Chasing Perfection

Welcome to the Neighborhood  News

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

Our Savior’s words from the Sermon on the Mount are of some concern to most of us, right?

In my opinion, it’s a tall order. Who can be perfect? I think we all can strive to achieve perfection, but it’s a difficult thing to do, since we are not gods yet.

I believe that’s better to aim at excellence. It’s achievable, and doable. There has only been one perfect being on this earth, and that was Jesus Christ.

"The more perfect we are the gentler and quiet we become towards the defects of others." Anonymous

The Prophet Joseph has taught:

 

“When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977, p. 348; italics added.)

I love this saying:

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

My question is, what are we willing to give up, in order to become perfect? 


As always, we welcome your comments.

To view a copy of the Neighborhood News for Monday, 6 April, please click here.