"Be[an] ye perfect[?]"That's Bean-tastic!

Okay, so it took me a few hours to finally "wake up" and hear the good news.... I missed most of Sacrament, and dozed off in Sunday School (the teacher's voice was so soft and soothing that I couldn't help myself). But I was fully alert during Elders' Quorum. I want to write a few things down before my week gets busy and I forget the particular promptings I felt this day.

In Elders' Quorum we continued learning from the teachings of President Snow. Chapter Six talked about becoming perfect in the Lord and the teacher pointed out a few interesting things.

1. It is a commandment to be perfect.
2. Perfection is obtainable.
3. Parts of our character have already been perfected.

First, it is a commandment to be perfect. Countless scriptures attest to this as the Lord ushers in the first step towards perfection with his continual gentle reminder for all of us to repent and become better. In the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew, Christ says that we should be perfect like the Father. After his resurrection and ascension to His Father, Christ returns to the American continent and utters a similar challenge to the Mesoamerican people, a people Mormon theology refers to as Nephites and Lamanites. He says that they too should be perfect like their Father in Heaven, but also like Himself, who at this time had finally finished the work of the great atonement and had now received a fullness, or completeness of our Father's glory. This account is recorded in the Book of Mormon. You will also find similar encouragement from our Savior in various sections throughout the Doctrine and Covenants.

Second, perfection is attainable. This idea is a bit overlooked and certainly glossed over as our society and culture embraces human flaws and differences. We embrace the notion that we are no better than the animals and so are justified in acting like one. As with such thinking, society believes it is okay to appease our natural instincts and desires in this life. Why else would we have them, they reason, if not to indulge them? This of course is one extreme in society. The other extreme, the more predominantly Christian side, would argue that we cannot be perfect without Christ and His grace, no matter what good actions we procure from living the Gospel, and therefore it is simply enough to believe in Christ. But if we are indeed commanded to be perfect, and since Nephi tells us that the Lord does not give us a commandment without first providing a way for that commandment to be accomplished, then it would seem that we are meant to work on that perfection now in this life, and not just wait until the next.

Third, parts of our character have already been perfected and can/will be perfected in this life (if that is what we choose to do). You must consider this in terms of finding perfection or completeness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is in fact like a puzzle, and that puzzle is broken down into a bunch of puzzle pieces. Well, these puzzle pieces represent the commandments that make up the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Once you are able to master complete obedience to a given commandment, then that puzzle piece is already set as part of the puzzle and your perfection in that one commandment is complete. However, there are multiple puzzle pieces, or commandments, that also must be achieved in order for the puzzle to be complete.

So then what does my puzzle of the Gospel of Jesus Christ look like? Is it complete, or are there holes, spaces that are missing their appropriate puzzle piece? It is hard to say, since living the Gospel of Jesus Chris is like climbing a steep mountain day in and day out. If you get tired and slip, then you have to re-climb the parts of the mountain that you have already climbed. I suppose it is okay to slip from time to time, as long as you continue to climb and eventually climb passed those places where you slipped. (Note: If you are unable to get passed the slippage, then seek help from a Higher Power)You have to hold on, and as Nephi says, "endure to the end. Perfection is just as simple as climbing a tall, steep mountain, but also just as difficult.