15Feb2003

President James E. Faust says in the Febuary issue of the Ensign that ". . . the basic program of the Church today is to strengthen the inner self. Our objective is to have everyone feel the security, love, and warm embrace of the gospel." I appreciate this reaffirmation by Elder Faust of the church's intention in regards to the memberships' well being. I hope I can gain a testimony of this principle. These feelings of security and love supplied by the gospel are not something I am recently familiar with. All I have felt is hounding and condemnation by the church. The "Do this, do that or you will go to hell type mentality".

Peace seems hard to obtain because I am so often reminded at church and in speeches by the leadership of how far away from the ideal I am. I don't have the faith or testimony that I can ever reach it. I'm told to strive for perfection but realize that I can't reach it in this life. But how do I reconcile this counsel with 1st Nephi 3:7 which states "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." Am I not suppose to interpret this scripture literally? In otherwords, can I not take the the command to be perfect as something I can accomplish in this life?