Perfecting Our Lives

Because my talk today was very similar to the one I gave last week, I am posting one of my favorites, which I actually gave in three different wards on 16 August 2009.
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As a young man, I spent many wonderful weekends in our mountains, backpacking and enjoying nature. As I gained experience, I learned to pace myself so that I could reach my destinations in a timely manner. A comfortable uphill pace for me was around 5 MPH. An older scout, Paul Jackman, whom I considered an expert backpacker, never topped 2 MPH, but he could hike 20 hours a day. Even though we had a very different pace, we both reached our destination time and time again.
Nephi described another hiking experience:
“For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.
“And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; . . .
“And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Nephi 31:17 - 20)
So here we are together on this path, moving forward, each one at his own pace. We have experienced guides to lead us as we press forward. We may sometimes lose sight of President Monson or President Poulsen or Bishop Kinser as they round a bend ahead of us, but they are still leading the way. We may need to stop and rest occasionally. But we press on despite the dangers and the fatigue, maintaining a firm grasp on the iron rod to steady our steps. We do not allow ourselves to be distracted from our goal.
We know we will be safe as long as we stay on the path. Rockfalls, treacherous stream crossings, mists of darkness, and slick slopes will not hinder us as we travel together. The howling of wolves in the distance does not bother us: we don’t fear them as long as we move together in our families and in our wards.
We do all that we can to help the stragglers: we lend a helping hand or offer a word of encouragement. We also reach out to those who have strayed off the path; we are willing to reach out as long we do not have to release our grasp on the iron rod. We continually assist each other: you may help shoulder my load as we cross a raging torrent of temptation; I may help pull you up over a divide of discouragement. When the storms come, they batter all of us, whether we are properly prepared or not. Those who are prepared pull on their ponchos or their parkas and continue on.
We move forward as a team: continuing on toward our goal. Our trekking team is referred to as the “Latter-day Saints.” This name is important to us, as it was given by our leader, who awaits our arrival at the end of the trail.
What is the significance of the term “Saint?” King Benjamin described it “the natural man . . . becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.” (Mosiah 3:19)
If I would be perfect,
The path to be trod
Is the one that will bring me
In nearness to God.
If we want to develop perfection in any area of our lives, we must look to those who have approached or achieved perfection in that area. We must try to associate with those individuals who can help us achieve the perfection or proficiency we seek. Then we practice those skills until we develop proficiency. This is a part of discipleship, which will lead us to perfection.
For example, when I wanted to become a better backpacker, I listened to Brother Howard (my Scoutmaster), and copied him. After I watched Dave Wottle win the 800m race in the 1972 Olympics, I became a better runner. Watching Eric Clapton and B.B. King play guitar has improved my playing. I’m a better singer because I learned harmonies from the Beach Boys, and also learned to sing with Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s recordings. When I wanted to do a better root canal, I sought out the experts and learned how they do root canals.
On the spiritual side, I am a better person because of the wonderful people with whom I associate in church, including all of you. I am strengthened by worshiping with you. And I keep an eye on my heroes, the First Presidency and the Twelve.
If I want to be a better home teacher, I look to my father and grandfather (at my Grandpa Stevenson’s funeral, it was said that he was a lifelong 100% home teacher). If I want to become a better speaker, I pay close attention to the First Presidency and the Twelve. If I want to be a better teacher, I will learn from those who teach well. If I want to minister more effectively to my brothers and sisters, I look to the example of my leaders and my Savior.
There are good role models all around us. The San Bernardino First Ward is full of exemplary members who are eager to serve. When you are doing your duty, you never know when you will have the opportunity to touch a life, or when your example will come back to you.
Of course the best example is the Savior, he who “marked the path and led the way.” He is our great exemplar. When he invited us to follow him, it wasn’t just political posturing for a good sound bite. The prophets’ invitations to come unto Christ aren’t just hollow phrases or catchy taglines. These are invitations to be taken seriously!
The quest for perfection seems overwhelming. It is a long journey, and not an easy one. We know that not all who start the trek will finish it. But we should remember this: men are that they might have joy --- not guilt trips! We should also remember the promise that the Lord will not give us any commandments that are impossible to obey.
As we progress, we become disciples of Jesus Christ. President Uchtdorf told us: “Discipleship is a journey. We need the refining lessons of the journey to craft our character and purify our hearts. By patiently walking the path of discipleship, we demonstrate to ourselves the measure of our faith and our willingness to accept God’s will rather than ours. . . . Discipleship is not a spectator sport. We cannot expect to experience the blessings of faith by standing inactive on the sidelines any more than we can experience the benefits of health by sitting on a sofa watching sporting events on television. . . . Ours is not a secondhand religion. We cannot receive the blessings of the gospel merely by observing the good that others do.”
It becomes less discouraging as we note that there are two levels of perfection: mortal perfection and eternal perfection.
James gave us an indicator of mortal perfection. He said, “If any offend not in word, the same is a perfect man.” As we overcome our weaknesses, we become perfect. Perfection does not mean that we don’t ever make mistakes; rather it means that we are repenting of all of them, and are trying to do better. We all make mistakes. Heavenly Father knew that we would. This is why we meet each week to take the sacrament together.
We advance a step at a time. In this life, I can become perfect in my Sabbath observance; I can become perfect in paying my tithes and offerings, in observing the word of wisdom, and the law of chastity; I can become a perfect home teacher. And so, step by step, I progress up the path.
Elder McConkie offered some comforting words: "We have to become perfect to be saved in the celestial kingdom. But nobody becomes perfect in this life. Only the Lord Jesus attained that state, and he had an advantage that none of us has. He was the Son of God. . . . He lived a perfect life, and he set an ideal example. . . . As it is with being born again, and as it is with sanctifying our souls, so becoming perfect in Christ is a process.
"As members of the Church, if we chart a course leading to eternal life; if we begin the processes of spiritual rebirth, and are going in the right direction; if we chart a course of sanctifying our souls, and degree by degree are going in that direction; and if we chart a course of becoming perfect, and, step by step and phase by phase, are perfecting our souls by overcoming the world, then it is absolutely guaranteed—there is no question whatever about it—we shall gain eternal life. Even though we have spiritual rebirth ahead of us, perfection ahead of us, the full degree of sanctification ahead of us, if we chart a course and follow it to the best of our ability in this life, then when we go out of this life we'll continue in exactly that same course. . . .We will have passed successfully the tests of this mortal probation and in due course, we’ll get the fulness of our Father’s kingdom---and that means eternal life in his everlasting presence.” (BYU Speeches of the Year, 1976, pp. 399-401.)
We can achieve mortal perfection as we strive to do our best. If we try to do our duty, with a willing heart, the Lord will bless us according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts. Our loving Heavenly Father’s fondest wish is that we all make it back to him safely, without too many bumps and bruises.
Eternal perfection, where we actually become like our Heavenly Father, will come in the next life. The word for this type of perfection comes from the Greek teleios, which means complete or whole. It does not imply freedom from error; rather it means achieving a distant end or goal. The root tele- is commonly used in English, in words like telephone (distant talk), television (distant seeing), and the telestial kingdom (the distant kingdom).
It does not matter where we are on the path as long as we are facing the right direction and understand that we can reach our goal.
“The Prophet Joseph told that there are many things that people have to do, even after the grave, to work out their salvation. We’re not going to be perfect the minute we die. But if we’ve charted a course, if our desires are right, if our appetites are curtailed and bridled, and if we believe in the Lord and are doing to the very best of our abilities what we ought to do, we’ll go on to eternal salvation, which is the fulness of eternal reward in our Father’s kingdom.” (McConkie, op cit.)
Understanding this concept is critical to our well-being. Heavenly Father knows that we cannot become like him in this life. With this in mind, we should not beat ourselves up over our imperfections, or get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We simply need to keep moving forward. Discouragement is one of Satan’s greatest tools to slow or stop our progress.
Although our journey through mortality will at times place us in harm’s way, there are three suggestions from President Monson which will lead us to safety if we follow them:
1. Study diligently
2. Pray fervently
3. Live righteously
Of course, we cannot progress in our journey without the atonement of Christ. I testify that Jesus Christ atoned for our sins and weaknesses so that we can complete this journey. Without his help, we would be lost. It is he who blazed the trail that we follow. He smoothed some (but not all) of the rough spots on the trail. He provided the backing, and he equipped us for this trek to immortality and eternal life. He paid the price so that we can complete our journey.
Without the atonement, without Jesus’ help we can never, worlds without end, never ever achieve perfection.
It would be nice if there were a simple, foolproof method to ensure perfection. Actually, there is. King Benjamin mentioned it in his great sermon, and it is one of my favorite scriptures. He said: “And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” (Mosiah 2:22) That’s all God asks, is for us to keep his commandments. It’s as easy as that!
So maybe it isn’t that simple. But often we complicate our travel by carrying excess baggage or by packing the wrong gear, even when we have the equipment list available.
Nephi commented: “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God [or strive to do so] he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them . . .” (1 Ne. 17:3). I also take comfort when I read in Section 46 that the gifts of the Spirit are given “for the benefit of those who love [God] and keep all [his] commandments, and him that seeketh so to do. . .” (D&C 46:9). So if we are doing our best, and trying to keep a good attitude, and we’re headed in the right direction, then we’re in good shape.
Perfection is a process. It does not happen instantly. Perfection occurs step by step and degree by degree throughout our entire life.
The Olympic Games are a case in point. I have always enjoyed watching the Olympics and seeing the incredible performances that take place. The gold medal winners are not twice as good as the silver medal winners. Very often, the difference between gold and silver is measured in hundredths of a second, or hundredths of a point: the margin of victory is usually very slim. As each athlete works to improve his or her personal best (by perfecting his or her skills!), he or she is improving by fractions at a time. The better they become, the smaller the increments of improvement. So the gold medal is given to those who do just a little bit better.
So it is in life. We just have to do a little better each time: just improve our personal bests. Sometimes we will stumble and fall, or commit a foul. As long as we pick ourselves up and continue on, and learn from our mistakes, we will qualify to stand on the winner’s platform, and unlike the Olympics, on the Celestial platform, there is room for all.
We all know that we are supposed to be striving for perfection. What I want to emphasize, my brothers and sisters, is that perfection is something we can all achieve. We just need to stay focused on our ultimate objective, while at the same remembering to put one foot in front of the other. But it is possible for each of us! You can do it! We can do it together! But we must lengthen our stride and quicken our pace, brothers and sisters. If we don’t, we will surely be eating the dust of those up ahead.
Our first obligation is to believe in Christ and to accept him literally as the Son of God and as our Savior. When we believe in him, then we believe his words, and the words of his servants. Once we believe, then we must conform to the truths that we have learned, and again, step by step, we make them a part of our lives. As this happens, we grow from grace to grace, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little.
Often it is that slow pace that frustrates us, but we must not forget where we are headed. Our direction is more important than our pace. When Paul encouraged the Philippians to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12), he had seen the path. He knew of its perils. But if we keep going forward we need not fear. Paul also said to the Romans “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11). In other words, the destination is closer than it appears, and it is closer than when we started. As long we press forward with a steadfastness in Christ and endure to the end, we will make it.
Perhaps the biggest difference between this life’s journey, and the backpacking trips I took as a young man, is that as we progress toward our destination, we become cleaner.
The process of perfection requires that we become born again, that we commit to “crucify the old man of sin and come forth in a newness of life” (Rom. 6:6).We die as pertaining to the unrighteous things in the world. After that, we become sanctified, becoming pure and spotless, having evil and sin burned out of our souls as if by fire. We do this because we know that no unclean thing can enter the presence of the Father.
I testify that God is our Eternal Father, and that he lives and loves us. It is his plan for us that will “bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Mos. 1:39), and permit us to live “after the manner of happiness” (2 Ne. 5:27). I testify that Jesus Christ truly is his Son, and that he is our Savior. His atoning sacrifice makes eternal life possible for us. He could have just seen the hazards of the path by revelation, but because he loves us, he walked the path. He knows its pitfalls and dangers, and how to help us to overcome them. That we may all continue on the path, and find joy in the journey is my prayer, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.