ADMINISTERING SALVATION, Chapter 4 of Holy priesthood volume 2

ADMINISTERING SALVATION, Chapter 4 of Holy priesthood volume 2

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We can stand in the place and stead of the Lord Jesus Christ in administering salvation to the children of men.

This blessing consists of two parts: (1) representing the Lord and (2) administering the ordinances of salvation. Both have been evident on the earth for relatively short periods of time. Study of the past 6000+ years provides evidence that it has been a continuous series of failures.

For human beings, who are anything but perfect, to represent the Lord, who is perfect, seems like an impossible requirement. But Jesus said in His first public discourse, “Be ye therefore, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). Brigham Young explained how this can be:

Those who do right, and seek the glory of the Father in heaven, whether their knowledge be little or much, or whether they can do little or much, if they do the very best they know how, they are perfect.

It may appear strange to some of you, and it certainly does to the world, to say it is possible for a man or woman to become perfect on this earth. It is written, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Again, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” This is perfectly consistent to the person who understands what perfection is.