To skip to the end, people define perfection incorrectly. The key to understand what perfection is is given with the commandment to be perfect. Christ teaches and than says "Therefore" because of what I just taught you, "be perfect like your father in heaven is perfect." Christ just told us how God is perfect and invites us to be like God.Elliaison wrote:Job was perfect as declared by the Lord to Satan:
Seth, the son of Adam was perfect:“And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.” – Job 2:3
Noah was also perfect in his day:D&C 107: 43
“Because he (Seth) was a perfect man, and his likeness was the express likeness of his father, insomuch that he seemed to be like unto his father in all things, and could be distinguished from him only by his age.” – D&C 107:43
It is interesting that this verse also makes reference to walking with God as we learn in D&C 67 that to abide God’s presence we must first become perfect.“And thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and he walked with God, as did also his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.” – Moses 8:27
In most scriptures we see that a single person is declared to be perfect, yet in other scriptures, we see that groups of people are declared to be perfect. One such instance is recorded in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul includes himself as perfect while speaking others who he also accepts as being perfect.“For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
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 67:11-13
In another instance, Paul speaks to a group explaining how the wisdom of God which is spoken to the perfect cannot be understood by the wisdom of the world.“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” - Philip. 3:14-15
The list of the perfected goes on to include others most notably Christ who also became perfect while living as a mortal.“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:” - 1Cor. 2:5-6
The scriptures also show us the perfection does NOT require us to be resurrected as some suppose. This becomes most clear when we see that there are spirits who have lived and died and have not yet been resurrected that are perfect.“So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
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;” - Heb. 5:5, 8-9
We too can become perfect right now. It is within our grasp. But to do so, we must know and focus on the right criteria and not be like the rich young man who obeyed the commandments perfectly and yet found he was lacking.“There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—
For instance, Jesus said: Handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Secondly: the spirits of just men made perfect, they who are not resurrected, but inherit the same glory.” - D&C 129:1-3,6
Matt. 5:43-48
43 ¶Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
3Ne. 12:43-48
43 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;
44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good.
46 Therefore those things which were of old time, which were under the law, in me are all fulfilled.
47 Old things are done away, and all things have become new.
48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
