Be Ye Therefore Perfect

1. Be Ye Therefore Perfect • 3 Nephi 12-15

2. What were your impressions as you read this Sermon at the Temple?

3. The “greatest [sermon] that was ever preached” (Joseph Fielding Smith,CR, Oct. 1941, 95).

4. The Constitution for a perfect life • “In that matchless Sermon on the Mount, Jesus has given us eight distinct ways by which we might receive . . . joy. . . . These declarations of the Master are known . . . as the Beatitudes and have been referred to by Bible commentators as the preparation necessary for entrance into the kingdom of heaven. . . . They embody in fact THE CONSTITUTION FOR A PERFECT LIFE” • (Harold B Lee, Decisions for Successful Living [1973], 56–57).

5. “The Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount are the foundation principles upon which all civilized government and our present civilization are built (see Exodus 20:1–17; Matthew 5–7). To disregard them will lead to inevitable personal character loss and ruin. To disregard them as a nation inevitably will lead that nation to destruction” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 677–78).

6. Blueprint for our own lives • In his Sermon on the Mount, the Master has given us somewhat of a revelation of His own character, which was perfect, or what might be said to be "an autobiography, every syllable of which He had written down in deeds," and in so doing, has given us a blueprint for our own lives. – • Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pp. 341-342

7. What were your impressions as you read this Sermon at the Temple?

8. List of Christ-like qualities mentioned in 3 Nephi 12-14 • Heeds the words of God’s chosen leaders (see 3 Nephi 12:1). • Mourns for personal sins (see v. 4). • Hungers and thirsts after righteousness (see v. 6). • Is merciful to others (see v. 7). • Is pure in heart (see v. 8). • Is a peacemaker (see v. 9). • Endures persecution patiently (see vv. 10–12). • Controls temper (see vv. 21–22). • Keeps thoughts pure and does not lust (see vv. 27–29). • Is honest and has integrity (see vv. 33–37). • Seeks to bless and love enemies (see vv. 39–45). • Gives financial contributions without desiring the praise of man (see 3 Nephi 13:1–4). • Prays and fasts in secret (see vv. 5–18). • Does not judge his fellowman harshly (see 3 Nephi 14:1–5).

9. 3 Nephi 12:483 Nephi 14:13-14Picture Perfect • Picture of the family with story of getting it taken

10. 3 Nephi 12:483 Nephi 14:13-14 • I give up! • It’s too much

11. Perfect men3 Nephi 12:48 This does not mean that these people never made mistakes or never had need of correction. Mortal perfection can be achieved as we try to perform every duty, keep every law, and strive to be as perfect in our sphere as our Heavenly Father is in his. If we do the best we can, the Lord will bless us according to our deeds and the desires of our hearts. Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86

12. Matt 5:48Perfect=Gr teleios=Complete • Teleios =adjective derived from • Telos=noun which means “end.” • teleiono = verb which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.” • The word does not imply “freedom from error”; it implies “achieving a distant objective.” • In fact, when writers of the Greek New Testament wished to describe perfection of behavior—precision or excellence of human effort—they did not employ a form of teleios; instead, they chose different words. • Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86

13. Matt 5:48Perfect=Gr teleios • Teleios is not a total stranger to us. From it comes the prefix tele- that we use every day. Telephone literally means “distant talk.” Television means “to see distantly.” Telephoto means “distant light,” and so on. • Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86

14. Two categories of Perfection • The first could pertain uniquely to this life—mortal perfection. • The second category could pertain uniquely to the next life—immortal or eternal perfection. • Russell M. Nelson, “Perfection Pending,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 86

15. 3 Nephi 12:48Perfect… • Perfect – whole or complete • This sermon can be seen as pieces of a puzzle that will take some time to put in place in order to be whole, complete, or perfect.

16. Be Ye Therefore Complete

17. PerfectionMoroni 10:32-33 • Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. •    And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

18. 3 Nephi 14:13-14

21. 3 Nephi 13:19-24Restrictions or Opportunities? • “It’s true.” A peace came into his heart. As he walked toward home, the restrictions, the demands, the requirements over which he had been so incensed began to appear as opportunities. When he opened the door, he found his wife on her knees praying. • Story, Gordon B Hinckley, ”It’s True Isn’t It?” Ensign, July 1993, 2.

22. What are we giving up when we sin? • When we commit a sin, so often we burn down a cathedral to fry an egg. • Marion D Hanks

23. What really matters? • To Act in Holiness Before the LordNeiger, Brad April 04, 2006BYU Devotional

24. This experience has long served as a personal reminder that in this life we can be drawn to things that squander our time, energy, and light without moving us toward a meaningful end. Still, the way home is straight and narrow, and it is vital to know the difference between something that helps us return and something that deflects or restrains our progress. • To Act in Holiness Before the LordNeiger, Brad April 04, 2006BYU Devotional

25. Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: • Someday, when we look back on mortality, we will see that so many of the things that seemed to matter so much at the moment will be seen not to have mattered at all. And the eternal things will be seen to have mattered even more than the most faithful of the Saints imagined.Even As I Am (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1982), 104]

26. Restricted? Demanding? • In matters of religion, when an individual is motivated by great and powerful convictions of truth, then he disciplines himself not because of demands made by the Church, but because of the knowledge within his heart that God lives; that he is a child of God and that happiness and peace and satisfaction are found in righteous service… The cost in comfort may be great. The sacrifice may be real. But this very demanding reality is the substance of which comes character and strength and nobility • Gordon B Hinckley, ”It’s True Isn’t It?” Ensign, July 1993, 2.

27. Two Masters3 Ne 13:24 • Note that he mentioned only two masters: God and anything/anyone else. In reality, we face only two alternatives; we either serve God or his adversary.

28. 3 Nephi 13:24 • "It is not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living.... Our lives are, in reality, the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and of our capacity to live by those decisions. • "By what standards shall we make those decisions?

29. Caesar, Circus or Christ? • By the standards of CAESAR, meaning the standards of the state as politicians have established those standards? • By the standards of the CIRCUS, meaning the standards of the self-seeking masses? ... • "Or shall we make our decisions by the standards of CHRIST, the Son of God, who came in the meridian of time, as the one true lawgiver? • "What are the standards by which you will govern your life? ...

30. "I should like to suggest three standards by which to judge each of the decisions that determine the behavior patterns of your lives. These standards are so simple as to appear elementary, but I believe their faithful observance will provide a set of moral imperatives by which to govern without argument or equivocation each of our actions and which will bring unmatched rewards. They are: • "Does it enrich the mind? • "Does it discipline and strengthen the body? • "Does it nourish the spirit?" • (Gordon B. Hinckley, "Caesar, Circus, or Christ?", BYU Devotional, October 26, 1965)

31. Matt 5:3 Footnote • “The Latin beatus is the basis of the English ‘beatitude,’ meaning ‘to be fortunate,’ ‘to be happy,’ or ‘ to be blessed.’” How?

32. Blessed…higher than happiness • Blessedness is defined as being higher than happiness. ‘Happiness comes from without and is dependent on circumstances; blessedness is an inward fountain of joy in the soul itself, which no outward circumstances can seriously affect.’ (Dummelow’s Commentary) • -Harold B.Lee, Decisions for Successful Living, p. 56.

34. Unhappiness • Much of the unhappiness we feel in this world comes from a refusal to let go of those things that cause our unhappiness. Often as we seek relief, we aren't able to discern the real problem, and we have trouble shaking off a sense of dissatisfaction. • For those suffering spiritual and emotional distress, the Sermon on the Mount offers relief. The first word of the sermon signals the Savior's main message: Blessed. In the Greek text, the word is makarios, a word that refers to a state of divine happiness. With this word, the Savior draws us into his sermon and shows us how to find divine happiness in this life and take it with us into the next.

35. BD 620 Beatitudes • Rather than being isolated statements, the Beatitudes are interrelated and progressive in their arrangement • How are the beatitudes interrelated and progressive in their arrangement?

36. 3 Nephi 12: 2 Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words… 3 Nephi 12: 3 Yea, blessed are the poor in spirit (who come unto me), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven FAITH AND BELIEF and again blessed are allthey that mourn, for they shall be comforted… …and come down into the depths of humility… REPENT … and be baptized… and blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth… BAPTISM and blessed are all they who do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled (with the Holy Ghost…) …for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost… HOLY GHOST and blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy… … and shall receive a remission of sins. FORGIVE TO BE FORGIVEN andblessed are all the pure in heart, for they shall see God ..ye shall testify that ye have seen me and …know that I am TEMPLE LIVE THE GOSPEL OF PEACE And Blessed are all the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. and Blessed are all they which are persecuted (for my name’s sake): for theirs is the kingdom of heaven ENDURE TO THE END

37. The process from conversion to salvation persecuted peacemakers pure in heart merciful hunger and thirst Holy Ghost Baptism Repentance Faith meek mourn poor in spirit

38. The first and second great commandments persecuted Believing in a loving god who is perfect helps us to love our imperfect neighbors. I see now that the first commandment must be first and, therefore, the second commandment must be second, for without a knowledge of love of god and his help, our concerns for our neighbors would diminish. –Neal A Maxwell, Of One Heart, 22-23 Love thy neighbor peacemakers pure in heart merciful We bless our fellowmen the most when we put the first commandment first. To love god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is all-consuming and all-encompassing. It is no lukewarm endeavor. When we put god first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives. Our love of the Lord will govern the claims for our affection, the demands on our time, the interests we pursue, and the order of our priorities. We should put God ahead of everyone else in our lives. –Ezra Taft Benson, Ensign, May 1988, 4 hunger and thirst Love the Lord, thy God meek mourn poor in spirit

39. 3 Nephi 12:13-16Introduces the new law

40. The five Laws of Matthew 5/ 3 Nephi 12

42. The Five Laws of Matthew 5 • The five laws of Matthew 5 are not comprehensive in content but instead consistently teach a method – • the method of internalizing an external commandment …and therefore achieve a greater level of obedience. • Richard Holzapfel, Jesus Christ and the world of the New Testament, p 72

43. Condemned • Alms Prayer Fasting • 13:1-2 13:5 13:16

44. True disciples do right things for right reasons • When we think of service, we usually think of the acts of our hands. But… the Lord looks to our hearts as well as our hands. He is concerned not only with our acts but also with our motives. • One of his earliest commandments to Israel was to "love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul" • In order to purify our service to God and to our fellowmen, it is therefore important to consider not only how we serve, but also why we serve.(Dallin H Oaks, Pure in Heart, 38.)

45. Six reasons for service • In ascending order from the lesser to the greater • Earthly reward • Good companionship • Fear of punishment • Duty or loyalty • Hope of reward • Charity • Dallin H. Oaks, Pure in Heart, 37-49.

46. Matt 6:1-4Alms • I heard a man of prominence say the other day, “I have amended the language of my prayers. Instead of saying, ‘Bless the poor and the sick and the needy,’ I now say, ‘Father, show me how to help the poor and the sick and the needy, and give me resolution to do so.” • Gordon B. Hinckley TGBH, 458

47. 3 Nephi 14:7-12 • How are we to understand the Savior’s promise that “every one that asketh receiveth”? • How have you learned that God knows what is best for you?

48. Picture Perfect • Have a realistic attitude towards perfection • Recognize perfection is a process • Rely on the process carefully outlined and the foundation lovingly supplied for us by One who knows • Examine your weaknesses • Don’t give up