The 39th Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium was held on the Brigham Young University campus Oct. 29-30. These are two reports from the symposium. More reports from other lectures were published in the Nov. 6th edition of the Church News and online.
PROVO, UTAH
Individuals must follow the Savior's example to become perfect, Clyde J. Williams said during the Sperry Symposium at BYU on Oct. 30.
Focusing his lecture on Matthew 5 in the Bible and 3 Nephi 12 in the Book of Mormon, Brother Williams, who taught ancient scripture at BYU prior to becoming assistant director of Correlation and Review for the Church, used the Sermon on the Mount as a guide for individuals to become perfect.
Drawing from the words of President Harold B. Lee, Brother Williams said, "This is a revelation of the character of Jesus Christ. He was perfect and in so doing He has given us a blueprint for our lives. It tells us what He would like us to become. ...[It's] not just saying be good, be nice, be happy — it is saying that, too — but He is saying be perfect."
Because individuals are asked to become perfect the Savior has given direction on how to do so — and without a time limit, he said. He then shared seven principles to follow in the quest for perfection.
1. Perfection comes by resisting Satan. As individuals use their "spiritual muscles" they are able to resist temptation and become stronger.
2. Avoid over zealousness and apathy. Individuals must remember that, as Elder Russell M. Nelson taught, "men are that they might have joy — no guilt trips."
3. One must want to be perfect. The Savior lived a perfect life not because He had to be perfect, but because He wanted to be perfect, Brother Williams said. Individuals must have that same desire.
4. Patiently persist in becoming perfect. Brother Williams shared a quote from President Heber J. Grant: "If we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty."
5. The laws of God lead to perfection. Drawing from Doctrine and Covenants 88:33-36, Brother Williams pointed out that every kingdom has a law. "There are no free zones," he said. "We obey the laws of what kingdom we want to belong to."
6. Focus on becoming rather than being perfect. Becoming perfect is a day-by-day thing, Brother Williams said. As individuals continue to work, they are becoming during a lifelong process.
7. Perfection is not fully possible in mortality. Quoting from the President Joseph Fielding Smith's Doctrines of Salvation, Brother Williams said: "'I believe the Lord meant just what He said: that we should be perfect, as our Father in Heaven is perfect. That will not come all at once, but line upon line, and precept upon precept ... and even then not as long as we live in this mortal life, for we will have to go even beyond the grave before we reach that perfection and shall be like God. But here we lay the foundation."
