Latter-day Saints have always believed in Christ’s admonition to “be ye therefore perfect.” And Church leaders today often remind us about the gradual nature of perfection, like Elder David A. Bednar shared in a recent social media post and President Russell M. Nelson focused on in his oft-quoted talk, “Perfection Pending.”
President Jeffrey R. Holland’s 2017 conference talk, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually,” has become a personal favorite of mine. President Holland’s powerful insights about Christlike living and perfection have helped me to feel more at peace with my own efforts:
“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. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, the truthfulness of the Church, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete—which is the New Testament meaning of perfection.”
But a new-to-me quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell shines additional light on this crucial idea of gradual perfection.
“Discipleship Need Not Be Hectic”
Nearly 50 years ago, in his book Deposition of a Disciple, Elder Maxwell wrote:
“Discipleship need not be hectic. The gospel suggests to us ultimate perfection, but eternal progression rests on the assumption of gradual but regular improvement in our lives. In the city of Enoch, the near perfection of this people occurred ‘in process of time’ over many, many years. This is also the case with us.”
I absolutely love that he called out the “hecticness” we sometimes feel in striving to be a disciple of Christ. Even 50 years ago—when I can only assume the world was a little less hectic than it is today—Latter-day Saints just like me were feeling the sense of urgency to be perfect, and Elder Maxwell reassured us that we don’t need to approach it that way.
Even in the city of Enoch, where perfection was achieved, it didn’t happen overnight. It was “over many, many years,” as Elder Maxwell said. I’ve personally wondered if “many, many years” could even mean over multiple generations. But at any rate, we can lay off the expectation that one imperfect person can achieve perfection during their short mortal lifespan.
Because perfection comes with “gradual and regular improvement.”
Modern-day Discipleship
For example, when it comes to daily scripture study, religious educator Jared Halverson has said, “One of the best days of scripture study is when you realize that you’re never ‘done,’ that you never finish the text. You just spend your lifetime connecting with God through it.”
We have every day for the rest of our lives—and the rest of eternity!—to study the scriptures, so we don’t need to know it all at once. We can just do our best, day-to-day, and trust the years to add up our personal efforts to “try a little harder to be a little better.”
Hallelujah.
Now, of course, this doesn’t mean that we can sit around and do nothing in this life to contribute to our eventual perfection. Like Elder Maxwell says, “The gospel suggests to us ultimate perfection.”
But it does mean I can ask for the Spirit’s guidance to help my gospel living feel measured and meaningful, instead of hectic or hurried.
After all, treating the road to perfection like a NASCAR race is probably more unhelpful than it is helpful at times. And going at a slower pace than I think is expected of me does not make me lazy or complacent.
Sometimes, we might need the slower pace so we can look in the rearview mirror from time to time to see—and appreciate—where we’ve been and just how far we’ve come.
For more insights on gradual perfection, check out these articles:
► Elder Bednar’s recent explanation of perfection will help set your mind at ease
► After a misunderstanding with my fiancé, my dad’s surprising advice changed me
► Insights from President Nelson that will change how you understand perfection in the Church
