blueprint for perfection

This week in New Testament we studied the "greatest general conference talk ever". Also known as the Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5. I'll admit, before the insights I received this week, this chapter always confused me a little bit, especially the beatitudes. I wondered why Christ was talking about these random groups of people and the blessings they would get from being humble or poor in spirit or meek or a peacemaker or whatever. But in class we learned that the beatitudes can be seen as a blueprint for perfection.
Before we got into the doctrine our teacher asked us to keep a prayer in our heart during the lesson and have the pure intent to learn how we specifically can become more Christlike. One of the biggest lessons I learned from that is the scriptures are eternally significant to each of God's children. It's amazing how billions of people can read the same verses of scripture, and each be comforted and strengthened in an individual way. This blueprint is very personal and yet, it applies to each of us, no matter where we are in life, or where we've been. It's beautiful.
So, the beatitudes can represent the repentance process in 8 steps.
1. recognize wrongs
2. feel sorrow
3. turn to God for help
4. seek His will and do it
5. accept others and self
6. have pure intent
7. dedicate life to bringing peace
8. remain faithful despite opposition
In each of these eight steps we make a kind of mini covenant with Christ. We give Him something, such as our shortcomings, our weaknesses, or our dedication, and in return He gives us amazing blessings. He promises the kingdom of Heaven, comfort, the Spirit, mercy, a witness of God... and this is never ending. This isn't a process we go through once or twice. It's a process that shapes us and refines us our whole lives, if we will let it.
After we learned about this process it was compared to a spiral staircase. We can go up, and down, and sit on the steps for a minute. Being a disciple of Christ is an upward climb. It takes endurance and patience, but it is so rewarding. We should always be looking where we want to go. But we can always reach down and take someone's hand and lead them higher. The main point of this is progression and change. Yes. We are all poor in Spirit. We are not even close to being perfect, but as we follow this blueprint we become more complete. One of my favorite quotes from this lesson is "don't hold your present hostage to your past". We are able to continue on this staircase because of the Atonement, and saying that we can't go any further is saying the Atonement isn't enough for us to overcome our past sins and weaknesses. We can ALWAYS climb upward because of Christ's ultimate gift, and inherit everything our Heavenly Father has in store for us. There is nothing to inspire greater hope than that!
cheers
Tamsyn