On Perfection

As individuals striving for perfection it is easy to become overwhelmed with how difficult the road is. In the scriptures we are commanded to "be perfect, even as I or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (Matt 5:48 and 3 Ne 12:48).

As easy as this sounds, it is just too hard. We can't do all the things that are demanded of us, let alone perfectly. Even for those of us who are striving to remember to do all things that are asked of us it is impossible to do all of them perfectly all of the time. To have a great personal scripture study everyday, say our prayers meaningfully every prayer, seek to serve people throughout the day, maintain a positive attitude while at work all day long, get all our homework done on time, serve in the temple weekly, write in our journals every night, and do everything else that is demanded of us in our family life, callings, and responsibilities it is too much to do it all perfectly everyday. It is not possible to do it all, and to do it all perfectly everyday.

Instead the Lord asks us to do the best we can and that is enough. Now even this sentiment seems overwhelming. For the best we can do physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually oftentimes doesn't measure up to what we think we can do, and thus we always fall short of our own expectations and ambitions for ourselves.

Even Nephi, a great prophet in the Book of Mormon, lamented the fact that he couldn't be perfect no matter how hard he tried:

17 "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.

18 "I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.

19 "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins...(2 Ne 4:17-19)."

Nephi was in a fallen world, as we are. Even as much as his heart and spirit desired to do the right thing, his flesh would come short and taint his soul. Anyone who is trying to draw closer to God knows this feeling. And it is frustrating. As hard as we try we always fall short. Thus we are never perfect, no matter how hard we try. And the reality is, we can't be. At least not in this way in this life. This type of perfection that we seek where our flesh no longer wars against our spirit, but is instead united in one purpose, body and mind is a perfection that we will not receive until after the resurrection.

So is it possible then to be perfect in this life. The answer is yes. But not in the way we originally think. When we enter into the gospel covenant through baptism we take the Savior's name upon us and become perfected in him. As we take his yoke upon us all of his perfection becomes ours. Whatever weaknesses, shortcomings, or inadequacies we have, they are immediately overcome by him. His perfection outweighs all of these things.

So why should we dwell on our weaknesses if this is the case? We shouldn't. If we are true to the covenant which we have made at baptism then we should not focus on our weakness, but focus on Christ's strength. To take Christ's yoke upon us means we let him in. We let go of our pride. We recognize that by ourselves we can do nothing. We will always fall short. And even if we try and do it all ourselves, we eventually burn ourselves out and get discouraged, overwhelmed, and give up. Yet if we realize from the beginning that it is impossible to save ourselves through our own works, and we let Christ in, then we can do all things.

In this moment when we let go of the arm of the flesh, and begin to trust in the Lord and his mighty arm, is the moment when we become strong. This is when we become mighty instruments in the hands of the Lord. This is when we let go of our fears, and step out of our comfort zones. This is when we fly. And Christ's perfection enables us to do more than we ever could alone. We overcome barriers and obstacles that seemed impossible to conquer (and by ourselves are). This is when we let the atonement of Christ into our lives, and he is able to make more out of us than we ever could alone. All because we let him in and trust in his arm.

This is what Nephi realizes in his psalm. He carries on in verse 19:

19 "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

20 "My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

21 "He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

22 "He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

23 "Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.

24 "And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

25 "And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.

26 "O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?

27 "And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

29 "Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.

30 "Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

31 "O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

32 "May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!

33 "O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

34 "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.

35 "Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."

These are the blessings and promises given to those who take the Lord's perfection upon themselves and let him in.

*For a deeper study on this subject check out Believing Christ by Stephen Robinson, and this video of Elder Bednar talking about this very subject: https://www.facebook.com/estacachimex/videos/842588222570863/ and Sister Eubank's remarks https://www.lds.org/blog/when-youre-already-tired-and-cant-do-one-more-thing?cid=HP_FR_14-7-2017_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-1_