9: The good news

God provided a way to meet His standard and overcome all that is stacked against us. This is the good news of the gospel known as the atonement of Jesus Christ. The atonement provides a way to both cover the repercussions of falling short and it enables us to find access to Christ’s infinite resources. Through covenants with Christ we become joint heirs to Christ’s perfect attributes while we work on perfecting our own. (Col 1:28; 1 Pet. 5:10; Moro. 10:32; D&C 67:13) Christ was whole and complete in thought, feeling, and action. He is the model of good thoughts, feelings, and actions. Through the making of covenants we have access to these infinite resources. We also can be forgiven for the misuse of our agency. It is also Christ’s atonement that gives us the power to forgive others in the misuse of their agency upon us.

7: We can not meet the standard of perfection on our own.

Our challenge is we simply aren’t capable of meeting that standard under our own power. We are not perfect no matter how hard we try. (Rom 3:23; 1Kgs 8:46; 2 Chr. 6:36; Eccl. 7:20) We frequently have negative, thoughts, feelings and actions that bring pain, suffering and often terrible consequences.  Some pain and suffering comes as result of others poor choices. In both cases it should be made clear that though perfection of thought, feeling and action are required, under our own power is not possible in this life to meet that standard 100% of the time.

6: Perfection Required

Not only do celestial laws govern outcomes of a given thought, feeling, or action but ultimately Heavenly Father himself requires each of us to be perfect in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. No one can return to live with him without first meeting that standard.  Perfection in thoughts, feelings, and actions is the requirement. (Gen 17:1; 1Kgs 8:61; Ps.18:30; Matt 5:48; 3 Ne. 12:48; Col 4:12; 2 Tim 3:17; Heb 12:23; D&C 1:31)