In Matthew 5:48, we are commanded to "Be ye therefore perfect." That is a scripture that can cause turmoil, when we think of all our weaknesses and faults. But when we read the last part of the verse "even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect", it raises the question, "What is perfection in Heavenly Father's eyes?" Does it mean to have a perfectly decorated and clean house, with perfectly cooked food? Does it mean to have perfectly straight teeth in a perfectly trim and healthy body? Does it mean to have perfect kids?
That doesn't sound like perfection - it sounds like exhaustion!
In what ways does Heavenly Father want us to be perfect? Surely not worldly ways.
The vision of the tree of life may help us understand. In this vision, Lehi sees a tree with beautiful white fruit. He partakes of this fruit and finds it delicious. It also fills him with indescribable joy. It fills him with such joy that desires his family to partake, too. Some of them do, but some of them don't. Laman and Lemuel are drawn to a large and spacious building where crowds of people are looking at those who are eating the fruit and scoffing at them. As Lehi and his family eat of the fruit a dark mist overcomes the scene. Those who still desire to eat the fruit must walk on a straight and narrow path, holding on to a rod of iron in order to make it to the tree. Even once they reach it, they are not safe. Some who eat are ashamed due to the continued mocking of the crowd and fall away. But all who eat are filled with joy.
Lehi's son, Nephi, wanted to know what his father's vision meant. He prayed in faith and was able to see a vision of his own which answered many questions. Because of Nephi's inquiry we find out that the fruit of the tree of life represents God's love for us. We realize that feeling charity, the pure love of Christ, is the most desirable thing we can attain in this life.
Wouldn't this be one way of defining perfection? Being perfect in love towards our Heavenly Father, Christ, and our fellow beings? That sounds easier than having a perfectly clean house, doesn't it?
Or maybe not. Because according to the vision, we are surrounded on all sides by mists of darkness, or the temptations and pride of the world. Satan uses everything he has to keep us from that joy. It is not easy to stay on the path.
But there is a way. It is to keep hold of the iron rod. This, according to Nephi, represents the word of God.
Where do we find the word of God? We immediately think of the scriptures and the words of the prophets. But there is another source and that is our personal revelation. All of us have access to
the gift of the Holy Ghost, which we received at baptism. Pres. Lorenzo Snow said, "It is the grand privilege of every Latter-Day Saint...to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives...[so] that we may know the light, and not be groveling continually in the dark."
We can access the Holy Ghost simply by asking, listening, and following its promptings. We do need to be worthy - the Spirit thrives in some environments and is stifled in others. But we don't need to be perfect. We just have to ask, listen and obey. When we feel promptings, we need to heed them, or that gift leaves us for a while until we are willing to obey.
Learning to speak the language of the Spirit takes spiritual labor. It is no different than learning another language. It takes time. It takes practice. But it is the most important work one can do on earth. For, step by step, through the Holy Ghost we can recieve promptings that will help us overcome weaknesses, strengthen our testimonies, and, most of all, be filled with the perfect, joyous love of God.
.jpg)
