From Perfectionism to Participation: Seeing Sin as a Stepping Stone

Sometimes I find myself wrestling with the idea of 'getting it right.' We hear so much about striving for perfection in our discipleship, that it can feel like the goalposts are constantly moving. We worry that one misstep—one thought, one action—means we’ve derailed the whole journey back to the Savior.

If you’ve ever felt that weight—the pressure to never fall, to be flawless in our efforts to follow Christ—I want to share something that has really shifted my perspective, something that feels less like a performance and more like a journey of becoming.

It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that staying perfectly clean is the only way to progress. But what if our greatest growth comes not from standing frozen, but from actively participating in the process of repentance and redemption?

The Plan of Salvation and Growth

Listening to Autumn Dickson’s recent podcast discussion on Genesis 3 and Moses 4 really opened my eyes to this. The core message was beautiful: Sin wasn't just a regrettable byproduct; it was woven into the very fabric of the Plan of Salvation. It was a necessary tool for us to learn, to grow, and ultimately, to return to live with God.

This isn't a license to sin, let me be perfectly clear. This isn't suggesting we treat our lives like a laboratory for sinning just to 'learn' how bad it is. That’s a ridiculous argument that we need to break apart!

Instead, the principle is about changing how we *look* at our mistakes. We are meant to come down here to grow and become—to participate in the work. We are not meant to stand still in a state of perpetual, anxious perfectionism.

Rejoicing in the Redemption

Think about Adam and Eve. They sinned, they were driven out, they suffered. But what happened next? They were taught about Christ! Their transgression, which initially felt like the end of the story, became the very mechanism that opened their eyes to the joy of redemption. They rejoiced! They rejoiced because they understood that what they did didn't negate the plan; it simply activated the need for the Savior.

That’s the beautiful irony the podcast highlighted: Satan wanted to destroy the plan, but his efforts ironically became part of the plan’s greatest testament. He couldn't stop the Savior.

My challenge to you today, my dear brother/sister in the covenant path, is to look back at your own moments of weakness, your own stumbles, not through the lens of guilt, but through the lens of Christ’s Atonement. Don't let shame or guilt blow out of proportion and keep you paralyzed. Those feelings are what Satan wants you to focus on—the end of the story.

We need to focus on the *beginning* of the story again: the infinite power of the Atonement. We can take those moments of falling short and turn them into stepping stones that bring us closer to Him.

If you need help wrestling with these concepts, I highly recommend checking out the full podcast episode. It really fleshes out the contrast between perfectionism and true discipleship.

Where Do We Go From Here?

Remember that every member can be an Internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. If this discussion has stirred your thoughts about how to share the gospel with grace and understanding, I encourage you to join a Book Club or a Bible Study Group in HolyPlaces. Those are wonderful places to dive deep into scripture together.

If you want to practice walking through tough questions—like what to say when an investigator questions the necessity of repentance—I'd love for you to connect with Davee. He's ready to run you through some AI Investigator scenarios. It’s a great way to hone those skills before your next missionary discussions or even just for personal preparation.

Keep striving, keep learning, and most importantly, keep rejoicing in the Savior’s power!