be better today

I've always assumed that I had to be perfect. Certainly that's my eternal goal, but I can't let go of the idea that perfection has to happen now. Then one day last week we read this quote in seminary:

"Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today."

That's from President Lorenzo Snow, the fifth prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. You might say it was a bit of an eyeopener. In fact, it changed my entire perspective on what I was supposed to be doing with my life.

In this same seminary lesson we learned about spiritual light and truth. By gaining more light, our minds are prepared for further enlightenment and we are capable of learning truth at an exorbitant rate. But how do we gain spiritual light?

I've often heard Latter Day Saints described as "glowing". It may sound crazy to hope that I "glow" too, but I do. This phenomenon, I've learned, is only explained by an abundance of spiritual light in an individual. The theme for our "New Beginnings" night for Young Women's a few months ago centered around light, especially the parable of the ten virgins. Mom taught us that the more drops of oil we had, the brighter our lamps would burn and the better prepared we would be for the Savior's coming. She mentioned a list of things we could do to increase the drops of oil in our lamps, such as consistent prayer and scripture study, fasting, doing missionary work, being on time to things, (definitely something I could work on), working on the personal progress program, attending church and seminary, etc.

At first glance the list seemed daunting, and I realized I had much to improve on, including several things not on Mom's list that were on my own. My own imperfections have always been glaringly obvious to me. Quite honestly, it shocks me that they aren't as apparent to others. I went through a time in my life where I'd get so down on myself, trying to figure out why I couldn't be as perfect as I needed to be. I'd look around and see others in my life who appeared to me to be saints.

But of course they weren't; they were only trying to do their very best, as I was. The difference was, they had learned a valuable lesson that I had yet to realize: Perfection is a process, a very long process, and is impossible to achieve in this lifetime alone.

All we can do is to try to be a little better today than we were yesterday. Take an extra minute to ponder the wisdom found in the scriptures. Really talk to God rather than repeating the same mundane script you've been reciting for a week. Smile at someone. Spend ten less minutes with things of less worth and value in your life. Look outside of yourself for half a minute and help someone in need.

These words from President Lorenzo Snow, to me, offer hope. It's all right not to be perfect. Weaknesses are acceptable, as long as we are striving to overcome them. It's enough that we make an attempt, every day, to be better than we were yesterday. And one day we will stand before God, having finally achieved that long sought after perfection. We will be like Him, and He will welcome us with loving arms and the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

That's why this quote is my motto, the words I live by. It helps me to see the glory in the world, in myself, in others. It reminds me that we are all on a journey, and each of us are trying so hard to become our best selves. It reminds me that perfection is possible, if we only try to be a little bit better today than we were yesterday, and tomorrow we'll be better than we are today.