My remarks in this talk will centre on a truth that lies at the very heart of our faith—the truth that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not about the perfection or imperfection of Church members. It is, rather, about Jesus Christ Himself and the enduring, eternal love of our Heavenly Father.
The Gospel is a message of divine hope. It is the revelation of God’s mercy and a call to reconciliation between our flawed humanity and His infinite holiness. The plan of salvation, as restored in these latter days, sets before us a path—a path of transformation through Jesus Christ. His redeeming mission is not an afterthought nor a supplementary doctrine. It is the very centrepiece of our faith and of our hope.
Jesus Christ stands at the heart of this message. He is the Son of God, the Redeemer of mankind, the Holy One of Israel. As we read in the Book of Mormon: “There is no other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ… whereby man can be saved” (2 Nephi 25:20). He came to earth not because His followers would be flawless, but because they would not be. He came to bind up the broken, to give sight to the blind, and to lift the weary soul. Each of us is a work in progress—struggling against the fallen nature of mortality, learning slowly through repentance, and growing line upon line, precept upon precept. (Isaiah 28:10; 2 Nephi 28:30)
Heavenly Father’s love for us is never earned. It is not given only when we are obedient, nor withdrawn when we stumble. He loves us fully, perfectly, and eternally. As the Scriptures say, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (John 3:16). The Gospel is the divine manifestation of that love. Through its ordinances and covenants, we are invited to return home. As disciples of Christ, we understand that each soul was known and loved before birth. The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee” (Jeremiah 1:5). We are here not to demonstrate an already perfected state, but to walk the path of sanctification, relying wholly upon the merits, mercy, and grace of Jesus Christ (2 Nephi 2:8).
The Church, then, is not the destination—it is the scaffolding. It provides structure, fellowship, teaching, and covenants that sustain us in our journey. But it is led by mortal men and women—flawed, striving, prayerful. The shortcomings of Church members, or even of leaders, do not disprove the Gospel. The Church is not the Redeemer, but it bears witness of Him. The mistakes of its people should not shake our faith in Christ but rather confirm how much we all stand in need of Him. The Atonement of Jesus Christ is made more marvellous because of our weakness—not in spite of it. (Ether 12:27)
Therefore, when we feel discouraged by what we see in the Church—be it in its history, in its culture, or in the imperfections of individuals—let us lift our eyes to Christ. The Gospel was never meant to point to us as the ultimate example. It points to the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world (John 1:29). It is His name by which we are saved. It is His life that we follow. It is His love that calls us to come unto Him and be healed.
In the end, the Gospel is not about how well the members of the Church reflect the Saviour, but about how perfectly the Saviour loves those members—imperfect though we all are. The good news is that, in all our weakness, we are not beyond the reach of divine mercy. The Gospel is the eternal promise that through the grace of Christ and the love of our Heavenly Father, we may be made whole.
May we trust in that love, cling to that grace, and walk each day in the light of the Gospel, not discouraged by imperfection, but inspired by the perfection of Christ.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
