Lesson Summary, March 17th

Sara started by asking how we were all feeling today. Optimistic? Hopeful?

Why? Because the lesson was on perfection!

During a meeting in the early church President Snow was among missionaries that were poor presenters. He related that he was once a very poor public speaker and promised them that through effort and with the help of The Lord we can overcome and receive help for any problem we have.

President Snow taught that we can become like God. Therefore the command to be perfect. Are you troubled by this command to be perfect? Or have you given up on the commandment? Comments from sisters included: It helps to know we have the potential, but we can do so in increments. We don't have to be perfect all at once, today. Perfect means complete or whole; it isn't that we need to the best in everything, it is that we have received all the ordinances and kept our covenants. Eternity is long, we have a long time to do this. President Hinkley taught that there is always room to be a little more...a little nicer, patient...striving to be just a little better. One sister shared that the concept used to stress her, but then she realized that if God expected us to be perfect by ourselves there would be no Atonement. What it means is to do all that we can, to do our best, but Christ is our partner in this endeavor. 

In the 80s there was a perception that women were all to do everything, make our children's clothes and bake our bread, and... do everything. Cheiko Okasaki taught us then to stop it. We don't need to do it all. Lately Elder Uchdorf taught us to be patient with ourselves, to make sure where we are striving is where it is actually the important, to be happy now and to remember that The Lord loves us. 

Alonzo Gaskill has written a book called Odds Are You are Going to Be Exalted. The plan is meant for us all to be able to succeed, and not for us to be stressed by the idea of perfection. He talked about the temple recommend interview. The final question that you are asked is whether you are worthy to enter the temple in every way. One time he answered "Absolutely!" His stake president was taken aback, but noted how true that answer was. Most people point out their imperfection and attempts instead of acknowledging that they are worthy. 

President Snow said that we can be perfect in this life in small spheres. In the Bible, we see Abraham with perfect willingness to sacrifice as did many of the early saints.

Are you comfortable saying that you are perfect in any small sphere? We might be perfect in accepting our imperfection. We may have moments of perfection. There may be things that aren't a problem anymore - word of wisdom, some of the 10 commandments, coming to church. 

If we are reluctant to feel that we are good enough, it is a reflection of how we think God looks at us. We can see the gaps, and if we dwell on them we distort how God sees us. If we see The Lord as our Savior, then we understand how God sees us. We can feel hopeful about being perfect and see our worth. 

The plan of salvation is not called the plan of damnation. It is called the plan of happiness. We were happy to participate even though we knew we would have imperfections. The Savior provided the needed stop gap. 

We can seek the influence of the Spirit in our lives. If we are thinking about becoming better day by day, then we are really talking about having the Spirit. The Sprit can teach us, prompt us, comfort us, and give us hope. 

“I am perfectly satisfied that my Father and my God is a cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured being.  Why?  Because I am cheerful, pleasant, lively, and good-natured when I have his Spirit.”  (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, Volume 4:222)