A SURE PATH

 

This must be the most comforting doctrine to all the perfectionists in the Church:

“God binds us to Him by covenant. However, it Is not just the physical process of making covenants that brings salvation. As we promise to abide by his laws and commandments, and keep the covenants, He commissions the Holy Ghost to endow us with fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, and meekness (see Galatians 5:19-23).

“These fruits are the very characteristics and attributes of God in which we have trusted and which we long to have in ourselves.” (Jerry A. Wilson, “The Great Plan of Happiness” p 5)

When I joined the Church in my youth and learnt about the Plan of Salvation, I gained one desire: to be a strong person. I am certain this was my goal in pre-mortal life too. I am also certain that I was informed back then that mortality is a state of weakness but somehow over the years of my life I lost that perspective and expected perfection from myself.

I took that “be ye perfect” mandate too literally and ignored the fact that nobody can become perfect in this life and most importantly, without the Saviour’s grace. I knew it theoretically but it’s like it didn’t apply to me so I kept perpetuating high expectations of myself which made me feel I was never good enough.

Now fifty years after I made covenants of obedience through baptism and the temple, I am starting to feel the fruits of the spirit softening my edges and refining my spiritual skills and attributes. I am beginning to see that my efforts are secondary to what God can make of me. The godly attributes we seek to develop are gifts and not our achievements. That, to every perfectionist is the greatest gift.

 

Because the valleys do not

Lead to where I need to be,

You give me mountains to climb

To discover Your divinity.

 

You are so high

And my reach is so low.

To come to Your arms

I accept the mountains

That show me which way to go.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Come Unto Me by Danny Hahlbohm)