Perfection

Perfection is a curse for those of us who are perfectionists. Perfection is after all the state of being perfect, without flaw, unsurpassed. It is an unattainable goal therefore a curse upon those who feel that anything short of perfect is unacceptable.

I may have been able to get a 4.0 at school but in life those successes are more difficult. Perfectionism affects how we see ourselves in any endeavor where there is a grade, an outcome, a product, or result. Having such high expectations for yourself or having such expectations imposed by another leads to depression and low self-esteem.

So now we must consider the word "perfect" as used at church. Here are some examples:

“. . . A good marriage does not require a perfect man or a perfect woman. It only requires a man and woman committed to strive together toward perfection.”

President Howard W Hunter in April conference 1994  showed us how Jesus was perfect in all areas of his life and then encouraged us “What manner of men and women naughty to be? Even as he is.”

October 2016 conference Brian K A” the doctrine of Christ allows us to access the spiritual power that will lift us from my current spiritual state to estate where we can become perfect.”

Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and if he shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind, and strength. . .”

There is an expectation laid before us that our goal is perfection. No matter what process of being made perfect is taught, we know the goal and we know the reality of our own lives and there is a huge gap that we must reconcile.

“ Unrealistic expectations of the way it should be 

prevent us from ever being happy with the way it is.”

I do think it is just fine to model our lives after the Savior. We just have to have a better understanding of what that means. When the savior said "Be ye  therefore perfect" the word used in the Greek or German translation means whole, complete, or having reached its goal or end.

In "The Christ Who Heals", the Givens translate that passage this way:  “Therefore [that is, by following the path I am proposing] you shall be whole or complete.” 

Christ is expressing His promise that by following Him we will eventually fill the measure of our creation, become complete or whole as a part of a process He is overseeing and guiding. As we come to love Him, we are drawn to Him and then He works His magic on us.

As Moroni 10:32 concludes “then is his grace sufficient for you, that by His grace ye may be perfect in Christ.”

We do eventually become transformed by those things we love. It is a process that just happens. We can let go of perfection as our goal and just love the Savior, spend time with Him, follow Him, fill our lives with His teachings, etc. and eventually we will be transformed by His love for us and the power of His Atonement. Let our lives be filled with such love and goodness!

Sometimes I have had to ask myself "Did I even say what I wanted to say or did I just ramble on?” So here it is what I was trying to say:

"Perfection is not a goal at all. So it is unreasonable to think of it that way. There's nothing I can do now to be perfect. In fact, I don't like people who are trying so hard to be perfect. Instead I just try to fill my life with beauty – good people, beautiful music, favorite scriptures that inspire me, learning about people who make a difference in the world, family, Jesus and His Gospel, all the things I love.  As I continue to do those things I will eventually become the person I am supposed to be."

Walking in Beauty: Closing Prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony

This prayer inspires me a lot.

In Beauty I walk.

With beauty before me I walk.

With beauty behind me I walk.

With beauty above me I walk.

With beauty around me I walk.

It has become beauty again.

Today I will walk out.

Everything negative will leave me.

I will be as I was before.

I will have a cool breeze over my body.

I will have a light body.

I will be happy forever,

Nothing will hinder me.

I walk with beauty before me.

I walk with beauty behind me.

I want with beauty below me.

I walk with beauty above me.

I walk with beauty around me.

My words will be beautiful.

In beauty all day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With beauty about my feet may I walk.

With beauty before me may I walk.

With beauty behind me may I walk.

With beauty below me may I walk.

With beauty above me may I walk.

With beauty all around me may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

An old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

My words will be beautiful. . .

For me, Jesus Christ and His Gospel are the beauty with which I have walked. This poem expresses perfectly what that has felt like for me. No wonder I was so touched by the new song for primary next year, “I Will Walk with Jesus”.

As I walk with Jesus

To my home above,

He will bless me with His Spirit

And fill me with His love.

Change my heart forever

And help me clearly see,

I will walk with Jesus

And He will walk with me.