Twenty

Today was Day 1 of three days of studying the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew 5-7.

Matthew 5:48 says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The word "perfect" in this verse comes from the Greek word "teleios" which can also be translated as "whole" or "complete." In Matthew Chapter 5, we learn some of the pieces in the puzzle of becoming perfect like Heavenly Father.

The students looked up the scripture references from Matthew 5 that they found on seventeen pieces of a puzzle that says "Becoming Perfect Like Heavenly Father" on the back. They wrote words that summarize the teachings found in the verses. Then they put the puzzle together. If you remove pieces of the puzzle, it is no longer "whole" or "complete." The puzzle of becoming like Heavenly Father becomes more perfect as we learn to keep each of the commandments.

In our quest for perfection, we should always remember what it says in Moroni 10:32-33, which says in part: "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ..." We need Christ to become perfect.

Note: Students should remember to show me their General Conference notes. If they haven't taken them yet, they can watch or read recorded versions. Not only does this count toward the Stake President's Award, but each session counts as one day of make up work for days missed.