Meeting the standard

In a discussion in my Doctrine and Covenants class last week, we discussed the four major commandments Joseph Smith was given in D&C 124. Then we looked at how, of the four commandments, Joseph only saw one fulfilled in his lifetime.

One of my friends asked the question, "If God knew Joseph Smith would be killed before he could complete all of those commandments, why did He command them?" This lead to a wider discussion on why God gives us commandments when He knows we will not obey them with perfection.

The Savior has commanded us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48). Yet we also know that no human will ever fulfill that commandment alone (Romans 3:23). In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul shares that the Lord told him, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Moroni also tells us that we can become perfected through the grace of Christ (Moroni 10:32-33).

So, through our own efforts and the grace of the atonement, we can eventually meet the standard of perfection that the Lord has given (2 Nephi 25:23). In fact, because the atonement fills in the gap between our best efforts and the standard, we can reach whatever standard we are given. If the standard was merely to be pretty good, then the atonement would help, but that wouldn't be achieving the ultimate of our capabilities. I am so grateful that the standard given is that of perfection - celestial glory - because I know that through Christ, I can reach it.