Perfection

In the scriptures we are told to be perfect.  "Be ye therefore perfect ..." was the admonition from Jesus.  We are also told that when we are resurrected we will have a perfected body.  I have always believed that this meant we would all have two arms with a hand and 5 fingers attached to each, two legs with a foot and 5 toes attached, a straight spine, perfectly spaced ribs and organs that work, a full head of hair, etc.  That is probably what it really means.

I have recently thought a little about this.  I have started watching a new show "Growing Up Fisher" about a guy who is blind and a lawyer.  In the first episode he cut down 4 trees with a chainsaw while his family watched and he also parallel parked a car.  It is supposed to be based on a true story.  It is a funny show and it makes me think.  There are people with no hands that eat and change diapers with their feet.  There is a famous motivational speaker with no limbs.  Beethoven composed his last symphony after he was completely deaf, and it is extraordinary.  Stephen Hawking has written several books by typing with his eyes because he is completely unable to move from Lou Gehrig's Disease.  People do amazing things and some of them have never had anywhere near a "perfect" body.

I think about people I know.  People are each unique.  I wonder if perfected bodies would mean the things that make some people special would be gone.  What would it be like for someone who was blind their whole life to see in the eternities.  What about someone who learned to do everything with their feet suddenly having arms.  I guess this is what they dream of, but I wonder if this would make them a different person than the one we love.  I hope not.

Maybe the admonition to be perfect means to be perfect in our own way.  Maybe the real goal is to become our own best self and to perfectly love others the way they are.

Baptism Day

Today I attended a baptism for a new adult member of our congregation. I thought I could share a little about why I like to attend baptism services.

The first thing is the feelings related to the experience. There is something special about a baptism service. The Spirit always seems to be in extra abundance to witness to us the correctness of what we are witnessing. Another thing is the combined feelings of those in attendance. Being there with a couple dozen other people to support our new friend feels loving and peaceful. The feeling is so strong that it is hard to describe in words.

Another thing that impresses me about baptism services is the unique aspect that we hold the service in the Primary Room. This is the room the children meet in. I find it as a gentle reminder that we are told to be like little children in our faith. Christ said that if we would humble ourselves and become like a little child we could return to live with Him and our Father in Heaven. At this service we had an opening song from the Children's Songbook, "When I Am Baptized."  The closing song was "I Am a Child of God" which is also traditionally a children's song. It is so loved that it has been added to the Hymn Book. I love that we, as members of Christ's church, love our children's songs. I think they help us to be like children the way He meant us to be.

Finally, the new member gave us her testimony after being baptized. I enjoyed hearing how she feels good about her new understanding and how accepted she feels here. This is the right result. With faith and a lot of love we can make it home to our Father together.

This is not my last time attending this great event. Welcome to the church, sister.