Imperfection and Principles

Does it bother you that Joseph Smith was not perfect? Is that idea, or any variation of it, your reason for not accepting The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints? Or perhaps your problems stem more with the current prophet or any of the prophets in-between? Or maybe it doesn't extend as far as the prophet. Perhaps it's your Bishop that isn't perfect or your stake president?

When have you ever met anyone who was perfect? When have you met any leaders of anything that were perfect? If you didn't assume that leaders of the Church should be perfect, would you be disappointed when you found out that they weren't?

Here is something to consider:

(Before getting into this I want to emphasize that this argument only works for you if you are a Christian. I know that Jesus is the Christ and I believe that he did establish his gospel and kingdom on the Earth in the meridian of time and that he re-established his kingdom on the Earth in these last days, by the same method and for the same reason: the salvation of man.)

Do you believe in the Bible? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? Did He, or did He not call twelve apostles while he was on the Earth?

Were those twelve men perfect?

Would you then argue that the first twelve apostles were not called of God (translation: Jesus did not know what he was doing) because the men he called were not perfect? The most obvious case being Judas himself.

But what of the chief apostle? Recorded in the Bible, accepted by the Christian world and the foundation of Christianity, is record of Peter denying the Savior. This is only one of many of the imperfections of the early brethren recorded in this Holy Book.

Peter went on to become the first apostle, Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ.

If you will argue that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the Lord's Church on the earth, because you happened across some recording of some imperfection of Joseph Smith or any other leaders of the Church, then you also argue that Christ's Church was never on the earth, because he has never had perfect leaders.

Name one prophet, name one person in all of recorded history who was perfect, the Savior himself excluded. Can't find one? Neither can I.

Can you use the fact that the leaders of the Church aren't perfect as evidence that the Church is not true? No. That same argument would lead you to conclude that the truth has never been on the Earth because it has never had a perfect representative. Except the Savior himself.

Then why would he call imperfect leaders, then or now, that he knew were going to represent him after his ascension into heaven?

Why? Because he doesn't care if they are perfect or not. Does he care if they are righteous? Does he care about their character, the desires of their hearts, their service and sacrifice, their willingness and obedience? Of course. But he doesn't require them to be perfect.

If he doesn't, neither should you.

If you want to condemn them for not being perfect, remember this scripture: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. (Matthew 7:2)

And: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone..." (John 8:7)