"If You Listen, You Will Find"

I didn't know what to say. The man sat there in tears as he explained that it had been just one week since his fourteen year-old son had drowned, and I sat there speechless. I had been called to be a representative of Jesus Christ, and yet I could think of nothing to say to ease this man's pain. That was until the countdown to the next session of General Conference popped up on the screen and the words came to me:

"Hermano," I said, "What you're about to hear are talks given by men of God--apostles and prophets." I then felt the impression to given him a specific promise, and immediately voiced it. "If you listen, you will find peace."

This experience was one of the most powerful experiences I had on my mission. That man, who had gone such a significant and devastating trial, was in need of comfort that I could not give him, though I longed and prayed that I could. In that case, the Lord had led him to that Church building so that he could listen to the voices of His servants--His prophets and apostles--in order to find the peace that he was seeking. And so that humble man stayed and listened to the prophets of God.

To close that session and the conference, the Prophet and President of the Church, Thomas Monson, said this:

"We live at a time in the world’s history when there are many difficult challenges but also great opportunities and reasons for rejoicing. There are, of course, those times when we experience disappointments, heartaches, and even tragedies in our lives. However, if we will put our trust in the Lord, He will help us through our difficulties, whatever they may be. The Psalmist provided this assurance: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning” ("Until We Meet Again" April 2013).

I will never forget when the conference ended, and I turned to see the man's reaction. He had a smile on his face. "Thank you, hermano," he said, and he extended his hand to shake mine. He had found the peace he so desperately needed. 

Though he did not know that he was going to listen to General Conference on that Sunday (he had gone to Church because we told him the time and the place, but that had been weeks prior, and we made no mention of General Conference), he had come with a question/concern, he listened with real intent, and then found his answer. For us the formula is the same.

If we want to find answers or peace or anything from the messages given in General Conference, we must first come prepared with specific questions. We all have struggles. Just as President Monson said, we all have times when we experiences "disappointments, heartaches, and even tragedies." Sometimes we just have a question that needs answering. Listening to the voices of the prophets, apostles, and other General leaders allows us a perfect opportunity to find what we are looking for. 

But coming prepared with questions really does us no good if we're not actively listening for those answers. So we must listen with real intent. Real intent means that we are seeking the answer with the intention of following through with whatever instruction we might receive. It requires faith, and it requires that we open our hearts and our mind to whatever the Lord would tell us. It all requires that we are awake physically. That is often hard, especially when we intend to find our answer listening live to the Conference; ten hours of talks is an incredibly long time. But it's a sacred time. If we listen with real intent, we can find the answers we are seeking.

But we also must keep in mind that it is the Lord's will whether we are to receive answers to our questions. We must also be prepared for the possibility that we will not receive an answer, and that additional study and additional trust is required in order to find them. If we have faith and trust in the process of revelation, we will still find.

Just like the man on my mission, the Lord intends for us to seek guidance and peace through General Conference. And that promise stands for all:

If you listen, you will find.


"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth."
Matthew 7:7-8

Magnifying Our Callings

Oftentimes we don't realize just how important our callings in the Church are. But they're not just important because of what we're doing, but what we're becoming as we do it. 

Oliver Cowdery was one of the most important men of the early Church. He was the Prophet's primary scribe of the Book of Mormon. He saw and handled the plates, acting as one of the prophesied Three Witnesses. He saw great visions alongside the prophet Joseph. But none of us is immune to the effects of the natural man. Oliver had a prideful side. And it was that side that pushed him away from the Church when his high standing was exchanged for a "lesser" calling of Mission President. He apostatized.

Decades later he arrived at Salt Lake, and was given permission by Brigham Young to address the body of the Priesthood. He said the following:

"In the history of the Church I stood in her councils. Not because I was better than other men was I called but to fill the purposes of God. He called me to a high and holy calling. I wrote with my own pen the entire Book of Mormon as it fell from the lips of the Prophet Joseph Smith, and he translated it by the power and gift of God. I beheld with Joseph when an Holy Angel from Heaven came down and conferred upon us the Aaronic Priesthood, and said to us, at the same time, that it should remain on earth while the earth stands. I was also present with Joseph when the Higher or Melchizedek Priesthood was conferred by the Holy Angels from on high. Brethren, for a number of years, I have been separated from you. I now desire to come back. I wish to come humble and be one in your midst. I know the door."

President Gordon B. Hinckley shared this quote in a General Conference address, then made his own comments: "His is one of the most touching, pathetic stories in the history of this great work. So long as he magnified his calling, he was magnified. When he diminished that calling, he shrank to oblivion and poverty."

With Oliver's story and President Hinckley's powerful commentary, we learn about the importance of magnifying our calling. His is obviously an extreme example of the principle, but it is no less instructive. When we magnify our callings, we not only bring about God's work in that area of the Church, but we are given indispensable gifts and experiences that bring us closer to becoming more holy and more Christlike. 

It is certainly easy to wonder if our calling is that important. How could a nursery leader calling be important at all? I'm just babysitting. How could a YSA Family Home Evening group leader calling be important at all? Or how could a Relief Society Visiting Teaching or Elders' Quorum Home Teaching District Leader calling be important?

It's important, because every calling we have in the Church will bring us closer to that Christ-like disciple if we treat them as important.

President Hinckley said: "To each of us the Lord has said, 'Magnify your calling.' It is not always easy. But it is always rewarding. It blesses him who holds this divine authority. On the other hand, looking through the wrong lens shrinks and shrivels our power and diminishes our contribution. In working from the opposite perspective, the true and the natural and the godly perspective, we enlarge and lift, we grow in strength and gladness, we bless the lives of others now and forever."

Your calling is important. It is important that we always remember that it is the Lord who is giving us the calling. And "whom the Lord calls, he qualifies." (See a previous post on this specific aspect of callings here.) Once we decide we would like to take that step to magnify our calling, there are specific things that must be done. President Marion G. Romney noted that first step, a desire, and added two more:

"Another is that we search and ponder the words of eternal life. And a third is that we pray."

There are important personal ramifications for magnifying our callings. And the formula to do so is straight-forward. If we can nurture the desire to serve our fellow brothers and sisters in whatever capacity we may be called to, seek for inspiration through diligent study of the scriptures and the words of the modern prophets, and seek guidance from the Lord through fervent prayer, not only will we see miracles among the people we are serving, we will see miracles in ourselves. As we seek to serve as Christ would serve, we little by little become like Him.

"We magnify...and enlarge our calling when we serve with diligence and enthusiasm in those responsibilities to which we are called by proper authority. I emphasize the words, 'diligence' and 'enthusiasm.' This work has not reached its present stature through indifference on the part of those who have labored in its behalf."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Civility

There is an election recently. Did you hear about it?

Of course you did! The ads are everywhere--in the mail, on TV, on Facebook. Everywhere. This election is one of the most polarizing in this nation's history. It has created discussion. It has sparked arguments. It has perpetrated division.

I feel that is important for us to recognize in this chaotic times of elections and political scandal and civil disagreement that this world will get worse before it gets better. The Savior said, "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them . . . and looking after those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:25-26). He also said the following in a revelation given to Joseph Smith: "And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men's hearts shall fail them" (D&C 45:26). Moroni adds, "Yea it shall come in a day when there shall be great pollutions upon the face of the earth; there shall be murders, and robbing, and lying, and deceivings, and whoredoms, and all manner of abominations" (Mormon 8:31). This world isn't getting any better.

The line that stands out to me is "men's hearts shall fail them." In scriptural and poetic language, the heart has been used to symbolize many things. But the one most common is the capactiy to love. In the last days (our days), we are seeing the fruition of this prophecy: our capacity to love is failing. My purpose is to encourage members of the church to avoid this plague of the last days, and to hold true to love and civility, even as the world fades into the abyss of selfishness, cruelty, and individualism.


Civility is Part of Our Covenants

Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley said the following on civility:

"Civility, I submit, is what gives savor to our lives. It is the salt that speaks of good taste, good manners, good breeding....It carries with it the essence of courtesy, politeness, and consideration of others. How very much of it we have lost in our contemporary society! All of the education and accomplishments in the world will not count for much unless they are accompanied by the marks of gentility, of respect for others, of going the extra mile, of serving as a good Samaritan, of being men and women who look beyond our own selfish interests to the good of others."

I'd like you to now reread the quote, but this time with the lens of election-time conversation and consideration of others' opinions. His exclamation "How very very much of [civility] we have lost in our contemporary society" is ever the more prophetic. It seems for many people, if they were to speak on any topic except politics and elections, they would speak with politeness and consideration. But once the topic shifts to who they are voting for, what policies they are supporting, or what their opinion is on the latest hot political topics, all of that consideration goes right out the window. They'd shun their best friend if there was disagreement. I've seen it all over the place--it's been on my Facebook feed for the past six months! The important thing to note, however, is that we as members of Christ's Church do not have that type of leeway.

It was Alma who said at the waters of Mormon: "And now as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in" (Mosiah 18: 8-9). Our baptismal covenants are comprised partly of these promises. We are to be examples of Christ himself--as we have taken upon us His name--at all times and in all places. That includes on Facebook, on Twitter, at work, at school, even at the very voting line many will stand in this week. We are to love and respect everyone. Who one votes for does not define them. And it certainly doesn't take away any of the love which our Heavenly Father has for him or her. 

So why should we fail to be civil just because we're talking about politics? What changes?

The correct answer is: We shouldn't. And nothing should.


Civility Brings Peace of Mind and Joy

In his most recent address, apostle Elder Robert Hales said, "As the Savior's latter-day disciples, we come unto Him by loving and serving God's children. As we do, we may not be able to avoid tribulation, affliction, and suffering in the flesh, but we will suffer less spiritually. Even in our trials we can experience joy and peace."

The Savior said: "Bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).

There are topics we are passionate about. I understand that. But in the Gospel of Jesus Christ there is no room for cruelty. There is no room for judgment. There is no room for speaking badly of others because of what they believe. There is only room for love and respect and civility. And despite the firey speeches and the mudslinging that has been present in the US's current elections, there is still a Savior who loves us and wants us to love all. There will be disagreements. There will be differences of opinions. That will only get worse as we near His Second Coming. But that doesn't mean there has to be hate, and yelling, and screaming.

It doesn't mean our hearts and our capacity to love should fail us.

"That They May Be Made Perfect in One"

"If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment. that ye love one another, as I have loved you" (John 14:10-12)

There is unrest in the world we live in. There isn't a lot of joy going around in that great, round collective community we live in. There is violence, there is sickness, there is poverty. There is suffering in all its many forms. The greatest attention, at least in the United States, has been given to particular issues that have divided us. Whatever your position is on these events, there are undeniable, objective facts:

There has been death.
There has been suffering.
There has been hate.

This, of course, is nothing new. It is a natural characteristic of a fallen world to have death and suffering. But our reaction to such events, especially among those of us who have such a knowledge of Christ's gospel as we do, can be different in an important way. My purpose in writing here is not to change anyone's opinion about recent events and what should be done about them. My purpose is to leave a reminder of the great commandment that Christ gave us to love one another, and why He has given it to us. I bring up recent events and the subsequent reactions not to stir anything up any way or the other, but as an example of how a disciple of Jesus Christ can apply charity and understanding to such a situation.

As the scripture above points out, "abiding in His love" is conditional. Certainly His unconditional love is just that--unconditional--but receiving all the blessings that He would have us receive because of that love is conditional on our obedience. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love," the Savior said. The prophet Alma took it a step further, detailing the attributes that are necessary to receive those highest of blessings. He said,

"But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering; having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest." (Alma 13:28-29)

And so the details of that commandment become clear. If we will humble ourselves and keep the commandments, there are certain attributes that should show forth. In particular, Alma notes faith, hope, and charity. That charity--that "love of God"-- must always be in our hearts. We are commanded to love all. Not just those we agree with. Not just those who share our opinion about things. No, we are commanded to love all. That was part of the covenant we made when we stepped into that baptismal font.

Now it is certainly true that we are all different. That is abundantly clear. And it's certainly true that love doesn't mean we have to agree on things. Any married couple can testify of that. But love does require us to not let our disagreements divide us. It requires us to take a step back and consider others' opinions. It requires us to avoid unrighteous judgment at all costs. It requires us to let others believe what they will believe without thinking less of them. Just as Christ's love for each and every one of us is unconditional, so our love for everyone must unconditional. We may not agree with people's demonstrations or their stands or their values or their protests.

But we are required to love them.

What I have noticed is that lately our disagreements have not been in the least bit civil. There has not been an attitude of "agree to disagree." There has been little love. The reaction to a difference of opinion has been contention and hate and division. This is one of the great victories of Satan in these latter days. That we have gotten to the point where we can so easily turn against each other must be one of the adversary's proudest accomplishments. But it was our Dear Savior's prayer, just prior to His greatest show of His love for us, that we not be divided, but one. 

"That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us...I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou has loved me." (John 17:21,23)

Our Savior would have us been one in mind and purpose because this is the entire purpose of our coming to this earth in the first place. Our goal is ever to become as He is and to qualify for the great eternal blessings that he has promised. But how can we become as He is if we cannot keep ourselves from engaging in the division and the hate that the world is stirring up in these latter days? How can we love others if we are constantly looking for ways to make our point at the expense of others? How can we love others, and be made perfect in one together, if we--those who are to be the light to the world--are contributing to that great divide that is growing with every new polarizing world event?

The simple answer is that we can't.

I would like to leave an invitation as I close. Social media is the great device of this division. The advances that we've seen in social media technology can and should be used to unite, inspire, and uplift those around us, and yet we've seen that in great measure it has done just the opposite. It has divided and put down. My invitation, therefore, is that we as disciples of Jesus Christ be mindful of what we post and what we tweet and what we share. Before posting anything regarding politics or any polarizing event of the day, ask yourself:

Will this post help to bring people together or contribute to the great divide?

It is one thing to express an opinion. It is another entirely to do so in a way that vilifies another person or group of people or their opinion. It was Christ who taught: "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again" (Matthew 7:1-2). And eighteen centuries later, He taught, "I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" (D&C 64:10).

As disciples of Christ, our standard for our treatment of others is higher. Much higher. There will always be someone who does or thinks or says something you don't agree with. Let it go. Look past their actions and their opinion and see them for the child of God that they are.

Black, white, brown, grey, gay, straight, cop, protester: we are all children of God, and He loves us all the same. Let us be one, and not divided.

The Power of Unselfish (and Anonymous) Service

“He who lives only unto himself withers and dies, while he who forgets himself in the service of others grows and blossoms in this life and in eternity.”

-Gordon Hinckley

When Alma, the former priest of a wicked King who was redeemed and repentant after hearing the words of the martyred prophet Abinadi, taught his followers of the covenant of baptism, he emphasized a certain attitude which one must be willing to adopt in order to be fully accepted into the fold of God. He said, "And are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light; yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort" (Mosiah 18:8-9). Clearly defined, there are three main things we promise when we are baptized, as we are reminded of on a weekly basis as the sacrament prayers are being read:

1) Take upon us the name of Christ

2) Keep the Commandments

3) Always remember Him

As a take upon ourselves the name of Christ, we are assuming the role that He himself played during His ministry, of going about doing good. He did not waste time. He was never idle. And most importantly, He was always looking for opportunities to serve those around Him. When we truly take upon us His name, we will find ourselves far more open to going outside of our comfort zones and helping those who stand in need. We will truly come to bear burdens with those who had previously been bearing them alone, just as Christ did. We will have true empathy for those who are suffering, like unto Christ whose empathy is perfect. We will be placed in positions to comfort those who are lacking peace in their trials, and will have the Spirit to truly help them find that peace, even as Christ did. 

Because we are imperfect we often miss out on those opportunities to serve with an unselfish heart. But the Lord has promised us that if we will serve in that manner, the blessings will not be small: "Therefore, o ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind, and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day....For behold, the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul" (D&C 4:2,4). As we serve with all our energy, and free of any worldly or ulterior motives, we put ourselves on the path to eternal salvation, as we are thus coming closer to becoming like Christ. 

Elder Dallin Oaks taught the following of the modern world's mindset of selfishness, and how the gospel helps us transcend that mindset:

"The values of the world wrongly teach that 'it’s all about me.' That corrupting attitude produces no change and no growth. It is contrary to eternal progress toward the destiny God has identified in His great plan for His children. The plan of the gospel of Jesus Christ lifts us above our selfish desires and teaches us that this life is all about what we can become....Our Savior teaches us to follow Him by making the sacrifices necessary to lose ourselves in unselfish service to others."

So what can be done? What can we actually do to serve others with this unselfish attitude? Oftentimes "the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak"; we are ever so willing to do what needs to be done but lack direction. 

The Lord taught through the prophet Joseph Smith that we need to be "anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of [our] own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in [us], wherein [we] are agents unto [ourselves]" (D&C 58:27-28). A rule of thumb: if you're sitting around trying to come up with something to do and just can't do it, it may be best if you just get up and get to work. We are more likely to then receive inspiration and direction, as we are showing the Lord that we truly are willing to work. 

Oftentimes, the Lord will help us take advantage of our talents and even take into account our weaknesses.

A friend of mine in my ward at BYU told me that he has gotten into the habit of leaving notes for people. He has long contended that one of his weaknesses is saying what he'd like to say in terms of encouragement orally. He told me that when he was serving as a Zone Leader on his mission, he had struggled to help missionaries because he didn't know what to say to encourage them. So he was inspired to leave them notes in their planners when he'd do exchanges. One of the times he did it proved to be particularly impactful.

He did exchanges with a brand new missionary who was struggling because his trainer was struggling with depression. He was trying to learn a new language and how to be a missionary, but was finding it very difficult because of his lack of support from that trainer. While the Zone Leader's companion was working with the trainer, he worked with the new missionary, and they had good experiences through the day. At the end of the exchange, the leader applied his inspired pattern and left a sticky note with words of encouragement. And that was that.

More than a year later, my friend was on his final day of his mission, and stayed in the home of the Elders serving in positions in the Mission Offices. That once new and struggling missionary was one of those Office Elders. He went to my friend, his journal in hand, and said, "Do you remember this?" What my friend saw brought tears to his eyes: it was that sticky note, taped neatly into the page of the journal. The Elder then said, "You have no idea what this meant to me."

Just weeks ago that same friend told me that he felt inspired to write notes to a couple people in the ward. I had seen that some who had received these notes had posted on the ward Facebook page thanks to "whoever" left the notes. Knowing him, I asked if he had done it, and he said yes. I asked him why he did it, and why he did it anonymously. He then said, "I did it because I felt I should. For me that's what serving is all about. I get more satisfaction out of serving itself than any credit or ulterior thing I could possibly get out of it."

His humble service reminded me of a quote by the great John Wooden, "It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit."

Our service in the gospel is about helping others and helping ourselves become more like our Savior. As we go out with pure hearts and a true desire to be of aid to those around us, the Lord will help us see what can be done, and we can then go forth to do it. 

The Lord's Definition of Perfection For Us

"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48

Of all the many commandments which we have been asked to adhere to, this undoubtedly tops the list of the most daunting. As imperfect beings, we look at this command, and we can't help but think of all of the many ways that we are just the opposite of perfect. We look at our propensity to fall in the face of temptation; we look at our weaknesses in general and the way they prohibit us from reaching what we perceive to be our greatest potential. How can I possibly live up to the blessings I've received, we ask ourselves. I can never be perfect, we then determine.

But as we study out in our minds the true doctrines of the Gospel--of repentance and of the Atonement--we can quickly realize that this charge that Christ gave for us to be perfect is a lot more manageable and achievable that we could have thought. The blessing that is the Atonement allows for it all to happen. Here we will discuss the means by which we can "be perfect," and also address the fallacy of perfectionism.

Justification and Sanctification

"And we know that justification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true; and we know also that sanctification through the grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is just and true, to all those who love and serve God with all their mights, minds, and strength." Doctrine and Covenants 20:30-31

By keeping our first estate and accepting our Heavenly Father's Plan of Salvation and Happiness, we earned the opportunity to come to this earth and have our mortal experience. Because God is perfect, and no unclean thing can dwell with God, we could not return to His presence if we had come up short in any way. The Laws of God are strict, and our perfect adherence to them was absolutely necessary for exaltation according to the Plan. But knowing perfectly that we could not do it on our own, a Savior was provided, who would take upon Himself the consequences of our sins--among many other things--so that we could then make a covenant with Him that would satisfy the demands of justice to the Law.

That Savior, even Jesus Christ, prayed to the Father just prior to His performance of that Atonement, saying, "I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me" (John 17:23). With love as the motivation and our salvation the goal, the Atonement was performed.

It is through this Atonement that we can first be forgiven of our sins through justification. 

The apostle Paul wrote, "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Hebrews 5:8-9). Because our loving Savior atoned for the sins of every living soul, all are covered under the great pavilion of forgiveness and grace, predicated on one singular thing, as Paul pointed out: obedience. There is much ado made over a verse in the Book of Mormon which describes our means of salvation. It reads:

"For we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23)

Detractors of our faith accuse us of trying to earn our way to heaven. In truth, it is just the opposite. "All we can do" is repent. By obeying the commandments of the Lord Jesus Christ, and repenting of our sins when we fall short, we qualify for Him to take our sins and give us unconditional forgiveness. We are justified. In essence, we are allowed to lean on Christ's perfection so that He can become our advocate before the Father in pronouncing us to also be perfect according to that standard.

The other side of perfection is sanctification. 

The prophet-historian Mormon, in writing of the ancient members of the Church in the Americas, recorded that "they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God" (Helaman 3:35).

The other side of the coin of perfection involves the acts we do which allow our hearts to be made pure. It is the means by which we can eventually reach eternal perfection, and be like our Heavenly Father.

In short, justification is predicated on events: We are justified through acts--covenants made through ordinances, obedience, and repentance leading to a remission of sin. These events, as a result of our imperfection, must be repeated and refined through repentance. Sanctification is a process: We do the same things, but as we do them with perfected motivations and with diligence and consistency, we put ourselves on the path to exaltation. Justification allows us to one day stand in the presence of God and be pronounced clean. Sanctification is the means by which we can one day be like Him.

And so in truth, we needn't worry about being perfect. As we strive to be obedient, keep the commandments, and repent when necessary, the Lord will, through His grace, forgive us, and allow us to lean on His perfection. As we do so, we become sanctified as we strive to do so with a pure heart and those newly cleaned hands.

While the concept seems simple, in practice it is far more complicated. We are so easily reminded of our mistakes and shortcomings, and our limited perspective prevents us from remembered the scope of Christ's Atonement. We can often be far too hard on ourselves when we come up short, and thus only put ourselves deeper into a hole. Often we find ourselves believing what I call "The Fallacy of Perfectionism."

The Fallacy of Perfectionism

"Perfectionism is not a quest for the best. It is a pursuit of the worst in ourselves, the part that tells us that nothing we do will ever be good enough" Julia Cameron

"It doesn’t take much imagination to explain what might drive a perfectionist to self-harm. The all-or-nothing, impossibly high standards perfectionists set for themselves often mean that they’re not happy even when they’ve achieved success. And research has suggested that anxiety over making mistakes may ultimately be holding some perfectionists back from ever achieving success in the first place." NY Magazine (http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/09/alarming-new-research-on-perfectionism.html)

The world would have us believe that perfection means that we are to be flawless. That our body is flawless, that our schoolwork is flawless, that we are flawless. The problem with that is it sets up a standard that we cannot possibly live up to. Christ's definition is very different. His standard for us is high, but He can apply something that the world can't: unbiased, perfect judgment based on love.

What's the difference? The difference is that His version of perfection doesn't mean that we must be flawless, but that we must try our very best to be. We will mess up. We will slip up. We will sin. But when that happens the remedy to regaining perfection as Christ defines it is to turn to Him and repent. His version of perfection carries with it the beautiful clause of forgiveness. Because He truly was flawless, He can offer us a remission of our sins, predicated on our obedience to simple requests of faith.

So we need not think that we must be flawless to tap into the immense amount of blessings that are in store for us in mortality and eternity. We must only remember our covenants strive to be obedient, and repent when necessary. This life is a process, and the perfection we hope to achieve will come naturally as we seek to live a life that is based on the gospel of Jesus Christ. If we seek to live that life, we will eventually become flawless--perfect just as our Father in heaven is perfect. 

Be Still My Soul

We find ourselves in a time in our world's history that has been marred by pure chaos. War has been a constant in the last century, with few to no nations left untouched by its destructive influence. Terrorism and other forms of violence come before us on a weekly basis, leaving grief in their wake. Contention has come to us like a plague, especially in the United States in this time of political maneuvering and treachery, and the focus on our differences as people has been far more examined and magnified. In these times, we desire to know how we can find reason for hope--reason and capacity to say "Be still, my soul." We are apt and certainly justified to ask ourselves "Where can I turn for peace?"

The Lord, in this time like no other, wants us to know the answer to that question.

If we try to find peace in the world, we will be met with inevitable disappointment. Some may turn to alcohol or drugs to find peace, not knowing that they're really just masking their problems with more problems. Others turn to equally destructive and addictive vices to escape personal chaos, and find nothing but more suffering.

The only way to find true peace is to seek out Him from whom all Good comes. It was Him, even Jesus Christ, who said, "Peace I leave with you; peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid" (John 14:26).

As we ask ourselves that question of where, and adding then how, we can find that peace, we can quickly find the way as we turn to Christ. Elder Quentin Cook said:

"The heavenly aspiration of good people everywhere has and always will be for peace in the world. We must never give up on achieving this goal...We earnestly hope and pray for universal peace, but it is as individuals and families that we achieve the kind of peace that is the promised reward of righteousness. This peace is a promised gift of the Savior’s mission and atoning sacrifice."

Every good thing has come to this fallen world in and through that atoning sacrifice of our Savior. The Christ suffered and died that we may have the chance to "overcome the world," just as He did (see John 16:33). As we see the Bad--the violence and the loudness and the unrest--we can look to that Good that has come from that most sacred selfless act of eternal service.

But how easy is it in practice? Is it easy to flip that switch of worry and angst over our personal struggles and tragedies? Absolutely not.

Elder Cook also taught: We all long for peace. Peace is not just safety or lack of war, violence, conflict, and contention. Peace comes from knowing that the Savior knows who we are and knows that we have faith in Him, love Him, and keep His commandments, even and especially amid life’s devastating trials and tragedies. The Lord’s answer to the Prophet Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail brings solace to the heart:

'My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.'" (see D&C 122:7-8)

Peace is a mindset. Peace can come in the midst of war, of intense persecution, and of heavy trial. It is completely independent of our circumstances. If we are faced toward our Savior, Jesus Christ, nothing can keep us from the cleansing perspective of peace.

When we reach that point, we can sing with all the confidence in our peaceful souls:

Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed, we shall meet at last
(LDS Hymnbook 124)

So even as the world descends into greater chaos, and even as persecution increases and trials seems to weigh even heavier, we can have the peace to push us through--that peace that comes from Christ, and that is eternal and pure.