I read somewhere a quote that said that perfection can be attainable in mortality. How are we supposed to achieve perfection? It seems to be a goal impossible to be achieved ...

President Lorenzo Snow taught that those recent converts from Europe who emigrated to the United States in the early days of the Church to join the main body of the Saints were, during their journey across the ocean, perfect:

"... they were as perfect as men could be under the circumstances, and in the sphere in which they were acting; not that they were perfect in knowledge or power, etc., but in their feelings, in their integrity, motives, and determination. And while they were crossing the great deep, providing they did not murmur nor complain, but obeyed the counsels which were given them, and in every way comported themselves in a becoming manner, they were as perfect as God required them to be." (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.32. April 7, 1879)

According to President Brigham Young, there is a better interpretation for the scripture "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect", and this improved interpretation bring us to the conclusion that to become perfect while in this world is an attainable goal:

"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. ... If the ... passage ... is not worded to our understanding, we can alter the phraseology of the sentence, and say, "Be ye as perfect as ye can," for that is all we can do, though it is written, be ye perfect as your Father who is in heaven is perfect. He cannot be any more perfect than he knows how, any more than we. When we are doing as well as we know how in the sphere and station which we occupy here, we are justified in the justice, righteousness, mercy, and judgment that go before the Lord of heaven and earth. We are as justified as the angels who are before the throne of God. The sin that will cleave to all the posterity of Adam and Eve is, that they have not done as well as they knew how." (Discourses of Brigham Young, p.89. December 18, 1853)

The scriptures indicate that throughout the history a few men have been considered perfect: Seth (D&C 107:43), Noah (Genesis 6:9; Moses 8:27), and Job (Job 1:1,8). It becomes then reasonable to assume that they did the best according to the knowledge available to them, even though they might have made a few mistakes. President Lorenzo Snow taught that we should not get discouraged because our own mistakes:

"A person may be perfect in regard to some things and not others. ... if we could read in detail the life of Abraham, or the lives of other great and holy men, we would doubtless find that their efforts to be righteous were not always crowned with success. Hence we should not be discouraged if we should be overcome in a weak moment; but, on the contrary, straightway repent of the error or the wrong we may have committed, and as far as possible repair it, and then seek to God for renewed strength to go on and do better." (Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, p.33)

This essay is published as a support for and an extension of classroom discussion and in no way represents an official statement from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or its General Authorities. Dr. Marcus H. Martins assumes full responsibility for the opinions, views, and interpretations contained herein.