Called to Be Saints

Yesterday in our class in church about covenants, the discussion turned to the idea of being a saint. One very faithful sister suggested that she was by no means a saint. Unfortunately, the idea of what a saint is usually corresponds to this definition (the first) found online: “Any of certain persons of exceptional holiness of life, formally recognized as such by the Christian Church, especially by canonization.” But we know from the New Testament—especially in the book of Acts and the letters Paul—that this is not what was meant originally by the word. The saints were those who believed in Jesus Christ and sought to follow Him. In most of his epistles, Paul wrote to the “saints” seeking to encourage them in their faith. Here is one example: “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). The saints were not the dead who had lived extraordinary lives of unparalleled devotion; rather, they were the living, faithful members of the church who were striving to follow Jesus Christ. For those of us who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are essaying to keep our covenants with God, we should not shy away from the title of saints—it is in our name! That is what the Lord wanted to call His people in the last days, and to suggest to others that we are saints is not a prideful declaration of exceptional righteousness but a humble affirmation that we are trying to follow Jesus Christ and keep our promises with Him. It is a recognition that we want to be His people and receive His power as foreseen by Nephi: “And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb, and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory” (1 Nephi 14:14). I want to be among that group who receives His power in that last day and is armed with His righteousness—I want to be numbered among the saints!

                Elder Renlund spoke about what it means to be a saint in a talk in general conference nearly a decade ago. He referred to the words of Nelson Mandela (who had recently passed away) who said this when given accolades: “I’m no saint—that is, unless you think a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying.” Elder Renlund commented, “This statement—'a saint is a sinner who keeps on trying’—should reassure and encourage members of the Church. Although we are referred to as ‘Latter-day Saints,’ we sometimes flinch at this reference. The term Saints is commonly used to designate those who have achieved an elevated state of holiness or even perfection. And we know perfectly well that we are not perfect.” He suggested what God actually expects of us to be called saints: “No matter what, with His help, God expects Latter-day Saints to keep on trying.” He summarized, “My invitation to all of us is to 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. I am deeply grateful for the Savior, for His infinite Atonement, and for latter-day prophets who encourage us to be Latter-day Saints, to keep on trying.” So perhaps the essence of being a saint in this dispensation is to covenant with the Savior to follow Him and then to never stop trying to do that. To be a saint is not to suggest we are approaching perfection; instead, it suggests that we have not stopped trying to follow Him who is perfect.  

                One of the hymns that we treasure most in the church is that which was sung by the Mormon pioneers as they persevered in their journey to the west despite incredible hardships. The words, penned by William Clayton, include these: 

Come, come, ye Saints, no toil nor labor fear;

But with joy wend your way.

Though hard to you this journey may appear,

Grace shall be as your day.

’Tis better far for us to strive

Our useless cares from us to drive;

Do this, and joy your hearts will swell—

All is well! All is well! 

Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?

’Tis not so; all is right.

Why should we think to earn a great reward

If we now shun the fight?

Gird up your loins; fresh courage take.

Our God will never us forsake;

And soon we’ll have this tale to tell—

All is well! All is well! 

To me the major theme of Come, Come Ye Saints is that we must not shun the spiritual fight; we must not stop on our journey or quit trying to reach our eternal goal. To be a saint is not to be perfectly holy; is it to gird up our loins and keep trusting that our God will never us forsake no matter what the trials are that lie ahead. And so, let us not be afraid to be called saints, but let us remember from that word that as we continue striving to follow “our God and King” we will indeed be “armed with righteousness and the power of God in great glory.”