For some time now, I've been going through this process in regards to an aspect of LDS culture that has recently troubled me. The issue encompasses much more than I can share with you in a short blog entry, but I will do my best to explain.
Have you ever heard someone say, "If you truly loved the Lord, you would...(insert righteous action)." Every time I heard that phrase or similar expressions, I couldn't help but think, "What on earth does that mean?! Why is it necessary to consistently remind us of everything we aren't doing? And what of everything that we are doing? Were those efforts never to be recognized or appreciated? Did any of that qualify us as one who loves the Lord, even as meager as it may be?!" I felt as though we, as a body of very diverse people in various stages of life and progression, were constantly being measured against a very singular, unpractical, and unattainable scale. Now, I know that we should be constantly improving. Even the prophet Nephi recognized his flaws and need for improvement (2 Nephi 4); but if we never feel good about what we are doing, or if our righteous efforts are never fully recognized or appreciated, then we're never going to be motivated to improve. Instead, we will become overwhelmed and frustrated with how futile and insignificant our efforts seem to be, and simply give it up all together! How can we expect anyone in the Church to feel good about their progress if when after every attempt they make for improvement they come to church only to hear that they need to do more?!
Not only could I see how this constant push for improvement negatively affected individuals and their desire to remain faithful, but I could also see it having a damaging influence on the way we perceived one another. If someone wasn't doing exactly what had been taught at church, they were looked down upon, or considered as one who needed 'help' or 'support'. Aren't we all struggling, though?? Don't we all need help? Can't we all improve just a little bit more? Just because someone hasn't reached that singular, unpractical, and unattainable scale, doesn't mean they aren't progressing spiritually! And in the eyes of God, aren't we all at the same level, no matter where we are??
As I struggled with these thoughts, I decided to read Elder Dale G. Renlund's talk titled, Latter-day Saints Keep On Trying. He states, "As God encourages us to keep on trying, He expects us to also allow others the space to do the same, at their own pace." The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a Gospel of improvement. We cannot be stagnant! Yet, who are we to judge the progress or lack thereof, of others? A seasoned runner may be able to increase his/her distance and better his/her time each week. Yet someone who has never run before in his/her life may take months to make one simple and almost infinitesimal improvement. But they progressed! Likewise, we cannot look at the actions of those around us and assume that they are not trying, or that they are not improving. Rather, let us do as Elder Dale G. Renlund's counsels, and "evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. If we don't try, we're just latter-day sinners; if we don't persevere, we're latter-day quitters; and if we don't allow others to try, we're just latter-day hypocrites. As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were."
