The Perfection Myth

I venture this next topic with some trepidation. The decision to leave one's faith behind and trade it for something else is never a decision made lightly. I suspect (and hope) it is reached only by long, serious, consideration, and my words here are in no way meant to make light of it. It is a serious matter and is between each of us and God alone.

This being said, I have to ask myself, "Why is it that so many people think that one must be perfect, or at least have attained some "level" of perfection before they can attend or return to church?" I'll use common challenges with the Word of Wisdom to explain what I mean.

At one point or another in each of our lives (none of us are exempt from this, by the way) we must all face challenges or temptations that will test our very souls. There are many, including dishonesty, pride, finding fault, being judgmental, cheating, gambling, etc. It is interesting to note that most of these "big" challenges in our lives are addictive in nature. One lie leads to another; gossipping about one neighbor leads to gossip about the entire neighborhood; cheating someone (and getting away with it) only makes it that much easier to do the next time the opportunity presents itself; and the list goes on and on. But like I said earlier, I want to use the common problems many of us face with respect to the Word of Wisdom.

Why is it that once sometime starts drinking, or picks up a cigarette, they seem to abandon their faith, check it at the door, and think that they can't return to it? When our building was dedicated, the General Authority who offered the dedicatory prayer blessed the building that it would smell of smoke. What a wonderful blessing to witness. Contrary to what critics want to believe, Church is not for the perfect. We all have faults and sins--though not all of them have a undeniable smell of cigarette smoke or alcohol on the breath. Wouldn't it be interesting if lying had a particular smell that lingered on your clothes and your hair? Or pornography addiction? Or yelling at your kids? Or not paying your tithing?

Show me where the Lord ever said that once you start drinking or smoking you are no longer welcome in His house. He never did--and He never will. But the one who wants to see you suffer, even as he does, would prefer if you never again set foot in a house of God. "For the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray."

I have a close friend, a man who I look up to and admire and hang on every word that comes out of his mouth at Church and elsewhere, who recently talked about a Home Teacher he had all growing up who struggled with smoking. Though he smoked, he never missed a month, and was always there when someone in his family needed a blessing. Now, this might be surprising to more than a few of us, and may even border on blasphemy. Am I saying that a man who was ordained an Elder in the Melchizedek priesthood who smokes or drinks can administer and give a blessing? You bet I am!

I recall a story I heard years ago about President Monson who visited an old friend of his in the hospital. This man's son, who had been inactive and was not living what he considered a "righteous life", was there, as well. When the friend asked for a blessing, the man's son declined, saying that he wasn't worthy anymore to use the priesthood, to which President Monson replied, "Well, can you be worthy for ten minutes while we give him a blessing?"

Deciding to live a life not in complete harmony with the teachings of the Church, whether it be following the Word of Wisdom or some other challenge to overcome (See The Natural Man blog), does not automatically mean you can't still come to church, that you can't still try to do your best in every aspect of your life. And if you don't think that you can or even want to return to church, if you are deciding to abandon or trade your faith over this one thing, I would urge you to stop and consider who it is that wants you to think this way.

Life and faith is not an "all or nothing" game. We each take it in pieces, a little bit at a time, working on one area of our life at a time, correcting the small faults before attacking the big ones. To deny yourself the strength and help of heaven as you struggle to find happiness here on earth is a sure way to ultimate misery.

Come back. We'll take the whole "You"--challenges and all. And if any self-righteous church-goers look down on the fact that you are sitting on the pew in front of them, so be it--that's their problem to overcome, not yours.

And that's...

...the Gospel According to Guy.