Speech: watch below or click here to view on BYU Idaho speeches
Resources to read and ponder: Books:
Within Reach, by Robert Millet, former dean of religious education at BYU. Many Church members don’t feel that they personally are “celestial material” because perfection seems so far away. Brother Millet helps us see that we’re doing better than we think we are and that perfection really is within reach.
Odds Are, You’re Going to Be Exalted, by Alonzo Gaskill. Similarly, this book emphasizes that the Lord’s work is to exalt as many of His children as He can—and He definitely knows how to do His work. Of course, this doesn’t excuse us from following the commandments, and this book doesn’t take the “eat, drink, and be merry” approach, but it does provide comfort for when we are unsure, and evidence that heaven is attainable.
Weakness Is Not Sin, by Wendy Ulrich. Sister Ulrich helps us to see that limitations and inadequacies are not sins and do not keep us from being clean and worthy of the Spirit. As I’ve understood more about this concept, Ether 12:27 makes more sense. The Lord gives us weakness not so that we can repent but so that we can be humble. Weakness brings us to Him. Then He doesn’t remove our weak things; He makes them strong. If you can’t read the whole book, see her condensed version in the April 2015 Ensign: “It Isn’t a Sin to Be Weak.”