"Be Ye Therefore Perfect" | Spencer W. Kimball

The way to become perfect is to change your life-to substitute the good for the evil in every case. Changes can come best if we take one item at a time.
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"As we speak of perfection, there is much to consider. One must be the soul of honor, full of integrity, and above reproach. One must be true to himself, and, being thus, he cannot then be false to any man. We have made promises and covenants. The Lord has said, “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise” (D&C 82:10).
To be perfect, then, one must begin early in his life. He or she must become the perfect husband, the perfect wife, the perfect father, the perfect mother, the perfect leader, and the perfect follower. One’s marriage must be perfectly performed and perfectly kept on a hallowed plane.
As we have stated before, the way to perfection seems to be a changing of one’s life-to substitute the good for the evil in every case. Changes can come best if we take one item at a time. For instance, it’s not difficult to be prefect in tithe paying, for if one pays one-tenth of his income annually, he is perfect in that respect. It is not difficult to become perfect in avoiding a swearing habit, for if one locks his mouth against all words of cursing, he is en route to perfection in that matter. If one studies the scriptures with all reasonable devotion, he has approached the perfection in that matter also.
Now, young brothers and sisters and all our friends, we love you. We appreciate you. We sing frequently the song “Shall the Youth of Zion Falter?” and then we stand almost spellbound as we hear the great chorus of numerous voices saying, “No!” We’re proud of you. We love to hear your testimonies. We’re glad to see you, your faith in the great restoration of the gospel, and all that pertains to it. We proclaim this to be the true gospel of Jesus Christ, the maker of heaven and earth. He is our light and our life. This is his church. We praise and honor and worship him. He lives. That I know, and I bear that witness to you, with all my affection for you." - Spencer W. Kimball
Spencer W. Kimball was President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints when this devotional address was given at Brigham Young University on 17 September 1974.
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