My dear brothers and sisters, in December 2013
the world mourned the death of Nelson Mandela.
After 27 years of imprisonment for his role
in the anti-apartheid struggle, Mandela
was the first democratically elected president
of South Africa.
His forgiveness of those who had imprisoned him was remarkable.
He received widespread acclaim and praise.
Mandela frequently deflected accolades by saying,
"I'm no saint--that is, unless you think a saint is a sinner
who keeps on trying."
This statement--"A saint is a sinner who keeps
on trying"--should reassure and encourage members
of the Church.
Although we're referred to as "Latter-day Saints,"
we sometimes flinch at this reference.
The term saints is commonly used to designate
those who have achieved an elevated state of holiness
or even perfection.
And we know perfectly well that we are not perfect.
Our theology does teach us, though,
that we may be perfected by repeatedly
and iteratively "relying wholly upon" the doctrine of Christ:
exercising faith in Him, repenting,
partaking of the sacrament to renew the covenants
and blessings of baptism, and receiving
the Holy Ghost as a constant companion to a greater degree.
As we do so, we become more like Christ
and are able to endure to the end, with all that
that entails.
In less formal terms, God cares a lot more
about who we are and about who we are becoming
than about who we once were.
He cares that we keep on trying.
The comedy As You Like It, written
by the English playwright William Shakespeare,
depicts a dramatic change in a character's life.
An older brother attempts to have
his younger brother killed.
Even knowing this, the younger brother
saves his wicked brother from certain death.
When the older brother learns of this undeserved compassion,
he is totally and forever changed
and has what he calls a "conversion."
Later, several women approach the older brother and ask,
"Was't you that so oft contrived to kill [your brother]?"
The older brother answers: "'Twas I, but 'tis not I.
I do not shame to tell you what I was--since my conversion
so sweetly tastes, being the thing I am."
For us, because of God's mercy and the Atonement
of Jesus Christ, such a change is not just literary fiction.
Through Ezekiel, the Lord declared:
"As for the wickedness of the wicked,
he shall not fall thereby in the day
that he turneth from his wickedness.
...
If he turn from his sin and do that which is lawful and right;
...
restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed,
walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity;
he shall surely live.
...
None of his sins that he hath committed
shall be mentioned to him: he hath done that
which is lawful and right."
In His mercy, God promises forgiveness when we repent
and turn from wickedness--so much so that our sins will not
even be mentioned to us.
For us, because of the Atonement of Christ and our repentance,
we can look at our past deeds and say, "'Twas I,
but 'tis not I."
No matter how wicked, we can say, "That's who I was,
but that past wicked self is no longer who I am."
President Thomas S. Monson has taught,
"One of God's greatest gifts to us
is the joy of trying again, for no failure ever need be final."
Even if we've been a conscious, deliberate sinner
or have repeatedly faced failure and disappointment, the moment
we decide to try again, the Atonement of Christ
can help us.
And we need to remember that it is not
the Holy Ghost who tells us we're so far gone
that we might as well give up.
God's desire that Latter-day Saints keep on trying also
extends beyond overcoming sin.
Whether we suffer because of troubled relationships,
economic challenges, illnesses, or as a consequence of someone
else's sins, the Savior's Atonement can heal,
even--and perhaps especially--those who have
innocently suffered.
He understands perfectly what it is
like to suffer innocently as a consequence of another's
transgression.
As prophesied, the Savior will "bind up the brokenhearted, ...
give ... beauty for ashes, ...
oil of joy for mourning, [and] the garment of
praise for the spirit of heaviness."
No matter what, with His help, God expects Latter-day Saints
to keep on trying.
Just as God rejoices when we persevere,
He is disappointed if we don't recognize
that others are trying too.
Our dear friend Thoba shared how she learned this lesson
from her mother, Julia.
Julia and Thoba were among the early black converts
in South Africa.
After the apartheid regime ended,
black and white members of the Church
were permitted to attend church together.
For many, the equality of interaction between the races
was new and challenging.
One time as Julia and Thoba attended church,
they felt they were treated less than kindly
by some white members.
As they left, Thoba complained bitterly to her mother.
Julia listened calmly until Thoba
had vented her frustration.
Then Julia said, "Oh, Thoba, the Church is like a big hospital,
and we're all sick in our own way.
We come to church to be helped."
Julia's comment reflects a valuable insight.
We must not only be tolerant while others
work on their individual illnesses;
we must also be kind, patient, supportive, and understanding.
As God encourages us to keep on trying,
He expects us to also allow others
the space to do the same at their own pace.
The Atonement will come into our lives in even greater measure.
We will then recognize that regardless
of perceived differences, all of us
are in need of the same infinite Atonement.
Some years ago a wonderful young man named Curtis
was called to serve a mission.
He was the kind of missionary every mission president
prays for.
He was focused and worked hard.
At one point he was assigned a missionary companion
who was immature, socially awkward, and not particularly
enthusiastic about getting the work done.
One day, while riding their bicycles,
Curtis looked back and saw that his companion
had inexplicably gotten off his bike and was walking.
Silently Curtis expressed his frustration to God.
What a chore it was to be saddled with a companion
he had to drag around in order to accomplish anything.
Moments later Curtis had a profound impression,
as if God were saying to him, "You know,
Curtis, compared to me, the two of you
aren't all that different."
Curtis learned that he needed to be
patient with an imperfect companion who nonetheless
was trying in his own way.
My invitation to all of us is to evaluate our lives,
repent, and keep on trying.
If we don't try, we're just latter-day sinners;
if we don't persevere, we're latter-day quitters;
and if we don't allow others to try,
we're just latter-day hypocrites.
As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same,
we are true Latter-day Saints.
As we change, we'll find that God indeed
cares a lot more about who we are and about
who we are becoming than about who we once were.
I am deeply grateful for the Savior,
for His infinite Atonement, and for latter-day prophets
who encourage us to be Latter-day
Saints, to keep on trying.
I witness of the Savior's living reality
in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.