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“Does Jesus actually expect you to be perfect—like God is perfect?

Or have we misunderstood one of His most challenging commands?”

Ch 16b - Exaltation: Be Ye Therefore Perfect

 Welcome to the Mormon Mann YouTube channel. I am Kendall, the Mormon Mann.

In this video, we’re continuing our study on Salvation versus Exaltation. If you are new here to this channel, be sure to check out my Playlist, “Joseph Smith and the Bible” where I examine over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings—and challenge them using only the Bible.

In this Chapter 16 – Salvation vs Exaltation, I am breaking down our Heavenly Father’s plan for us into three different topics:

1. Exaltation – The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God (Ch 16a)

2. Exaltation – Be Ye Therefore Perfect (Ch 16b)

3. Exaltation – Ye Are Gods? (Ch 16c)

These are presented as short, focused videos so you can explore each topic individually.

In this Chapter, I will be challenging Joseph Smith’s teachings on Christ’s commandment to “Be Ye Therefore Perfect.”

Make sure that you press the Subscribe button so that you don’t miss the rest of this series.

The Elect of God

Revelations 2:17

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

From the very beginning of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, there was always the chosen people. In the Old Testament, the nation of Israel—until the broke God’s covenants, disobeyed His commandments and began to worship Pegan gods. As a result they were conquered and scattered around the world.

In Jesus Christ’s ministry, Jesus clearly taught that there were people who were “favored” in the eyes of God.

These “favored” were taught differently than those who were not “favored.”

The first examples were Christ’s teachings to the apostles. In the following passages, Jesus just finished teaching the parable of the sower and the apostles were asking Jesus, why he taught in parables.

The answer was clear!

There are those people that “are given” to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God and there are those people who will hear Christ, but will not understand and will see, but will not perceive.

Those people who “are given” to know the mysteries, will have more in abundance.

Question: What is it that these children of God who “hear and understand,” and “see and perceive” will have in more abundance?

Before answering this question, more on the “favored people” or the “elect” of God should be revealed.

Chosen Before the Foundation of the World

We Christians should understand that many of us are the “elect” of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:4,5

4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Paul is teaching the followers of Christ in Thessalonia that “their election of God” as having been called into the gospel, came not only in word, but power, and in the Holy Ghost.

This election came not only here on earth, but “from the beginning,” the elect of God was chosen to have salvation to the “obtaining the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Thesalonians 2:13,14

13. But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul taught both the Thessalonians and the Ephesians, that the favored were chosen from “before the foundation of the world” and that they were “predestinated to be adopted to Jesus Christ” or receive the gospel and be “saved” in this life.

Ephesians 1:4,5

4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Romans 9:10,11

10. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11. (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of him that calleth;)

Peter also taught the elect were chosen by “the foreknowledge of God the Father.”

1 Peter 1:2

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Now, after being taught that the “favored people” were “chosen” by God the Father, before this earth life, there are several other scriptures that refer to the “elect of God.”

Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 2

Timothy 2:10

Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Titus 1:1

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

The Lord speaking about Saul (Paul):

Acts 9:15,16

15. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16. For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Christ’s Prayer for the Elect

In John 17, Jesus offers His great intercessory prayer. In this moment, He makes something very clear:

He is praying specifically for those whom the Father has given Him—not for the entire world.

These are the ones who:

• Received His words

• Believed in Him

• Kept His commandments

Jesus refers to them as those who were given to Him by the Father.

John 17:1-12

1. These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee;

2. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou has sent.

4. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

5. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

6. I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world; thine they were, and thou gavest them me;and they have kept thy word.

7. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.

9. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

10. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

11. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Notice that in Christ’s most critical prayer, that Christ prayed only for the “elect,” the people who God the Father gave to Christ, His followers, and not everybody else! John understood this concept when he taught that those followers were “called and chosen.”

Revelation 17:14

These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome then: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Are All Christians the Elect?

Knowing that there are many Christians in the world today, are they all part of the elect?

The answer to that is NO!

Remember the parable of the Ten Virgins? These ten virgins are considered to be active followers of Jesus Christ. They knew the time was approaching that Jesus was coming.

But, five were not truly prepared…only half of them were able to meet Christ at His wedding dinner.

Christ shut the door in the faces of the five unprepared!

Christ is also very clear in the following passages…that many Christians will not make it back into the presence of our Heavenly Father, into the Kingdom of God, the Celestial Kingdom!

Matthew 7:13

13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7: 21-23

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

So, out of all the Christians in the world, who are the elect?

Who are they who will return to the kingdom of God?

This next passage is revealing!

Matthew 10: 41

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.

See my Chapters 12a and 12b – The Plan of Salvation – Post Mortal Life to find out what rewards are in store for all Christians. And then there is this:

Psalms 25:14

The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Receiving His covenant is a very important step in reaching mortal perfection in this life!

See my Chapter 15 – The Covenant People for more details on the Lord’s covenants.

“Be Ye Therefore Perfect”

Now I will discuss Christ’s commandment for us to “Be Ye Therefore Perfect!”

Revelations 2:17

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;

Another principle that most Christians agree upon is the fact that Jesus Christ was the only perfect man on earth.

The definition on this type of perfection is that Jesus Christ was without sin.

Now, where Mormon’s and other Christian religions differ in reference to the perfection of man is where Joseph Smith taught that man may become perfect.

Jesus Christ’s own words support these teachings when he commanded all men to be perfect like Heavenly Father!

Matthew 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

This was a commandment given to all Christians.

All commandments are—in the eyes of God—meant to be followed.

Mormons believe that Heavenly Father or Jesus Christ will not give a commandment unless there is a way to accomplish it.

There are some Mormons, but not all, that believe this commandment to be perfect is attainable.

What the Apostles Taught About Perfection

The teachings of several of the New Testament apostles also supported this belief that we can become perfect in several gospel principals. Peter taught that after suffering for Christ, we could become perfect.

1 Peter 5:10

But the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

Paul taught that a person who has charity, “is the bond of perfectness.”

Colossians 3:14

And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

The apostles James and Paul taught that through works, faith can be made perfect.

James 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

2 Timothy 3:17

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

This supports John’s teaching that eternal life is for those who “know the only true God.”

John 17:3

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God; and Jesus Christ, whom that hast sent.

Pay attention to what this passage does not say! It does not say “and this is life eternal, that they might have faith in the only true God and Jesus Christ.”

Joseph Smith’s Teaching on Perfection

It is the teaching of Joseph Smith that perfection comes gradually through:

1. Living the commandments of God

2. Making sacred covenants in the temple

3. Being sealed to your spouse and children

4. Wearing special temple garments

5. Receiving a special “new name”

6. Receiving the “Holy Spirit of Promise”

7. Receiving your “calling and election made sure”

According to this view, a person can become “perfect” step by step.

For example:

• A person who always pays tithing is “perfect” in tithing

• A person who fully honors the Sabbath is “perfect” in Sabbath observance

• A person who never steals is “perfect” in that commandment

However, true perfection becomes much more difficult when considering Christ’s greatest commandments:

• Love God with all your heart

• Love your neighbor as yourself

True Biblical Perfection

John 17:22-24

22. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23. I in them, and thou in me, that they may be perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

“Faith made perfect” is the actual “getting to know God and Jesus Christ in this life”—it is your “calling and election made sure” where you are guaranteed by Jesus Christ himself, a place in the kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

2 Peter 1:10,11

10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The reward for becoming perfect is great! This reward is part of the mystery that was spoken of:

Colossians 1:26-28

26. Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:

27. To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

28. Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

The Final Result

All who become “perfect in Christ” will become as Christ!

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not above his master; but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

Conclusion

This concludes the second part in Chapter 16b.

If you desire to be among the “elect” of God, please press the like button below.

Next we will move into Chapter 16c – Exaltation – Ye Are Gods.

You can click on the next chapter button at the bottom, or go to the entire Playlist – Joseph Smith and the Bible by pressing the “Table of Contents” button.

You will see the entire list of topics that I am discussing in this challenge to over 80 of Joseph Smith’s teachings.

I hope to see you in my next video where I will discuss the reality of man becoming a god.