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BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT (Summary of Ideas)
(TJS = Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith; MD = Mormon Doctrine; PAP = Principles & Practices; LOF = Lectures on Faith; RF = Ready References)
Why not take a test before reading to see how much you already know?!

Be Perfect; Those who were Perfect; It is Possible & it is a Commandment
What is Perfection?
The Process of Becoming Perfect (Making Your Calling & Election Sure): Justification & Sanctification; Line Upon Line; Faith from Knowledge
Conversion (Consistent Obedience); Satan becomes bound
Gratitude & Love … overcoming the sins of omission
We attain that kingdom whose laws we “prove” our obedience to.

The Grand Key – Knowledge (TJS, 298)
Knowledge/Understanding erases Doubt and leads to Faith
Cannot be saved in ignorance (D&C 131:6; TJS, 217, 297)
Faith comes by hearing the word of God (Rom 10:17); Word – Seed (Alma 32:26-28)
Power of God Comes via Faith, after we prove our worthiness (Helaman 10:4-10)
Faith is a gift from God, given/received out of our sincerity, humility, and adherence to the word of God
Faith is “the 1st principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness.” (LOF, 7)
Faith works by Mental Exertion (LOF, 76) (Jacob 4:6-7)
Know Mysteries of God (Alma 12; 26:22; 1 Ne. 15:11; Ether 4:7: John 7:17)
Could not be kept in the veil, for he knew, nothing doubting (Ether 3:19-20)
Learn to become Gods (TJS, 346)
1st Principle of the Gospel—know the character of God (TJS, 345-346)
Life Eternal – know God (John 17:3)
Know God by doing His will & Following Christ’s Example
Those who were perfect – Noah, Enoch, Job (& others)
No more desire for evil (Satan cannot tempt & is bound) (Mosiah 5:2; Alma 13:12; 19:33)
“shake at the appearance of sin..” (2 Ne. 4:31-32)
“… righteousness of his people, Satan has no power…” (1 Ne. 22:26)
Calling & Election Made Sure (2 Peter 1:10) (Accepted of the Lord)
Justification & Sanctification
The Second Comforter
BYU Student who saw Christ (the 2nd Comforter)
Raise the Bar … Improve Each Day (Do Things That Make a Difference)
Line Upon Line, Milk before Meat
Control Thoughts -- Self-Discipline! (The Power of Self-Mastery)
Say, “I failed that time”… not, “I am a failure” … ask, “What did I learn from this experience?”
Whom the Lord calls, the Lord Qualifies (You Make a Difference)
Consistent Obedience (Full Conversion Brings Happiness)
Habit – (article by William James)
Mortality is a “refiner’s fire” wherein, if we “allow” it, our faults/imperfections may be purged.
Moral Perfection, a step-by-step process (Autobiography of Ben Franklin)
The Peak to Peek Principle
We have rested long enough on plateaus … progress thru repentance!
“at ease in Zion” (2 Ne 28:24-26)
Lengthen our Stride, Quicken our Pace, (Pres. Kimball)
Urgency (not procrastinate - Alma 34:33) (already to harvest - John 4:35-38; D&C 4:4; 33:3-7)
He would not ask of us that which we could not do (with His help)!
Willingness to die for him is good, but better is to Live for Him!
Gratitude & Love; Move on from the sins of commission to the sins of omission (& eliminate them too)
Candle of the Lord, (Proverbs 20:27)
“The Lord will either calm the storm, or allow it to rage while he calms you.” (unknown)
You can do it … I can do it – Let’s do it! (Don’t wait till tomorrow, Start Today … Now!)

BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48)

“Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” (3 Ne. 12:48)

“Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” (2 Cor. 13:11)

“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Gen. 6:10)

“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1)

“Because he (Seth) was a perfect man …” (D&C 107:43)

“…If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matt. 19:21)

“The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” (Luke 6:40)

“And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to naught: But we speak the wisdom of god in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.” (1 Cor. 2:4-7)

“And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.” (Col. 3:14)

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:17)

“Therefore [not] leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” (Heb. 6:1)

“For in many things we offend all. If a man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)

“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.” (Moro. 10:32-33)

“Until we have perfect love we are liable to fall … except the Church receive the fullness of the Scriptures that they would yet fail.” (TJS, 9)

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Perfection is of two kinds—finite or mortal, and infinite or eternal. Finite perfection may be gained by the righteous saints in this life. It consists in living a god-fearing life of devotion to the truth, of walking in complete submission to the will of the Lord, and of putting first in one’s life the things of the kingdom of God. Infinite perfection is reserved for those who overcome all things and inherit the fullness of the Father in the mansions hereafter. It consists in gaining eternal life, the kind of life which God has in the highest heaven within the celestial world. Many scriptures exhort the saints to be perfect in this life, an attainment which will lead to eternal perfection hereafter, unless by subsequent rebellion and wickedness a departure is made from the strait and narrow path. Even the sanctified are commanded to beware lest they fall from grace. (D&C 20:31-34) He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me,” the Lord says (Ps 101:6) Ancient Israel was commanded: “Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God.” (Deut 18:13) Paul wrote about, “them that are perfect” (1 Cor 2:6); commanded the living saints to, “Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace” (2 Cor 13:11); said modestly that he himself was not “already perfect,” but exhorted “as many as be perfect” to “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philip 3:12-15) That is, the perfect saints were to endure to the end in righteousness so as to merit the eternal perfection that is assured by such a course. The rich young man, desiring to find the course leading to eternal life, was given similar counsel by the Master: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” (Matt 19:15-22) After gaining finite perfection and laying up treasurers in heaven, he was yet commanded to follow Christ to gain the ultimate goal. James gave the saints one practical measuring rod whereby their mortal perfection could be measured: “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man;, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (Jas. 3:2) Noah (Gen. 6:9), Seth (D&C 107:43), and Job (Job 1:1) are all listed as perfect men. The same would be true of a host of prophets, apostles, and saints in the various dispensations. Alma says “there were many, exceeding great many” who walked in the path of perfect righteousness before the Lord. (Alma 13:10-12) When our Lord told the Jews, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt 5:48), he was speaking of ultimate eternal perfection in his Father’s kingdom. After his own resurrection and when “all power” had been given him “in heaven and in earth” (Matt 28:18), he amplified his exhortation by saying, “I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” (3 Ne. 12:48) In this supreme sense no one is perfect except the Lord and those who are like him. Joint-heirs with Christ—those who receive, possess, and inherit equally with him in his Father’s kingdom—are thus the only ones who attain unto perfection. “Every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” (Luke 6:40) They become possessors of all things because they walked in that light which grows “brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:24-29) They overcome all things, inherit all things, gain all that the Father hath, and enjoy the fullness of his kingdom. (D&C 76:54-60; 84:33-40; 93:20-28). Joseph Smith taught that the attributes of God are knowledge, faith or power, justice, judgment, mercy, and truth. Then as to his perfections he said: “What we mean by perfections is, the perfections which belong to all the attributes of his nature.” (Lectures on Faith, pp. 42-50). Thus God is a perfect being because he is the embodiment of all good attributes in their fullness and perfection. Any being who becomes perfect—“even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt 5:48), that is who has the kind and extent of perfection enjoyed by Deity—must be like God. Christ is the example. “He received a fullness of truth, yea, even of all truth” (D&C 93:26), so John tells us. That is, the attribute of truth was perfected in him in the eternal sense and there was not anything which he did not know. If men become perfect, they must do so on the same basis, progressing until they gain all truth, all knowledge, and all the attributes of Deity in their perfection. (D&C 93:20-28). Only those who keep all the commandments and for whom the family unit continues in eternity will merit perfection. (D&C 131:1-4; 132:16-32). This kind of perfection comes not by the Levitical Priesthood (Heb. 7:11), nor can we without our worthy dead attain unto this high status. (Heb. 11:40). (MD, 567-568)

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” (1 Pet. 1:5-7)

“…live in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and walk humbly before Him, and He will exalt thee in His own due time.” (TJS, 27) “The only way to receive additional faith and light is to practice according to the light which we have; and if we do this, we have the promise of God that the same shall grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (LOF, 84)

Steps are taken toward perfection via repentance, and as soon as we had made a habit of one principle, we take the next step, via repentance, the diligent exercise of another principle … and so on, till through the guidance of the Spirit and our increased self-discipline we are obedient to all the laws, ordinances, and principles of the Gospel.

“…His Spirit will bear testimony to all who seek diligently after knowledge from Him. I hope you will search the Scriptures … “ (TJS, 29)

“we understand that when a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith.” (LOF, 61) “every man received according to his faith—according as his faith was, so were his blessings, and privileges; and nothing was withheld from him when his faith was sufficient to receive it.” (LOF, 67) “Faith or belief is the result of evidence presented to the mind …without evidence, faith can have no existence…As evidence precedes faith, the latter should be weak or strong in proportion to the weakness or strength of the evidence.” (LOF, 70-71) “…the keeping of His commandments is the only sure evidence of our really believing that Jesus is the Christ.” (LOF, 76)

Though it be within the reach of all who diligently strive to acquire it, faith is nevertheless a gift from God. As is fitting for such a priceless possession it is given to those only who show by their sincerity of purpose that they are worthy of it, and who give promise of abiding by its dictates. Although called the first principle of the Gospel, faith is preceded by sincerity of disposition and humility of soul, whereby the word of God may bring conviction to the soul. No compulsion is used in bringing men to a knowledge of the Gospel; yet as men open their hearts to the influences of righteousness the faith that leads to eternal life is given them of God. (RF, 31)

What then is the law of justification? It is simply this: “All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations” (D&C 132:7), in which men must abide to be saved and exalted, must be entered into and performed in righteousness so that the Holy Spirit can justify the candidate for salvation in what has been done. (MD, 408)

Sanctification means that a person becomes pure and spotless through the process of time. Paul states, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor. 5:17)…. The holy Ghost is the means by which sanctification is accomplished within us individually. The process of purifying the soul comes after the cleansing of baptism, and it requires a baptism of fire through the Holy Ghost to be completed. As Elder McConkie stated, “It is the Holy Spirit…that erases carnality and brings us into a state of righteousness. We become clean when we actually receive the…companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is then that sin and dross and evil are burned out of our souls as though by fire. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is the baptism of fire.” … Sanctification is a process that occurs in gradual steps. It comes to those who yield their hearts to God, who are personally righteous, and who endure faithfully and valiantly in the gospel of Jesus Christ … When we are sanctified by the Holy Ghost, we become a new person. Our habits, personality, desires, and passions are changed. We view ourselves and others around us differently. This change is accomplished because of the refining powers of the Holy Ghost. We become like the people during King Benjamin’s time when we witness “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” (Mosiah 5:2). As we are purged from the effects of sin, all the desires and temptations of sin are rooted out of our hearts, and we become more like Christ. (PAP, 310-311) “To be born of the water, only justifies the sinner of past sins; but to be born, afterwards, of the Holy Ghost, sanctifies him and prepares him for spiritual blessings in this life, and for eternal life in the world to come.” (LOF, 88)

Apply yourselves diligently to study, that your minds may be stored with all necessary information. (TJS, 43)

A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power than many men who are on the earth. (TJS, 217)

“The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth. And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments. He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.” (D&C 93:26-28)

Now for the secret and grand key. Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they had part with Christ, and were joint heirs with Him. They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightenings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation. Then knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven… Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election sure for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it, etc. (TJS, 298-299)

Three Keys Regarding Eternal Progression: 1st key: Knowledge is the power of salvation. 2nd key: Make your calling and election sure. 3rd key: It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc, etc, and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom. (HC 5:403)

“Make your calling and election sure.” What is the secret—the starting point? “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. (TJS, 305)

Here, then, is eternal life—to know the only wise and true God; and you have got to learn how to be Gods yourselves, and to be kings an priests to God, the same as all Gods have done before you, namely by going form one small degree to another, and from a small capacity to a great one; from grace to grace, from exaltation to exaltation, until you attain to the resurrection of the dead, and are able to dwell in everlasting burnings, and to sit in glory, as do those who sit enthroned in everlasting power. (TJS, 346-347)

It is not wisdom that we should have all knowledge at once presented before us; but that we should have a little at a time; then we can comprehend it. President Smith then read the 2nd Epistle of Peter, 1st chapter, 16th to last verses, and dwelt upon the 19th verse with some remarks. Add to your faith knowledge, etc. The principle of knowledge is the principle of salvation. This principle can be comprehended by the faithful and diligent; and every one that does not obtain knowledge sufficient to be saved will be condemned. The principle of salvation is given us through the knowledge of Jesus Christ. (TJS, 297)

When you climb up a ladder, you must begin at the bottom, and ascend step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the Gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation. But it will be a great while after you have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave. (TJS, 348)

God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin….it is necessary for men to receive an understanding concerning the laws of the heavenly kingdom, before they are permitted to enter it … the conditions of God’s kingdom are such, that all who are made partakers of that glory, are under the necessity of learning something respecting it previous to their entering into it. (TJS, 51)

The first principles of man are self-existent with God. God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits. This is good doctrine, It tastes good. I can taste the principles of eternal life, and so can you. They are given to me by the revelations of Jesus Christ; and I know that when I tell you these words of eternal life as they are given to me, you taste them, and I know that you believe them. You say honey is sweet, and so do I. I can also taste the spirit of eternal life. I know it is good; and when I tell you of these things which were given me by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you are bound to receive them as sweet, and rejoice more and more. (TJS, 354-355)

“Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.” (Alma 32:28)

man has need of a preparation before he can, according to the laws of that kingdom, enter it and enjoy its blessings. This being the fact, God has given certain laws to the human family, which if observed, are sufficient to prepare them to inherit this rest. (TJS, 54) There is a superior intelligence bestowed upon such as obey the Gospel with full purpose of heart. (TJS, 67)

The Doctrine of Election. Peter exhorts us to make our calling and election sure. This is the sealing power spoken of by Paul in other places [Eph 1]. This principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them … There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge … The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and received the Holy Ghost, by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter [see John 14:12-27] … (v. 21: “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”). Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God … (TJS, 149-151)

Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; (D&C 93:1)

I advise all to go on to perfection, and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness. A man can do nothing for himself unless God direct him in the right way; and the Priesthood is for that purpose… Let us this very day begin anew, and now say, with all our hearts, we will forsake our sins and be righteous. I shall read the 24th chapter of Matthew, and give it a literal rendering and reading; and when it is rightly understood, it will be edifying. (TJS, 364)

It was about this time I conceiv’d the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish’d to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other. But I soon found I had undertaken a task of more difficulty than I had imagined. While my care was employ’d in guarding against one fault, I was often surprised by another; habit took the advantage of inattention; inclination was sometimes too strong for reason. I concluded, at length, that the mere speculative conviction that it was our interest to be completely virtuous, was not sufficient to prevent our slipping; and that the contrary habits must be broken, and good ones acquired and established, before we can have any dependence on a steady, uniform rectitude of conduct. For this purpose I therefore contrived the following method. In the various enumerations of the moral virtues I had met with in my reading, I found the catalogue more or less numerous, as different writers included more or fewer ideas under the same name. Temperance, for example, was by some confined to eating and drinking, while by others it was extended to mean the moderating of every other pleasure, appetite, inclination, or passion, bodily or mental, even to our avarice and ambition. I propos’d to myself, for the sake of clearness, to use rather more names, with fewer ideas annex’d to each, than a few names with more ideas; and I included under thirteen names of virtues all that at that time occurr’d to me as necessary or desirable, and annex’d to each a short precept, which fully express’d the extent I gave to its meaning. These names of virtues, with their precepts, were: (1) TEMPERANCE. - Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. (2) SILENCE - Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. (3) ORDER - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. (4) RESOLUTION - Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. (5) FRUGALITY - Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e, waste nothing. (6) INDUSTRY - Lose no time; be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. (7) SINCERITY - Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and if you speak, speak accordingly. (8) JUSTICE - Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. (9) MODERATION - Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. (10) CLEANLINESS - Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation. (11) TRANQUILITY - Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. (12) CHASTITY - Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation. (13) HUMILITY - Imitate Jesus and Socrates. MY intention being to acquire the habitude of all these virtues, I judg’d it would be well not to distract my attention by attempting the whole at once, but to fix it on one of them at a time; and, when I should be master of that, then to proceed to another, and so on, till I should have gone thro’ the thirteen; and, as the previous acquisition of some might facilitate the acquisition of certain others, I arrang’d them with that view, as they stand above. (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, 102-104)

A peak experience is a positive experience that affirms who you are and leaves you with an awareness that you are more than you ever thought you were. You succeed at something that may seem small to others but is a mountain scaled in your mind. It … reveals present worth and, in the process, releases an early glimpse of your undeveloped potential. You begin to believe in great possibilities for yourself. You … become a possibility thinker… The peak experience should give us grateful visions of greater accomplishments, where achievement gives rise to greater vision, greater vision gives rise to greater belief, and greater belief gives rise to greater confidence. One peak leads to a new peek into what greater things we can do. (The Peak to Peek Principle, by Robert H. Schuller, pp. 5-6, 24)

Don't Sweat the Small Stuff (from the book, by Richard Carlson) – Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that, upon closer examination, aren’t really that big a deal. We focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion. A stranger, for example, might cut in front of us in traffic. Rather than let it go, and go on with our day, we convince ourselves that we are justified in our anger. We play out an imaginary confrontation in our mind. Many of us might even tell someone else about the incident later on rather than simply let it go. Why not instead simply allow the driver to have his accident somewhere else? Try to have compassion for the person and remember how painful it is to be in such an enormous hurry. This way, we can maintain our own sense of well-being and avoid taking other people’s problems personally. There are many similar, “small stuff” examples that occur every day in our lives. Whether we had to wait in line, listen to unfair criticism, or do the lion’s share of the work, it pays enormous dividends if we learn not to worry about little things. So many people spend so much of their life energy “sweating the small stuff” that they completely lose touch with the magic and beauty of life. When you commit to working toward this goal you will find that you will have far more energy to be kinder and gentler.

“Habit is the flywheel of society, its most precious conserving agent. The great thing, then, is to make our nervous system our ally instead of our enemy. We must make automatic and habitual, as early as possible, as many useful actions as we can, and guard against growing into ways that are disadvantageous as we guard against the plague. The more of the details of our daily life we can hand over to the effortless custody of automatism, the more our higher powers of mind will be set free for their proper work. There is no more miserable person than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision, and for whom…the drinking of every cup, the time of rising and going to bed every day, and the beginning of every bit of work are subjects of deliberation. Half the time of such a man goes to deciding or regretting matters which ought to be so ingrained in him as practically not to exist for his consciousness at all.” (--William James, Psychology: The Briefer Course)

The Sin of Omission

(Also Read: Accepted of the Lord)

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Perhaps the simplest and most significant "test" of our closeness to perfection
is how much we love others.