Perfection?

Blog #66 August 28, 2023

Matthew 5:50 Ye are therefore commanded to be perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Most of the Christian world believes that God expects more from His children that they are able to accomplish. They even preach that the perfection He speaks of is no more than a metaphor. They are comfortable with believing that perfection is impossible for sinful man, but I believe that perfection is really quite simple. Once again let me warn to that in God, simple and easy are two very different words. The fact is perfection is perfectly difficult; so difficult that He knows we can't do it alone. In His perfect wisdom He supplies us with a perfect entity, created to support us in our effort to attain perfection. He lives in our heart and is our constant companion. He will show us all we need to know, if we bother to look. He will tell us what we need to do, if we will but listen. He will guide us to the perfection we seek, but we have to follow. Perfection is only attainable by having the ability to exercise a perfect effort. Our covenant labor demands that we seek to have that ability to exercise a perfect effort and strive to attain the skill to share it with the world that they too might attain full and complete redemption in God. Understand and believe that through God's Spirit, our ability to put forth that perfect effort is not possible; it is doable, and He will teach us how, but only if we choose to know.

 Hebrews 6
6:1 Therefore not leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.
6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3 And we will go on unto perfection if God permit.

God gave us Priesthood that we might be shown His Gospel and His doctrines. He gave us scriptures and prophecies that we might fully understand how The Gospel of the Kingdom and Doctrines of Christ can affect the life we live. He gave us law that we might understand how to apply God ways to our life, but in wisdom He wishes to teach us how to grow in a virtue, which is beyond the law. He seeks that we learn of a virtue that is more than an effort of self-discipline to avoid punishment. He desires to teach us a righteousness that begins in our heart and reaches out to do the will of the Father, because it is our will, too.

Truth {trooth} (according to the Oxford English Dictionary)
1. A fact that has been verified
2. Conformity to reality or actuality 

Perfection begins with truth. Truth is knowledge, attitudes, and actions that are the same now as they were in the beginning of time and will be the same until all creation ceases to exist. They are the pieces, parts, and attitudes that in God, just do not change. Even time cannot affect a change in truth. The Scriptures defines truth as those "things" which are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Isaiah 29:25 For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men, save it be according to their faith.

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Truth is verifiable. It comprises facts that describe both the physical and the spiritual realities, such as the sun comes up in what we call the East. Truth describes both actions and reactions such as when an object falls in the water; the water reacts with a splash. Truth describes attitudes such as if you are caught telling enough lies, no one will believe you even if you tell the truth. All three of these examples have been, are, and always will be. They will never change. They are truth. By its very nature, truth lives in its own place apart from the rest of knowledge. Our hearts understand truth even if our mouths are unable to define it. The non-believer calls this instinctive awareness of unchanging truth a conscience. 

DC 83:7a-7d 
83:7a And now I give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life; for you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. 
83:7b For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ; 
83:7c and the Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world; and the Spirit enlighteneth every man through the world, that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit; 
83:7d and everyone that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit, cometh unto God, even the Father; 

In this passage from the Doctrine and Covenants, God reveals that vessel by which we might receive a full understanding of the nature of truth, and the part it plays in our ability to attain perfection. We come to understand that perfection is a process of growth that depends on the absolute nature of truth. In other words, if truth were not a dependable absolute, perfection would be forever beyond our reach.

The next big step in attaining perfection is recognizing the God-given source of all truth and reaching out to that source with complete trust. 

Genesis 6:64 Therefore it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven, the Comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice and judgment.

DC 10:6 And now, verily, verily I say unto thee, Put thy trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good; yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

The act of reaching out to God through HIs Holy Spirit in complete trust is a courageous act that God knows each of us must make on our own. No one not even He can decide for us. The Holy Spirit is the mind of God that dwells within us and we must learn to listen to it and give it our complete trust. The churches of the world all attest to the fact that they believe in God as Father, Creator, and Judge. If our purpose is perfection, we must go one step further. We must believe God. We must believe every word He says. We must trust all He does or tells us to do. We must accept that in covenant with God through Christ we are receiving the very Spirit of virtuous absolute truth, and we must live our lives according to this belief. In this we begin walking the only path that leads to perfection.

John 14:16-17
14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Once we learn to accept that perfection in God is possible, admit that truth and the knowledge of truth leads to perfection, and concede that we are led to perfection by God's Holy Spirit, we are ready to gather into our lives the fullness of knowledge that will allow us to turn away from the ways of the world and labor with God for His Kingdom. But, be aware that the gathering of knowledge is not a magic trick that happens instantly. It is a process that begins and ends with our willingness to learn and grow.

2Nephi 12:36-38
12:36 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little:
12:37 And blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom;
12:38 For unto him that receiveth, I will give more: and from them that shall say, We have enough, shall be taken away even that which they have.

God has prepared for us a way to learn that can lead us to a fullness of knowledge. It begins when our desire for perfection allows us to reach out to God in trust and faith.

Alma 16:
16:149 Now as I said concerning faith -- that it was not a perfect knowledge, even so it is with my words.
16:150 Ye can not know of their surety at first, unto perfection, any more than faith is a perfect knowledge.
16:151 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith; yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

Humanity begins their relationship with God as a natural man ignorant of truth, and the knowledge of all virtue. God possesses the fullness of truth and the knowledge we need, but the natural man lacks the capacity within to possess all that God offers. We must grow into this knowledge one step at a time. Our trust in God and our faith in His love for us supplies us with the diligence required to grow in the ways of God. The word of God plants within our hearts a seed that we must nurture if it is to swell in our breast and grow to become the fullness of knowledge we seek.

Alma 16:153-154
16:153 Now if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts;
16:154 And when you feel those swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves, It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding; yea, and it beginneth to be delicious to me.

This is the very process that will bring us growth unto perfection. Our trust in God and our acceptance of the truth He possesses has allowed us to learn and grow. By joining God in this process we leave behind the ignorance that was our way in the world and begin to walk with the Spirit on a path that will lead us to perfection. Again I will warn you, this is a process that must be repeated. Even if we gain a perfection of knowledge available in this one seed, many seeds will be planted, much knowledge will be harvested, and each seed planted will bear fruit if and only if we maintain and care for all we have been given. 

Alma 16:171 And because of your diligence, and your faith, and your patience with the word, in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by, ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white; yea, and pure above all that is pure;

Acquiring knowledge opens a life filled with the perfection we seek, but we are not yet finished. Knowledge without the wisdom to apply this knowledge is as useless as having a seed and lacking the fertile soil in which to plant it. 

Colossians 1:9-10 
1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Using God's knowledge to change the life we lead creates for us a never-ending process, which becomes a perpetual source of joy. Our constant search for perfection is the foundation of our covenant labor with God. As we grow in this process the wisdom we gain becomes knowledge we share. Our efforts help others realize and understand the value of what we are accomplishing and opens their lives to strive in the very same way. This is the foundation of common understandings, common consent, and all things common. It creates for all to see the oneness that is Zion and the Kingdom of God on Earth as it is in Heaven. 

The adversary would have us believe that we are either unworthy of this path or that the path is too hard for us to walk. I am here to testify that both of these justifications are not reasons they are excuses used by those weak in faith, because they lack the ability to believe God. Brethren, lean upon the strength of the Spirit within and know for sure that our loving Father has never, doesn't now, and never will attempt to frustrate us with goals we cannot attain. This is the truth. Believe God, He is worthy of your trust. 

Mark 10:24-26
10:24 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
10:25 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
10:26 And Jesus, looking upon them, said, With men that trust in riches, it is impossible; but not impossible with men who trust in God and leave all for my sake, for with such all these things are possible. 

Our walk with the Spirit toward perfection is an eternal one, so when we finish is not even worth considering. When we begin is much more important. 
Start now.

FRED