Jesus Christ

In His sermon on the mount, the Savior admonished: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

Accounting for all that Christ has revealed about being perfect, two types of perfection appear: one we can only honor and aim for in this life, but the other, we can do today through His grace and guidance.

Apostle Bruce R. McConkie identified these two types of perfection in his book “Mormon Doctrine.”

“Perfection is of two kinds--finite or mortal, and infinite or eternal. Finite perfection may be gained by the righteous saints in this life. It consists in living a godfearing life of devotion to the truth, of walking in complete submission to the will of the Lord, and of putting first in one’s life the things of the kingdom of God. Infinite perfection is reserved for those who overcome all things and inherit the fulness of the Father in the mansion hereafter.”

The Apostle Paul taught that attaining the highest kind of perfection, Infinite Perfection, is the great goal of Christ's Church--it is the primary reason why the Savior established His Church:

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, . . . Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4: 11-13).

Note how Paul speaks of a “perfecting” process, a journey of faith that continues “till” the saints come to a “unity . . . unto a perfect man.”

In mortality, we can only aim for and honor this highest kind of perfection--“the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Nevertheless, “line upon line” (Isaiah 28: 10), one step at a time, our earthly journey of faith can be filled with many moments of Finite Perfection--even amid human failings (Rom. 3: 12, 23).

The scriptures describe Noah, Seth, and Job as “perfect” men. Since only the Savior was sinless in this life, these three men were eventually made “perfect” by God's redeeming grace and through covenant efforts of thorough repentance and complete obedience.

Perfect Possibilities Right Now: Moments of Mortal Perfection

To realize the possibilities of perfection today, right now, a clear distinction must be made between general aims of mortal-finite perfection, which may never be attained in mortality, versus specific and inspired one-at-a-time tasks that are perfectly do-able today!

The facets of finite perfection that can be realized right now are specifically conceived and achieved one particular task as a time! I call such attainable opportunities: moments of mortal perfection. An Old Testament verse alludes to the way these moments are realized:

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day” (1 Kings 8: 61).

Two keys for attaining moments of mortal or finite perfection are:

1) Having a perfect heart while walking in His ways.

2) Seizing inspired opportunities in the immediate moment:
    taking the next step “as at this day.”

The phrase “as at this day” expresses immediacy--the present, right now! This is where moments of mortal perfection are manifest, not necessarily through magnificent outward efforts, but by bringing to the altar of worship an inward offering: a broken heart and a contrite spirit. This is the sacrifice that engages God's perfecting grace.

Both King David and the Apostle Peter acknowledged the necessity of Divine intercession in attaining moments of mortal perfection:

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5: 10). “God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect” (2 Sam. 22: 33).

Defining Perfection According to the Lord's Revelations

It is important to examine contemporary definitions of the word “perfect” and discard those meanings that are not taught in the Lord's revelations:

Perfect - etymology from Latin perfectus = to carry out;
    per = thoroughly + facere = to do or to act

Having all its parts: whole and complete
Being entirely without fault and defect
Corresponding to an ideal standard
** Completely skilled: expert **
Satisfying all requirements
Thoroughly learned
Exact; pure

Among the previous meanings, the idea of being “completely skilled or expert” does not consistently fit with scriptural definitions of perfection. In fact, a focus upon being “perfectly skilled or expert” in outward performance is often the very definition of perfection that can set up discouragement, depression, and stress.

In contrast, moments of finite perfection that are pleasing to the Lord may appear unskillful, even outwardly awkward; yet what resides inside is the sincere intent of a humble heart--a heart made perfect through Christ's redeeming miracle. Establishing a Divine definition of Finite Perfection, The Lord Jehovah put forth the primary importance of having a perfect heart:

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

The scriptures define the inward attributes of a perfect heart as: submissive, sincere, childlike, non-offensive, . . . consistently pushing aside selfish will and yielding to the will of the Father--these are some of the attributes of a “perfect heart.”

Christ gave the supreme example of obedience with a perfect heart. Jesus taught that obeying the Father was more important than daily food (John 4: 31-34).

As to outward efforts of perfection, all we can ever do is . . . do our best to obey specific Spirit promptings; still, if our sacrifice to God will be acceptable and pleasing, the associated inward offerings must be given with a “perfect heart” and nothing less.

It is instructive to note that the words sacrifice and perfect share the same Latin root, facere = to act. Deriving definitions from their Latin roots, sacrifice means sacred act and perfect means thoroughly done or whole act. Being perfect is a sacred act of total consecration; such complete and thorough wholeness is echoed in the way we should live the great commandment:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind” (Luke 10: 27).

Correlating what the scriptures say about perfection to contemporary definitions, the Savior's finite meaning of “Be ye therefore perfect” is fundamentally about:

1) Thoroughly obeying the Father's will with exactness
    and purity of heart,
2) Becoming whole and healed, without defect,
    completely clean through the blood of Christ.

There is circular synergy that occurs when penitent and obedient acts are whole and thorough: our Redeemer makes us whole and healed--complete, without defect, . . . perfect. And on the other side of this circular synergy: as we are made pure by the blood of Christ, our disposition to consistently obey the Lord is enlarged to the next “line.”

Perfection Unfolds Line Upon Line, One Step at a Time

To assume that Christ cannot make you perfect through one single task in mortal time is to miserably underestimate the infinite power and compassion of your Savior and Redeemer!

Some may be surprised to realize that even the Son of God's Mortal Perfection unfolded “line upon line.” The Gospel of Luke records: “And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2: 40). The Apostle Paul describes how Jesus learned obedience through His mortal trials and was “made perfect” by the Father’s grace:

“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).

A latter-day Apostle, James E. Talmage, writes about the “grace to grace” growth of the Boy, Jesus of Nazareth:

“He came among men to experience all the natural conditions of mortality; He was born as truly a dependent, helpless babe as is any other child; His infancy was in all common features as the infancy of others; His boyhood was actual boyhood, His development was as necessary and as real as that of all children. Over His mind had fallen the veil of forgetfulness common to all who are born to earth, by which the remembrance of primeval existence is shut off. The Child grew, and with growth there came to Him expansion of mind, development of faculties, and progression in power and understanding. His advancement was from one grace to another, . . . from good to greater good, . . . from favor with God to greater favor.”

Line upon line, one step at a time, the Son of God's Finite Perfection unfolded, and through each phase of His immaculate mortal maturation: He was always completely pure and without sin and His obedience to the Father was humble and whole--perfect.

It wasn’t until Christ was resurrected that He attained Infinite Perfection. This truth is known by comparing Christ's invitation to perfection on the mount at Jerusalem (Matt. 5: 48) to the words a resurrected and glorified Christ spoke to the inhabitants of ancient America (3 Nephi 12: 48).

The Specific Steps of Finite Perfection:
Thorough Repentance & Complete Obedience with a Perfect Heart

It is clear that most mortals cannot sustain a “perfect heart” through every moment of every day of every year--we all “fall short” of the Savior's example. Further, the finite perfection of Job, Seth, Noah, and others required repentance and redemption to eventually arrive at the pinnacle of being perfectly clean and consistently obedient, like Christ.

Again, from a general view of Finite Perfection, most mortals will ever be inadequate; but from a specific view of particular opportunities “as at this day,” it is completely possible to obey a single, specific promptings of the Spirit with a perfect heart--right now.

The Lord patiently invites us to take the next step in the perfecting process: learning the next gospel precept and growing to the next degree of grace. The Lord patiently waits to inspire and lift us to His Infinite Perfection.

It's amazing what two can do, when one of them is God.

The immediate possibility of realizing moments of finite perfection is illustrated in the life of a prophet in ancient America:

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3: 7).

The Lord gave the prophet Nephi a direct, personal commandment to accomplish a specific task, not of his own unassisted mortal might, but with the assistance of Divine intervention: “the Lord giveth no commandments . . . save he shall prepare a way.” Remember, it is always through Divine intercession that we are lifted to moments of Finite Perfection--“he maketh my way perfect” (2 Sam. 22: 33).

Christ taught that “without me ye can do nothing” (John 15: 5). This is precisely why we should never take pride in supposed righteousness, for all boasting is excluded. The truth is that every good deed we do happens exclusively through our faithful connection to the “true vine.”

The Miracle of Forgiveness:
Perfectly Pure through Christ's Precious Blood

In addition to the real, immediate possibilities of being obedient with a perfect heart, the other do-able facet of Finite Perfection is that of today's perfect repentance: Through the miracle of forgiveness, we can be made clean, whole, and healed through Christ’s redeeming blood--a miracle invoked every time we sincerely and thoroughly repent.

Would Christ accomplish a cleansing of sins in any other way than . . . complete and perfect?

Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, all who believe and faithfully follow will be restored to childlike innocence and purity. In a latter-day revelation Christ declared:

“For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you” (D&C 60: 7).

This holy cleansing is not yet a redemption to Infinite Perfection, but a perfect cleansing to a particular level of light--a new degree of grace. In another latter-day revelation, the Lord explains that His judgments are adjusted to individual ability and knowledge:

“For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation” (D&C 82: 3).

Our finite perfection unfolds one step at a time as the Lord leads, crawling before we stand, walking before we run, milk before meat, learning line upon line, even as young Jesus of Nazareth grew from grace to grace.

“Therefore, be ye as wise as serpents and yet without sin; and I will order all things for your good, as fast as ye are able to receive them” (D&C 111: 11); “Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected” (D&C 67: 13).

“At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18: 1-4).

Jesus set forth two conditions necessary to entering into the kingdom of heaven:

1) Except ye be converted, and
2) Become humble as a little child.

What does it mean to be converted? The Cambridge Bible Dictionary offers this definition: “Conversion denotes the first conscious bending of the will of man to the will of God; it begins with repentance and ends in faith.”

The Son of God gave the perfect example of yielding His will to the will of the Father. Jesus continually sought to do always those things that please Him. Because the Savior consistently and humbly submitted to the will of the Father, He had no need to repent. Differently, our conversion requires continual repentance, as well as faithful reliance upon the Lord.

One of the great benefits of being a latter-day saint (a Mormon) is that we are blessed to learn from Another Testament of Jesus Christ written by the prophets of ancient America. In 124 B.C., the prophet and leader of the people of God, King Benjamin, recorded these inspired words about becoming humble as a little child:

“For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father” (Mosiah 3: 19).

A key attribute that signals conversion to Christ is this: true believers submit and yield their will to the will of God. This submissive yielding is essential to what I call the Self-Discovery Paradox; a truth taught by the Savior:

“He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10: 39).

The pressing need for repentance unto conversion is understood in the contrast between the submissive simplicity of a little child and these strident descriptions of people living in the latter days:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; . . . lead captive [by] silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. . . . men of corrupt minds” (2 Tim. 3: 1-8).

Consider the needless noise that clutters contemporary society, noise created by shrill and chaotic voices that consume our culture’s time and attention, and then ponder the purity of a little child:

“We begin our lives in innocence. Beings of goodness, love, and light: No prejudice, no grudges, and no anxiety, . . . just joyful, playful, uninhibited happiness. From birth, not even a shadow of darkness exists in these clean and clear creatures we call ‘bundles of joy.’ In a new-born babe, there is only love and light. That’s a child! And we all began that way. We began our lives in pure innocence; this was the immaculate motion in which we were set. The momentum of Light and Goodness was our guiding energy from the beginning” (Changing Your Stripes, p. 161).

As you repent and exercise faith in Jesus Christ, through His atoning miracle you are made “new” (2 Cor. 5: 17)--redeemed and restored to your innocence beginning as a little child, for such is the kingdom of heaven.

“And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

And Jesus said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God” (Luke 18:18,19): “but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. . . . The young man saith unto him, "All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?” (Matt. 19: 17-20).

“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, "Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10: 21-24).

Christ makes a key clarification concerning those who possess worldly wealth: It is not riches or money that is evil, instead it is “trusting in riches” and the “love of money” (1 Tim. 6: 10) that constitutes evil. The rich ruler loved his possessions and trusted his money more than he loved and trusted the Lord--a decision he manifest by failing to follow Him.

Consecrating all that we are and all that we possess to the Lord’s purposes, is the key . . . to living richly! Jesus taught this fascinating paradox:

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 10: 38, 39).

So what does it look like to lose one’s life for His sake? This complete commitment is revealed in the way we love God and neighbor with all our heart, might, mind, strength, and soul (Deut. 6: 4, 5; Mark 12: 29-31; D&C 59: 5, 6). Losing your life for His sake means: giving everything you’ve got! This covenant of consecration is given with an eye single aim:

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. . . . No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matt. 6 22-24).

Christ taught that serving “mammon” (material wealth) is a seductive enticement that leads to double-mindedness (James 4: 7, 8). Later in His sermon on the mount, the Lord identified the goal to which an eye single aim is focused:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6: 33).

And what are the things that are “added”? Read in context, Christ is speaking of daily necessities: food, clothing, and shelter (Matt. 6: 25-32). Thus, our loving Lord takes care of us as we stay focused upon Him--the building up of His kingdom and the emulation of His righteousness.

Being the perfect Exemplar, Jesus walked His talk by wholly submitting Himself to the Father's will: “I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5: 30).

For those individuals who are dominated and oppressed by controlling people, it may seem contrary to develop characteristics of Christlike humility and submission. It is a common therapeutic approach to teach codependent people the skills of assertiveness; indeed, learning to be assertive can be a step in the right direction in overcoming or escaping situations of control and abuse. Nevertheless, independence is not the ultimate gospel goal; instead, the divine direction is a healthy and whole interdependence--Christ calls it being “one” (John 17: 18).

“I am the true vine, . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15: 1-5).

When approached as the sole goal, assertiveness training can lead to an unhealthy me-centered way of living; according to Christ, such ego-centric living is precisely how a life becomes lost (Matt. 10: 39). So we return full circle to the apparent paradox: losing your life for His sake, that you might find your life.

Any focus away from Jesus Christ, the True Vine, will disconnect you from the fullness of His life-giving light and love! Just as light bulbs only illuminate when powered by electricity; so also are you illuminated by His light, as you keep your eye single to His work and glory:

“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things” (D&C: 88: 67).

This is the paradox of self-discovery: the more you think about your self, the less you are able to truly improve, but as you release yourself from a self-centered focus and keep your eyes faithfully fixed upon the Savior, the fulfillment of self spontaneously arises:

“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. Behold the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven” (D&C 6: 36, 37).

There is a disagreement among some people over what it means to be Christian, and exactly which groups qualify as Christian. It is a curious occurrence indeed, when a church that bears the very name of Jesus Christ is not perceived to be a Christian church.

It is absolutely true that certain Christian traditions created from the 4th century on, do not coincide with LDS doctrine, but the more essential question is whether LDS doctrine is in harmony with the direct teachings of Christ.

Regardless of perceptions, opinions, and judgments rendered by individuals or groups, all debate about the meaning of being Christian quickly disappears as we look to the Son of God, and let Christ set the standard.

The following represents a foundational beginning point for defining what it means to be “Christian”--what it means to be “a follower of Christ.” The standard and “the way” (John 14: 6) must be set by the Savior Himself:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16).

There is no question that being Christian begins with “believing in him.” Now, let’s look to our Lord Jesus to understand what it means to believe in Him:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also (John 14: 12).

Christ has established His doctrines of salvation: In the Savior’s own words, “believing in him” involves actively doing the “works” that He did--believing in Christ does not happen passively. In the New Testament, there are two fundamental meanings for the word “works” as follows:

1) The works of the “law of Moses” (Acts 13: 38, 39), devoid of faith in Jesus Christ, are also referred to as “dead works” (Hebrews 9: 14).

2) The works of the “law of faith” (Romans 3: 27), the doings and deeds that are done directly because of faith in Christ, are also called “good works” (Titus 2: 14).

The motive for which we do the “works of Christ” (Matt. 11: 2) defines the difference between “good works” and “dead works”--the former being a necessary element that manifests active belief in Christ, and the latter being precisely the kind of work that Paul called empty “eyeservice” (Ephesians 6: 6).

This good and active form of faith in Christ is further reinforced by the New World Translation of John 3: 16, thus: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life” (John 3: 16, NWT).

The phrase “exercising faith” correctly captures the active expression of “believing” that followers of Christ will manifest through “doing good” (Acts 10: 38)--a goodness that honors and emulates the example set by the Savior.

The New Testament speaks of “dead works” but also warns of “dead faith”--a passive form of faith, devoid of diligently doing the works of Christ. Because he listened to and learned from the direct teachings of Jesus, we clearly understand why James declared:

“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2: 26).

Thus, true believers in Christ are active in their faith and will “work the works” of Christ, just as Christ did also “work the works of [the Father]” (John 9: 4).

Christ decried the practice of doing religious works to be “seen of men” (Matt 6: 5); works motivated to garner the “praise of men” (John 12: 43); works that foolishly try to build a tower to heaven, as if one could work his way to heaven by the puny power of mortal might--apart from "the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31: 19). These are not “good works,” they are not faith-filled works.

In contrast, the “good works” that manifest belief in Christ, will witness of His infinite mercy and grace, for humble followers of Christ realize that they can only do good as they “abide in the vine,” for without Christ we “can do nothing” (John 15: 1-5).

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only believe in Christ, but also believe His words--all of them. Mormons fully and wholly believe every word that Jesus has spoken from the beginning of time, until to today; we seek to faithfully live according to His words and His works--for such is the core meaning of being Christian.