Becoming perfect in Christ isn’t unattainable, said Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles—otherwise, the invitation wouldn’t be extended in the first place.
In his 2020 Mission Leadership Seminar address, Elder Gong reminded listeners of President Russell M. Nelson’s teaching that the Greek word “telios,” which is often translated as “perfect” or “perfected” in English, means “complete.” It does not mean flawless.
The Apostle continued by explaining that “part of becoming perfected in Christ is to become complete,” and that doing so is different than what the world views perfectionism to be, Church News reported. Understanding the difference between being perfected in Christ and the world’s view of perfectionism is vital in missionary work, he said.
“For you and your missionaries to be happy and feel successful,” he said, “it is essential to understand the crucial differences between the perfectionism of the world and perfection as defined by the Lord.”
Read more of Elder Gong’s thoughts at Church News.
