November 12-18 Perfection

Song:      watch below or click here to view on youtube



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.”

The Gifts of Imperfection, by Brené Brown. With a title like that, it took me a while to even begin reading the book. She outlines three gifts we are able to receive when we allow ourselves to be human, which she calls the three C’s: courage, connection, and compassion. This is a landmark book for anyone caught in the throes of perfectionism. If you don’t have time to read it, at least listen to her TED Talk where she explains how shame is the birthplace of perfectionism.

Conference Talks:
Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995.

 Jeffrey R. Holland, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually,” Ensign, Nov. 2017.

 J. Devn. Cornish, “Am I Good Enough? Will I Make It?,” Ensign, Nov. 2016.

 Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “You Matter to Him,” Ensign, Nov. 2011.

 Joy D. Jones, “Value beyond Measure,” Ensign, Nov. 2017.

 Brian K. Ashton, “The Father,” Ensign, Nov. 2018.

 Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign, Nov. 2007