I have been given the theme “Be Ye Therefore Perfect…Eventually” to speak on today. As most of you probably remember, this was a talk given by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in the October 2017 general conference. I love this talk. Elder Holland has a way to reach inside of me and give talks that I can relate to and be blessed by. I would like to share his introduction to this subject. It is wonderful.
“The scriptures were written to bless and encourage us, and surely they do that. We thank heaven for every chapter and verse we have ever been given. But have you noticed that every now and then a passage will appear that reminds us we are falling a little short? For example, the Sermon on the Mount begins with soothing, gentle beatitudes, but in the verses that follow, we are told—among other things—not only not to kill but also not even to be angry. We are told not only not to commit adultery but also not even to have impure thoughts. To those who ask for it, we are to give our coat and then give our cloak also. We are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to them who hate us.
"If that is your morning scripture study, and after reading just that far you are pretty certain you are not going to get good marks on your gospel report card, then the final commandment in the chain is sure to finish the job: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect.' With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bed and pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely the Lord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep.”
Then just one year later, In the October 2018 Conference, last month, Sister Michelle D. Craig, 1st counselor in the Young Women General Presidency gave a talk on a very similar topic, called “Divine Discontent.” She said:
"The Lord, through His prophet, is calling each of us to live and care in a 'higher and holier way' and to 'take a step higher.'
"These prophetic calls to action, coupled with our innate sense that we can do and be more, sometimes create within us what Elder Neal A. Maxwell called 'divine discontent.' Divine discontent comes when we compare 'what we are [to] what we have the power to become.' Each of us, if we are honest, feels a gap between where and who we are, and where and who we want to become. We yearn for greater personal capacity. We have these feelings because we are daughters and sons of God, born with the Light of Christ yet living in a fallen world. These feelings are God given and create an urgency to act.
"We should welcome feelings of divine discontent that call us to a higher way, while recognizing and avoiding Satan’s counterfeit—paralyzing discouragement. This is a precious space into which Satan is all too eager to jump. We can choose to walk the higher path that leads us to seek for God and His peace and grace, or we can listen to Satan, who bombards us with messages that we will never be enough: rich enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, anything enough. Our discontent can become divine—or destructive.”
So, what is the answer to this “quandary” as President Holland called it? How can we work on becoming better without becoming bitter? Is there a balance of pushing ourselves to be more without becoming overwhelmed? It is a question I personally have sought the answer to throughout my life.
Today I would like to talk about three ways I have discovered that have helped me find peace while trying to aspire to the best me I can be.
First, recognize we find peace in our journey when we realize and remember that none of us are perfect. We only become perfect through Jesus Christ. Moroni said in 10:32: "Yea, 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."
President Holland said, “Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven – we can’t earn it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism."
Last year I visited a ward in our stake during their ward conference. I heard a talk by the bishop that I still remember. He spoke about the danger of comparing ourselves to “Sports Center Moments of life.” Sports Center, the ESPN sports analysis show has highlight videos. They consist of the very best moments of sports for that day or even week. Think of the thousands of hours around the world of people playing sports, all kinds of sports in schools and professionally and cutting it down to just a few seconds of stand out moments in a highlight video. It shows what seems to be a perfect moment in time. But it doesn’t show the years of practice or failed attempts. It doesn’t show the many, perhaps hundreds, of people, supporting and building that athlete from teammates, parents, teachers and coaches. We could also call those moments Instagram moments or anytime we compare ourselves to people or images of people we don’t really understand. Those moments may even happen at church. Truly the hard rule is to never compare ourselves with anyone.
But there are times in life that may never be on a Facebook page or highlight reel where our true growth and moments of greatness happen. They are the moments that the Lord is watching. They may be painful moments when we see our weaknesses and know that it is only through Jesus Christ we can repent and recommit to follow Him. They may happen during difficult times, losing a job, divorce, illnesses, death of loved ones. They may be lonely times or times of despair and frustration when we turn to God and seek His peace through the Holy Spirit. They will be moments of change and transformation. They will be moments that we can look back at and realize this is when I came unto Christ and I can not deny the power of God.
Throughout the scriptures, there are examples of great leaders and prophets who did incredible things. I can’t think of one of them who did not have setbacks and problems in their lives. This led them on a path to Jesus Christ. It was only after they inquired of the Lord and went forward in faith that the miracles began to happen. David A. Bednar said, “Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction and engenders enduring peace and joy.”
Second, obedience brings us peace. When we obey commandments, we are blessed every time. Let me say that again. Commandments are the way the Lord blesses our lives. When you need help, follow the commandments and help will be given. President Nelson invited the women in the church to do four things in the last Women’s conference. Let me summarize and remind you what they are and the blessings he promised with each invitation.
“First, I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted—even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.
"Second, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
"Third, establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple.
"My fourth invitation, for you who are of age, is to participate fully in Relief Society. I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement. It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life
I love you and thank you and now bless you with the ability to leave the world behind as you assist in this crucial and urgent work. Together we can do all that our Heavenly Father needs us to do to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son.
Did you notice the blessings promised if we follow the counsel given by President Nelson? Increased inspiration and revelation, the ability to draw on priesthood power, changes in you and your family’s lives, miracles, the ability to leave the world behind. Aren’t those blessings worth the effort to follow our prophet’s counsel?
My last suggestion is to give thanks. A grateful heart guides us to peace and brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. A grateful heart humbles us, makes us happy and builds our faith that God knows us and is answering our prayers.
I had experience once when I was a young mother that taught me a lesson in having a grateful heart. Years ago, President Benson gave a talk on pride. It has become quite a famous talk in our church. He said that all pride is destructive, and we need to eliminate it from our lives. I remember going to Sunday School the next week and listening to a discussion on President Benson’s talk. I remember questions like… “Is it bad to have pride in our children? Can we feel proud of our country? Is it wrong to be proud I am an American?” After going home and thinking about it, I realized that the exact opposite of pride is gratitude. If I answered the questions with gratitude, I felt an abundant amount of love from our Father in Heaven. For example, instead of a statement like… “I am proud of my children” replace it with, “I am so grateful for my children.” Or instead of “I am proud to be an American…(try)…I am so grateful to live in this country.”
Everything we are and everything we have are blessings from the Lord. I realized that when I stop and think of all that I am blessed with then I feel confident that the Lord loves me dearly and will continue to bless me and answer my prayers. Things that seem overwhelming are put in perspective. I realize I am not alone, and I will receive the help I need.
My ministers recently gave me a message that said, “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.”
About one year ago, my daughter came to us and told us that instead of finishing her first year of college, she felt like she was supposed to go on a mission…now! At the time my husband was unemployed. He had been out of work for 4 months and no job looked promising at that moment. “I thought, I don’t know how we will do this, but we will do this because we will not be alone.” Now Kaylee has served in a Brazil mission for 7 months. She has been blessed, our family has been blessed. I feel like maybe she knew her mission would give us the blessings we needed to go forward. It has! I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.
Sarah Adamson
Sunset Heights Fourth Ward
Orem, Utah
November 25, 2018
“The scriptures were written to bless and encourage us, and surely they do that. We thank heaven for every chapter and verse we have ever been given. But have you noticed that every now and then a passage will appear that reminds us we are falling a little short? For example, the Sermon on the Mount begins with soothing, gentle beatitudes, but in the verses that follow, we are told—among other things—not only not to kill but also not even to be angry. We are told not only not to commit adultery but also not even to have impure thoughts. To those who ask for it, we are to give our coat and then give our cloak also. We are to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, and do good to them who hate us.
"If that is your morning scripture study, and after reading just that far you are pretty certain you are not going to get good marks on your gospel report card, then the final commandment in the chain is sure to finish the job: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect.' With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bed and pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely the Lord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep.”
Then just one year later, In the October 2018 Conference, last month, Sister Michelle D. Craig, 1st counselor in the Young Women General Presidency gave a talk on a very similar topic, called “Divine Discontent.” She said:
"The Lord, through His prophet, is calling each of us to live and care in a 'higher and holier way' and to 'take a step higher.'
"These prophetic calls to action, coupled with our innate sense that we can do and be more, sometimes create within us what Elder Neal A. Maxwell called 'divine discontent.' Divine discontent comes when we compare 'what we are [to] what we have the power to become.' Each of us, if we are honest, feels a gap between where and who we are, and where and who we want to become. We yearn for greater personal capacity. We have these feelings because we are daughters and sons of God, born with the Light of Christ yet living in a fallen world. These feelings are God given and create an urgency to act.
"We should welcome feelings of divine discontent that call us to a higher way, while recognizing and avoiding Satan’s counterfeit—paralyzing discouragement. This is a precious space into which Satan is all too eager to jump. We can choose to walk the higher path that leads us to seek for God and His peace and grace, or we can listen to Satan, who bombards us with messages that we will never be enough: rich enough, smart enough, beautiful enough, anything enough. Our discontent can become divine—or destructive.”
So, what is the answer to this “quandary” as President Holland called it? How can we work on becoming better without becoming bitter? Is there a balance of pushing ourselves to be more without becoming overwhelmed? It is a question I personally have sought the answer to throughout my life.
Today I would like to talk about three ways I have discovered that have helped me find peace while trying to aspire to the best me I can be.
First, recognize we find peace in our journey when we realize and remember that none of us are perfect. We only become perfect through Jesus Christ. Moroni said in 10:32: "Yea, 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."
President Holland said, “Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven – we can’t earn it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism."
Last year I visited a ward in our stake during their ward conference. I heard a talk by the bishop that I still remember. He spoke about the danger of comparing ourselves to “Sports Center Moments of life.” Sports Center, the ESPN sports analysis show has highlight videos. They consist of the very best moments of sports for that day or even week. Think of the thousands of hours around the world of people playing sports, all kinds of sports in schools and professionally and cutting it down to just a few seconds of stand out moments in a highlight video. It shows what seems to be a perfect moment in time. But it doesn’t show the years of practice or failed attempts. It doesn’t show the many, perhaps hundreds, of people, supporting and building that athlete from teammates, parents, teachers and coaches. We could also call those moments Instagram moments or anytime we compare ourselves to people or images of people we don’t really understand. Those moments may even happen at church. Truly the hard rule is to never compare ourselves with anyone.
But there are times in life that may never be on a Facebook page or highlight reel where our true growth and moments of greatness happen. They are the moments that the Lord is watching. They may be painful moments when we see our weaknesses and know that it is only through Jesus Christ we can repent and recommit to follow Him. They may happen during difficult times, losing a job, divorce, illnesses, death of loved ones. They may be lonely times or times of despair and frustration when we turn to God and seek His peace through the Holy Spirit. They will be moments of change and transformation. They will be moments that we can look back at and realize this is when I came unto Christ and I can not deny the power of God.
Throughout the scriptures, there are examples of great leaders and prophets who did incredible things. I can’t think of one of them who did not have setbacks and problems in their lives. This led them on a path to Jesus Christ. It was only after they inquired of the Lord and went forward in faith that the miracles began to happen. David A. Bednar said, “Jesus Christ is the light that dispels fear, provides assurance and direction and engenders enduring peace and joy.”
Second, obedience brings us peace. When we obey commandments, we are blessed every time. Let me say that again. Commandments are the way the Lord blesses our lives. When you need help, follow the commandments and help will be given. President Nelson invited the women in the church to do four things in the last Women’s conference. Let me summarize and remind you what they are and the blessings he promised with each invitation.
“First, I invite you to participate in a 10-day fast from social media and from any other media that bring negative and impure thoughts to your mind. Pray to know which influences to remove during your fast. The effect of your 10-day fast may surprise you. What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted—even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.
"Second, I invite you to read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year. As impossible as that may seem with all you are trying to manage in your life, if you will accept this invitation with full purpose of heart, the Lord will help you find a way to achieve it. And, as you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation.
As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then, be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen.
"Third, establish a pattern of regular temple attendance. This may require a little more sacrifice in your life. More regular time in the temple will allow the Lord to teach you how to draw upon His priesthood power with which you have been endowed in His temple.
"My fourth invitation, for you who are of age, is to participate fully in Relief Society. I urge you to study the current Relief Society purpose statement. It is inspiring. It may guide you in developing your own purpose statement for your own life
I love you and thank you and now bless you with the ability to leave the world behind as you assist in this crucial and urgent work. Together we can do all that our Heavenly Father needs us to do to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son.
Did you notice the blessings promised if we follow the counsel given by President Nelson? Increased inspiration and revelation, the ability to draw on priesthood power, changes in you and your family’s lives, miracles, the ability to leave the world behind. Aren’t those blessings worth the effort to follow our prophet’s counsel?
My last suggestion is to give thanks. A grateful heart guides us to peace and brings us closer to our Heavenly Father. A grateful heart humbles us, makes us happy and builds our faith that God knows us and is answering our prayers.
I had experience once when I was a young mother that taught me a lesson in having a grateful heart. Years ago, President Benson gave a talk on pride. It has become quite a famous talk in our church. He said that all pride is destructive, and we need to eliminate it from our lives. I remember going to Sunday School the next week and listening to a discussion on President Benson’s talk. I remember questions like… “Is it bad to have pride in our children? Can we feel proud of our country? Is it wrong to be proud I am an American?” After going home and thinking about it, I realized that the exact opposite of pride is gratitude. If I answered the questions with gratitude, I felt an abundant amount of love from our Father in Heaven. For example, instead of a statement like… “I am proud of my children” replace it with, “I am so grateful for my children.” Or instead of “I am proud to be an American…(try)…I am so grateful to live in this country.”
Everything we are and everything we have are blessings from the Lord. I realized that when I stop and think of all that I am blessed with then I feel confident that the Lord loves me dearly and will continue to bless me and answer my prayers. Things that seem overwhelming are put in perspective. I realize I am not alone, and I will receive the help I need.
My ministers recently gave me a message that said, “I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.”
About one year ago, my daughter came to us and told us that instead of finishing her first year of college, she felt like she was supposed to go on a mission…now! At the time my husband was unemployed. He had been out of work for 4 months and no job looked promising at that moment. “I thought, I don’t know how we will do this, but we will do this because we will not be alone.” Now Kaylee has served in a Brazil mission for 7 months. She has been blessed, our family has been blessed. I feel like maybe she knew her mission would give us the blessings we needed to go forward. It has! I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now.
Sarah Adamson
Sunset Heights Fourth Ward
Orem, Utah
November 25, 2018
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