Becoming Willing to Receive the Lord's Merciful Hand

March 7, 2013

Be ye therefore perfect. Within the LDS and BYU cultures there seems to be a high tendency towards perfectionism, an ideology that I have yet to find support from the scriptures and Brothern.

“After he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures” (Alma 14:1). First believing on the word of God will lead to repenting which leads to searching the scriptures. Nowhere did it say and they did more in a more perfect manner. It does not even say they read their scriptures more but commented on how they read the scriptures, they searched them.

Alma 13 comments on rejoice and entering into the Lord’s rest.

Verse 6 understand the commandments of God

Verse 12 sanctified and made pure by the Holy Ghost

Verse 13 humble yourself before God and bring fourth fruits of repentance

Verse 16 look forward on the son of God…look forward to him for a remission of sins

Verse 20 Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction

Verse 25 I will rejoice in waiting to hear the joyful news of his coming

Verse 28-29 humble yourself before the Lord, and call on his name, watch and pray continually that you may not be tempted above that which ye can bare, 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.

These verses seem to have an underlying theme of faith, whereas perfectionism insists on being good enough so that faith is not needed. Rather than worrying about if I am doing enough or if I am doing it well enough, other questions should be consider that will lead to the rest of the Lord. Am I bringing fourth fruits of repentance? Am I submissive? Do I look forward with hope for a remission of sins? Each of the verses cited becomes a meaningful question that can draw a person near to our Lord and Savior. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about becoming like Christ by becoming more willing to receive his grace through humble sincere repentance. I will never be or do things that are good enough, but I can become more willing to receive His merciful hand. However, I need to ensure that I am engaged in a good cause this is no reason to slack off.