Not only was the Savior our exemplar who paved the path to our salvation and exaltation, but He set the standard we are to aspire to and become. In His mission - His work and glory - to bring about the immortality and eternal life of the human family He showed that death and sin can be overcome and He assumed accountability for each of us knowing that we would fall at times. The standard is nonetheless set high:
Be ye therefore perfect
What manner of men ought ye to be? …even as I am.
When his enemies attempted to trap him by bringing the woman taken in adultery before him, the trap failed as he countered by stating only one without sin should be the first to throw a stone. He being the only one there that could do so showed compassion balanced with justice. He never excused what the woman did, neither did He condemn her. He simply directed her to go and sin no more.
Likewise, we have all made missteps in our journeys as did this woman. Because of our Savior we are granted an opportunity to be refined and go on to perfection. In 2 Corinthians 3:18 this is explained as being transformed into the same image (as god) from glory to glory. This shows the mercy and understanding of our amazing God. While at first glance a commission to be perfect or to be even as the savior is may seem impossible and cruel, with the understanding that the Lord doesn't give commandments without providing a way to accomplish them (1 Nephi 3:7) we are given the confidence to move forward through our our weakness trusting that he can and will perfect us if we are willing to submit to Him and undergo the process.
What exactly is that process? Well, there are commonalities that we all go through with entering into covenants and showing love by keeping the same commandments, we also have individual challenges and struggles. Just as the process of turning onw rock into a sculpture is going to be different from making the same sculpture from another rock. Each rock is going to have different shapes and edges needing to be removed. They may have different qualities such as a sandstone compared to solid granite which may require different tools or different techniques to ensure the end shape comes out right. Still, we have clear guidance. We exercise faith unto repentance and show our willingness to have our old self die and be reborn to walk afresh on the covenant path by entering the waters of baptism and enduring to the end - which is largely continuing to repent and renew our covenants as we continue to be refined.
What role do I play in my own transformation
There is no denying that without the Lord we can't be transformed into the potential our Lord and Savior and His Father see in us. But simply waiting and hoping that we are predestined to be among the chosen isn't the way forward either. We need to take action by showing faith and love in keeping commandments. While the Lord himself teaches that his burden is light and his yoke is easy, we also learn that this doesn't mean we won't have trials that will test our commitment to always choose the Lord under any circumstance. Since the fall of man, the natural man has been an enemy to god. Each of us are in this mortal plane as fallen beings having within us this natural man (referring to all mankind, natural woman as well). For those wishing to follow the Lord, there is tension between this natural man fighting to exert its will and the person of god we are trying to become. This can lead to slip ups along the way. It's likely you've had these yourself - you've committed to yourself that you won't let yourself act out in anger again, but then a child in the home pushes all those buttons and you find yourself yelling at them again. You've told yourself you'll be keeping your thoughts clean and pure and then you find yourself sneaking extra peaks at the figure of someone attractive to you, perhaps even weakening your grasp on this commitment further and searching out inappropriate content to gratify lusts. Or maybe you relate more to struggles to avoid prohibited substances from the word of wisdom, a social drink with friends seems harmless, a sip of coffee to fit in with the guys at work, a cigarette to take the edge off with all the stress you have going on - or maybe on a smaller scale of simply not having appetites under control to the point of over indulgence, even if not outright gluttony. None of us can escape the fact that we have weaknesses and will fall into patterns that are below our potential.
With the Lord's help we can throw off the natural man (crucify our old self) and live anew in Christ (Romans 6:6). But even after having a mighty change of heart and being born again, we may find ourselves slowly backsliding to our old ways as we let the identity of the natural man creep back into dominance. We see in the Book of Mormon how this is a favorite method of the adversary to lead us astray. Nephi teaches that Satan leads with flaxen cord until he can bind with strong cords forever. We see in the story of Amalackiah and Lehonti how poison by degrees was used. The devil is savvy enough to know that we aren't likely to jump on board serious and grievous sin, but if we can be pulled off course just a little at a time, over time we can be completely turned around and feel trapped.
The use of flaxen cords is the enemy's use of the true principle taught by God that by small and simple things great things are brought to pass. While the Lord has the power to stir mighty changes in our hearts when we are open to it, we can't expect that He will do so over and over again. We need to take ownership and remain vigilant.
The Power of Identity
One tool that is extremely helpful to us in continuing to progress toward becoming as the Savior is, is understanding our true identity and the potential and powers associated with it. President Nelson taught that we should be focused on three main identities:
1. Child of God
2. Child of Covenant
3. Disciple of Christ
As we've seen above, the Lord wants us to embody these identities. The scriptures are filled with lessons about casting off our carnal nature and adopting our divine nature. Being converted to Christ. Being transformed into His likeness. Being born again. Notice these aren't simply things that are done, they are a state of being.
How is this helpful? Perhaps an easy to understand example is that of a non-smoker being offered a cigarette. Chances are high that someone who identifies as a non-smoker is going to decline the cigarette without much thought. It goes against their identity of being a non-smoker. This is different than someone who has never smoked before, but doesn't identify as a non-smoker. This person may process things for a while with thought such as, "I've never smoked before, maybe it's time to change that" or, "What perceived benefits could smoking bring me?". This person is at a moment of decision. What they choose now may well define an identity going forward as a smoker or non-smoker depending on what they choose. Consider Joseph in Egypt with the unwanted advances of Potiphar's wife. His response of repulsion at doing this great wickedness and wronging god and action to flee the scene showed someone who clearly knew his identity as a disciple of Christ who had no plan to be moved from that path. When temptations arise, it's much easier to turn them down when the decision has been made in advance to not succumb and an identity established as one who has made and kept commitments and intends to continue to do so.
This identity shift will also lead to an easier willingness to take on projects and callings that serve God's purposes. I was recently extended a calling in my new ward as boundary changes have left our ward needing many positions filled. While the calling is somewhat intimidating and out of my comfort zone, I have established a pattern of accepting callings and trusting in the Lord to be able to work through me despite my shortcomings. Had I not felt a strong sense of discipleship and covenant responsibility to serve when called, it could have been much easier to say that it wasn't for me. I hope to over the coming weeks go into greater detail in each of these identities the prophet has emphasized and how they will help us to stay strong and walk the covenant path and go on to become even as He is!
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