I get to give a talk on Sunday in sacrament meeting. The subject I was given was taken from a talk given by Elder Gerrit W. Gong called "Becoming Perfect in Christ", from the July 2014 Ensign. I loved this talk and felt it pertained well to my own life. I hope I can convey the spirit that I felt as I studied prayed and wrote down my thoughts on this powerful message. I will post my talk here-
Becoming Perfect in Christ
When our children were small and I was new to motherhood I had to learn daily through trial and error how to raise each of them and try my best to be a good mother. A friend with children of similar ages and I would often console each other when we would experience a setback with a little joke about how when we were older we would finally have it all figured out and could co-author a book together on “How to raise a Perfect Child”….
25 years later I have learned a great deal, but most of what I have learned as both a parent and individual comes through both trial and error. As mortals even with our best efforts and intentions we still sometimes fall short of our greatest expectations.
One day our family picture which hangs above our fireplace caught my eye. I began to reflect on my dream of being a perfect parent and wife and raising perfect children in a perfect home. Even though this dream never has came to fruition I actually like the picture that I can now see more clearly with my spiritual eyes and understanding. We are seven imperfect people who all deeply need the help and love of our Savior Jesus Christ to help us navigate through this life. With his perfect atonement and love we can, if we choose to do so one day be complete and perfected in Him and rise to the greatness that He sees within each of us.
In the Sermon on the Mount the Savior commands us to-
“Be ye therefore perfect.”(Matthew 5:48)
The Greek word for perfect can be translated as “complete, finished and fully developed.” Therefore our Savior asks us to become complete, finished and fully developed.
The familiar term “endure to the end” reminds us that eternal growth often involves both time and process. If we become impatient with this process it can impede our faith and make us feel discouraged or even stumble. Christ’s atoning love encourages us and can fill us with hope along our journey to becoming perfected in Him.
In Moroni 10:32( in the Book of Mormon) we learn to:
“… come unto Christ and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.”
If we are not careful in understanding Christ’s offering of becoming perfect in Him and allowing His atonement and grace to work in our lives we may embrace a more self centered course by becoming hyper focused on perfectionism.
Perfectionism is an attitude or behavior that takes an admirable desire to be good and turns it into an unrealistic expectation to be perfect now. It sometimes arises from the feeling that only those who are perfect deserve to be loved or that we do not deserve to be happy unless we are perfect. When we believe this we waste precious time here on earth believing that somewhere on the horizon will be our time to finally embrace joy and happiness. Telling ourselves “I will finally be able to be happy when…. “The house is paid off”, “All of my children are grown and gone”, “All of my children are married in the temple” or “I have finally landed my perfect dream job.” All of these things are worthy pursuits in and of themselves. . .But if our happiness now becomes dependent on these things happening we will not be able to enjoy the sweet fruits along the way of peace, joy and assurance that our Savior wants us all to partake of.
We may sometimes without ill intent impose these “Perfectionist” expectations in our own homes and on our own families. This can unwittingly cause others to feel discouraged and as if their best efforts will never quite measure up to our unrealistic standards.
A father or mother may feel compelled to be the perfect spouse, parent, homemaker, bread winner or to be part of a perfect Latter-day Saint family-now.
As single adults you may have a list of desired qualities in a potential spouse and yet be unable to marry because of unrealistic expectations for the perfect companion.
Of course we should consider qualities we desire in ourselves and a potential spouse and maintain our highest hopes and standards. But if we are humble we will be surprised by the goodness we can find in unexpected places, and we may create opportunities to grow closer to someone who, like us, is not perfect.
Faith acknowledges that through repentance and the power of the Atonement, our weaknesses can be made strong and repented sins can truly be forgiven-
Years ago I knew through a blessing I had received, that my Heavenly Father desired me to serve a mission. I was at a place however in my life when I felt unworthy and that this may not be a possibility for me. I could at that time only see my own inadequacies; the places where I had fell short and surely had disappointed my Heavenly Father enough that he no longer could use me as a witness for his gospel in missionary service. A short time later I met my husband Matt.
As we began to date he learned of my desire to serve a mission and enthusiastically encouraged me in my pursuit of this goal. One day he shared with me the powerful scripture found in Ether 12:27(in the Book of Mormon) and I actually began to believe it-
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong in them.”
This scripture then and now has shifted how I think about everything. It makes all that we may feel is impossible become a hope filled possibility.
Prepared from the foundation of the world, our Saviors atonement allows us to learn, repent, and grow by our own experiences and choices. Often repentance takes time and a great deal of effort on our part. Other times we must learn to wait upon the Lord to teach us in his own due time the lessons that he has in store for us to learn. This requires us to have an eternal perspective when it comes to the Lord perfecting us and those around us.
Recently I have developed a real love for Family History. Many years ago my mother created a book containing pedigree charts, pictures and life sketches of many of my ancestors. As I pour over these stories I have truly felt more fully the “welding link” (spoken of in D&C 128:18) that bonds us together with those ancestors who have finished their mortal probation here on earth and who want us to succeed here. I have also been impressed by their stories, their lives were not always perfect but most found joy in trying their best daily to live good lives.
“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong in them.”
This scripture then and now has shifted how I think about everything. It makes all that we may feel is impossible become a hope filled possibility.
Prepared from the foundation of the world, our Saviors atonement allows us to learn, repent, and grow by our own experiences and choices. Often repentance takes time and a great deal of effort on our part. Other times we must learn to wait upon the Lord to teach us in his own due time the lessons that he has in store for us to learn. This requires us to have an eternal perspective when it comes to the Lord perfecting us and those around us.
Recently I have developed a real love for Family History. Many years ago my mother created a book containing pedigree charts, pictures and life sketches of many of my ancestors. As I pour over these stories I have truly felt more fully the “welding link” (spoken of in D&C 128:18) that bonds us together with those ancestors who have finished their mortal probation here on earth and who want us to succeed here. I have also been impressed by their stories, their lives were not always perfect but most found joy in trying their best daily to live good lives.
A while ago I was facing a particular trial that seemed extraordinarily heavy. I had lost months of sleep and spent many waking hours trying to think of a way we could navigate around this struggle. One day while going about my daily tasks, I recognized a familiar voice. It came into my mind and was that of my Grandfather who had passed on many years ago. He was a good, wise and optimistic grandfather who in his mid 50’s was finally able to embrace the fullness of the gospel. Whenever we were going through a hard time he would often reassuringly remind us, “Don’t you worry…things will work out just you wait and see!” This particular day, these same words of his spoke to my heart and soothed my weary soul. They gave me courage and renewed my faith. His message was not so much about predicting an outcome to our present situation but instead a gentle reminder that he now understood things from an eternal perspective and could help me to settle down and recognize that all good things take time. The trials we experience here in this earth life are so momentary compared to the eternal scheme of things.
If you like I have ever been prone to being limited by your own weaknesses or shortcomings I would challenge you today to begin to do some positive faith filled things for yourself:
If you like I have ever been prone to being limited by your own weaknesses or shortcomings I would challenge you today to begin to do some positive faith filled things for yourself:
- First celebrate with gratitude the things you do well, however large or small they might be
- If necessary seek spiritual counsel or competent medical attention that may help you to begin to relax and develop positive ways to think and structure your life.
- Try to reduce any self- defeating behaviors that will not allow the spirit of hope and positivity to be present.
- And experience and express more gratitude.
- Embrace the atonement and relationship you can have with your Savior Jesus Christ and He will begin to ease your burdens.
I am thankful for our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that he is the Son of God and that he has through the infinite atonement taken upon himself all of our sins. He can help us if we choose to embrace Him as our Savior and follow the things that he has taught us in wisdom and love. I know that his gospel has been restored to the earth today and I accept it in its fullness- all of it. I feel blessed indeed for the peace, joy and happiness that our Heavenly Father offers to each of us his children if we choose to embrace it and love him very much for all he has given me!!!!
