my sins and mistakes, every one.
I shouted for joy when I heard of God's plan
And felt the pure love of the Savior of man.
To create an earth for the family of man.
I shouted for joy when He told us that we
Would each have a body and our own family.
I shouted for joy when I learned we'd be free
To choose to do right and to use agency.
I shouted for joy but I knew that each sin
Would keep me from coming again unto Him.
To live in His presence in mansions above
But I shouted for joy when I learned of God's love.
A love that would offer His very own Son
To atone for my sins and mistakes, every one.
I shouted for joy when I heard of God's plan
And felt the pure love of the Savior of man.
===
3 comments:
I agree--she's cute AND we focus on the wrong meaning of perfection
SHE IS CUTE!!! Ryan i really like her, she's way easy to be around. You two look good together. I approve.
I agree about perfection. If Christ's definition of perfection matched my definition of perfection, the celestial kingdom would be a lonely place :) Becoming complete seems much more doable....just give me like 80 more years!
I miss you teaching our sunday school, we need more deep thinkers out there.
Okay. First of all, ryan you are adorable in that picture. Good job. And I love your shpeel about perfection. I read in a book.. jesus the christ i think.. not positive though, that the word perfect meaning full and complete instead of without flaw actually has to do with translation discrepencies; while perfection in western languages/cultures means without flaw, this definition doesn't match in other languages (hebrew at least). And even though the Book of Mormon wasn't written in hebrew the other definition can definitely be applied I think we can all agree. Much love ryan. You rock. We should hang out more.
Heart,
Camille
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