Perfection vs Wholeness

Being perfect and being whole can be very similar, the are both about being complete; however, perfection is the state where nothing is wanting and being whole is the state of being entire and non-defective. The question is, can we be perfect or whole?

Perfection is described well in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary when it claims " Perfection [is] the state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting." When comparing perfection and wholeness it is easy to see that both words mean "complete" however the term "perfection" is different because it is describing something without want. If something or someone is without want that means they're feeling content, complete and consummated. It means they are being pure and perfect.


Being whole is also about being complete, but it includes being entire and not defective. It is not very different from perfection, they do have similarities. Being whole is being together, unified and total. Being whole means finding peace and we can only be made whole through the Savior. Elder Timothy J. Dyches said, "As we repent and become converted to the Lord, we become whole, and our guilt is swept away. We may wonder, as did Enos, “How is it done?” The Lord answers: 'Because of thy faith in Christ. … Wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole'"
However there is a connection between these two terms. They both mean "complete." Perfection means pure and without fault ever. While we are on earth we are striving to become like our Brother and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is perfect and even though we try to be like him we are not perfect beings, however, we can be whole. In Elder Timothy J. Dyches on becoming whole, he says that through repentance Christ can make us whole.
In future days we will be able to be perfect. For now we will do our best to be perfect and in the mean time we can be whole. Christ is our example and through Him we can be made complete and eventually fulfill our true and overall purpose.
(https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/10/wilt-thou-be-made-whole?lang=eng)

The Touch of the Masters Hand

Guys, I love this poem! Let's all let God touch our lives and help us to mean something more!

'Twas battered and scarred,

And the auctioneer thought it

hardly worth his while

To waste his time on the old violin,

but he held it up with a smile.

"What am I bid, good people", he cried,

"Who starts the bidding for me?"

"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"

"Two dollars, who makes it three?"

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"

But, No,

From the room far back a gray bearded man

Came forward and picked up the bow,

Then wiping the dust from the old violin

And tightening up the strings,

He played a melody, pure and sweet

As sweet as the angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"

As he held it aloft with its' bow.

"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"

"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"

"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,

Going and gone", said he.

The audience cheered,

But some of them cried,

"We just don't understand."

"What changed its' worth?"

Swift came the reply.

"The Touch of the Masters Hand."

"And many a man with life out of tune

All battered and bruised with hardship

Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd

Much like that old violin

A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,

A game and he travels on.

He is going once, he is going twice,

He is going and almost gone.

But the Master comes,

And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,

The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought

By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.

Just some random thoughts...

Isn't it cool how we are all on the earth together right now? I don't think its a coincidence that we were placed on the earth at the same time, and that our lives connected. Or that we got to know each other and we've changed each others lives a little bit. There is some reason that you know everyone you know. There is another reason you're related to your family members. Everything happens for  reason and it isn't a coincidence. What I don't understand is why the world is in so much pain. Why do we try to fight with each other? We are all on the same planet with worries. We all know that being a human isn't easy, but it sure is amazing. We aren't against each other, life isn't a game. If it is a game, aren't we all on the same team? One big group of people trying our best to make our lives and our worlds better. I think that is  good example of a peer inspiring environment. If you want to have that inspiring environment you have to realize how special it is to be with the people you're with. It takes self control to realize that. You have to put away distractions of technology, and you have to step out of your comfort zone. There is a big world all around us and its beginning to fall apart. You probably can't change every single person but you can change yourself, and that's where it starts. After you've changed you can change your family and then your community. You can't force people to change, they have to choose, but you can give them some options and examples.

I went to a camp last summer where I didn't know very many people and the people I did know were not exactly people I wanted to spend time with. I really didn't want to go to this camp and I wasn't looking forward to it. We were broken up into groups, and I met my group leaders. One of my leaders was a young girl named Maddie. She is the happiest person I know. She immediately helped everyone feel welcome and inspired. My whole time at camp was great because of her and her happy attitude. It was incredible to see how many lives she changed in three short days just by being her happy self. She shared that she had decided to e this way because she was living a life centered around God and the gospel. She wasn't always like this but she helped everyone around her by just being happy.

In my opinion, a big changing point in peer environments is God. If He isn't a part of your peer environment how is it supposed to be inspiring? The problem is, it is so easy to put things in front of your relationship with God... or with people! We miss so many opportunities because we don't look up from our phones or our stress or our jobs and school. There is so much in this world that we miss. A problem that human beings share is the problem of trying to look good and normal and like there is nothing bad in our lives. Sometimes we miss things in our life because we are working too hard to look a certain way or act like someone who we aren't. What is the point of life if we have to pretend we are someone we are not. Being you is the best thing you can be, God created you the way you are for a reason, don't hide it, embrace it!

In order to embrace who we are we need to embrace the fact that we are weak. We are given weakness to build strengths. If we turn to God, He will strengthen us through our weakness'. God has placed people and trials in our way so that we will become who we need to be. He has prepared a way for us to obey Him and make it back to live with Him again. That is why its cool that God placed us here, together. We are here to help each other through this part of our lives. God has a lot in store for us, to live is an awfully big adventure.