Perfection

"President Hugh B. Brown said, "We take seriously and literally the injunction of the Savior to be perfect. In fact, the Old Testament also teaches that we should be perfect (Deut. 18:13). But what is the perfection that God expects of us here on earth?

We often think perfection is defined as 'flawless' or 'sinless.' But there has been only One in the history of this world who was in every way flawless and sinless. Yet the scriptures say that 'Noah was a just man and perfect' (Gen. 6:9); Job was perfect and upright' (Job 1:1) and Seth was 'a perfect man' (D&C 107:43).

Apparently the scriptural definition of perfection is different from our usual one. In the Bible three Hebrew words and two Greek words are translated into King James English as 'perfect'…None of these five words means 'flawless' or 'sinless.' They are otherwise rendered as 'whole,' 'upright,' 'undefiled,' 'just' or complete. A person who is whole, complete, upright and so forth, is one who, upon sinning, as all mortals do, immediately and thoroughly repents… It is an ongoing process of repenting and improving throughout this life.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: 'We don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't… In order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path, thus charting a course leading to eternal life; and then being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship… If you're on that path and pressing forward and you die, you'll never get off the path.

There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to prepare for eternity…Stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people… Keep the commandments, pay your tithing, serve in the organizations of the Church, love the Lord and stay on the straight and narrow path… (If you do), for all practical purposes your calling and election is made sure." (The Book of Mormon, Verse by Verse, Skinner & Ogden, page 161-162)

A CHANGE OF DIRECTION

A friend told me the following which I will put in my own words:

While serving my mission, I learned the background of my mission president, a very unassuming and humble man. I will call him Brother Jones, not his real name. Several years before he had been an inactive member of the Church.

One day while riding in his canopy covered farm tractor, with a cigar in his mouth and a beer at the ready, he saw a car approaching his field, blowing up dust as it got closer. He recognized the vehicle of a good friend that he had known for many years, who also happened to be the stake president.

With little fanfare he asked if Brother Jones would serve as the ward's new Elder's Quorum President. Brother Jones replied, "Like this?" He was pointing to his beer and cigar.

"No," replied the president, tossing away the cigar and beer, "without them."
Amazingly the man gave up his bad habits and indeed became the Elder's Quorum President, later the bishop, the stake president, a regional representative and finally a mission president. We must never unrighteously judge another or let the outside appearance of a person shadow their potential.