Perfect even as I am

How is it possible to be perfect?  3 Nephi 12 is perhaps the climax of the Book of Mormon as Christ comes in the flesh to teach and minister to the Nephites. Chapter 12 and the chapters that follow are jammed packed with beautiful council, but the question I want to focus on in regards to perfection comes from 3 Nephi 12:48, “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” This logic seemed almost counter-intuitive me because by the definition of the atonement all men fall short of perfection and therefore need Jesus Christ and the atonement. I believe Christ taught this doctrine to set an example for us, but did not mean perfection in the same sense that we may. 

When we think of being perfect like unto Christ it’s easy to imagine an impossibly high standard.  Many in the church may even cause themselves and others a great deal of stress trying to reach this standard. If we try to accomplish all that Christ did, we are quite simply going to fail. We are not Jesus Christ, and that’s okay. God created each of us with and individual talent and an individual purpose. Steven Covey talked about our individual purposes in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.  In the Book Covey discusses how each person finds themselves in their own sphere of concern.  A sphere of concern is all that worries someone in their present circumstance.  One can not change or effect all that is within their sphere.  Inside however, is another sphere, our sphere of influence. Within the sphere of influence one has the power to effect change. As one lives their lives to the fullest their sphere of influence expands, thus expanding their influence. This can only be done by living in harmony with virtue. 

I believe what Christ meant is that in whatever station in life you find yourself seek to exercise your potential their to the fullest. Christ and the Father perfectly fulfill their roles. While our responsibilities may pale in comparison to that of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we can still be all that we can be within our appointed station. As we do so were progress and grow thus continuing to become more like our Savior through following his example in the stewardships that have been given to us. 

I had a biology teacher who lived by the motto, perfection is rare, but excellence can be achieved daily. Excellence may not be perfection, but it means to do all that we can to accomplish the task assigned to us. I firmly believe that we grow closer to the Lord as we strive to be excellent in our discipleship. It is resilience in this endeavor that truly does bring us closer, line upon line, precept upon precept to becoming perfect even as he is.