Credit For Trying

In his last general conference address, Elder Holland quoted this scripture: “For verily I say unto you, [the gifts of God] are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do” (D&C 46:9).  He then commented, “Boy, aren’t we all thankful for that added provision ‘and … seeketh so to do’! That has been a lifesaver because sometimes that is all we can offer! We take some solace in the fact that if God were to reward only the perfectly faithful, He wouldn’t have much of a distribution list….  Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them” (see here).  I think this is a principle that we find throughout modern day scripture: the Lord will reward us according to our desires and hearts and best efforts—not just on whether or not we were perfectly obedient.  

                The Doctrine and Covenants in particular has numerous references to this idea that the Lord will bless us for trying and being willing and desiring to follow Him.  In the founding document of the Church we are told that those who are “willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ” and that have a “determination to serve him to the end” are the ones who should be baptized.  It is not those that we are sure will keep perfectly the commandments (for there are none) who are admitted into the Church but those who show that they really have a strong desire to follow Christ and serve Him (D&C 20:37).  That same language is found in the Sacrament prayer which speaks of those who “are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them” (D&C 20:77).  I have to wonder if that phrase “are willing to” is really meant to go with all three of these commitments: we who take the bread show that we are willing to take upon us the name of Christ, we are willing to always remember him, and we are willing to keep the commandments.  For surely none of us will do any of those things perfectly.  In another revelation the Lord said this about what He requires: “Behold, the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:34).  It’s not a perfectly devoted mind that he requires but a “willing” mind and those who will give Him their heart even if they falter sometimes.  He said it this way in another verse: “Verily I say unto you, all among them who know their hearts are honest, and are broken, and their spirits contrite, and are willing to observe their covenants by sacrifice—yea, every sacrifice which I, the Lord, shall command—they are accepted of me” (D&C 97:8).  The condition of our hearts is more important than having perfect actions, and we must show the Lord that we are “willing” to observe our covenants by sacrifice to be accepted of Him.  The requirement is that we need to be “willing to be guided” and “willing to hearken to [His] voice” to be accepted of Him (D&C 101:63, 75).     

                I think the Lord’s comments on Oliver Granger summarize very well the message that Elder Holland gave.  Of this faithful Saint who in 1838 remained behind in Kirtland to take care of the Prophet Joseph’s affairs the Lord said, “And when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord” (D&C 117:13).  The Lord knows that we will falter and make mistakes and will not be perfectly obedient.  But if we will rise again when we falter, the Lord will look upon our sacrifice with more value than the “increase” or success that we have.  In Elder Holland’s words, “With the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the strength of heaven to help us, we can improve, and the great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don’t always succeed.”