Be Ye Therefore Perfecting

A Discussion of the conference talk "Be Ye Therefore Perfect- Eventually" by Jeffery R. Holland.
I was told to facilitate discussion so I’m trying a new format. I actually googled how to have a discussion, in case any of you think I have any idea what I’m doing. Let me explain how this will work. I’m going to divide you into groups of 3-4. Each group will get a post it pad. I’m going to make a statement, then pose a question or two. You will discuss it as a group and write your answer on the post it, then come stick the post it on the board. We will read these and discuss together.

Be Ye Therefore Perfect -Eventually

I couldn’t help but think as I read this how  overwhelming this perceived expectation of perfection is. It is omnipresent in our lives. Not only in the gospel, but think for a minute about social media. If Facebook is to be believed, we all perfectly apply makeup and constantly travel to perfect destinations with perfect children who never argue and are stunning geniuses. Our perfect digital life. 

It is natural to not want to look at our imperfections. It is natural to not want to admit to having imperfections.
I was recently editing some old family photos. I noticed that when I started removing the blemishes, the overall quality of the picture went down. It made me stop and think. When we filter all the imperfections out of a picture and only present the perfect parts of us, what is left? (For me, nothing except my phenomenal cheekbones) If we filter ourselves like we filter our photos and only keep the perfect bits, we are only a shell. A perfect no one. Embrace the imperfect parts, they make us who we are.

1st discussion topic

Do we do this with things besides pictures? 

(Testimonies? Our ability to live the commandments? Our parenting skills?)

Is it harmful and if so, why?

(If you don’t admit fault/weakness it is impossible to change. I can’t get to heaven, quickly put a Snapchat pretty filter on my testimony and glide on into the celestial kingdom (at least I’m pretty sure it doesn’t work that way)) Just like a filtered picture, it isn't real. I should be able to look at my unfiltered testimony and recognize that the reality is beautiful.

This commandment of perfection and seeing it apparently in the lives of those around us also has the effect of making us feel like we don’t measure up. It makes us self critical and we feel discouraged. Elder Holland says, “I believe in His perfection, and I know we are His spiritual sons and daughters with divine potential to become as He is. I also know that, as children of God, we should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become.”

Discussion question 2

How does it help you to know that Christ is perfect?

(Holland lists several, but I chose this quote)

‘Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him … ,” Moroni pleads. “Love God with all your might, mind and strength, then … by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.”9 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.’

Elder Holland ends by discussing a scene from Tolstoy where a priest is criticized for his life not being as perfect as his sermons suggest they should be.

‘In response to that criticism, the priest says: “Look at my life now and compare it to my former life. You will see that I am trying to live out the truth I proclaim.” Unable to live up to the high ideals he taught, the priest admits he has failed. But he cries:

“Attack me, [if you wish,] I do this myself, but [don’t] attack … the path I follow. … If I know the way home [but] am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way simply because I am staggering from side to side?

“… Do not gleefully shout, ‘Look at him! … There he is crawling into a bog!’ No, do not gloat, but give … your help [to anyone trying to walk the road back to God.]”13

Brothers and sisters, every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human.’

Who are the people staggering toward heaven? (We all are)

How can we hurt and how can we help?

I want to point out that the word perfect has two meanings. Perfect (adjective) without flaw, unblemished perfect (verb): to make better. Perhaps we should read this end of the beatitudes with the verb in mind. Be ye therefore perfecting.