“Do I Have to Be Perfect?” Friend, November 2024, 36–37.
Do I Have to Be Perfect?
Henry wanted to go to the temple, but he felt like he made too many mistakes.
This story happened in Aruba.
Henry slowly walked into the Primary room. His feet felt heavy as he reached his seat.
His teacher, Brother Rass, smiled at him. “Are you ready to talk about temples?” he asked.
“Yep,” Henry answered.
Why did I say that? Henry thought as he sat down. He didn’t feel ready. At all.
Henry’s Primary was learning the song “I Love to See the Temple.”* His class had been asked to talk about going to the temple.
But Henry felt sad. He wanted to go to the temple when he was old enough, but he felt like he made too many mistakes.
One by one, Henry’s friends stood up. They were happy and excited as they talked about going to the temple someday. Henry felt worse and worse.
Then it was time to sing. Henry sang along with the rest of the Primary: “I’ll prepare myself while I am young; this is my sacred duty.”
How can I prepare to go to the temple when I make so many mistakes? Henry thought. He slumped lower in his chair.
When the song ended, Brother Rass leaned over. “Are you OK?” he asked Henry.
Henry stared down at his hands. Then he said softly, “I want to go to the temple, but I’m afraid that I’m not worthy.” He took a big breath. “I don’t always get along with my family. I forget to do my chores. I make too many mistakes. Do I really have to be perfect?”
Brother Rass smiled gently. “Being worthy to go to the temple doesn’t mean you have to be perfect. We can be worthy by trusting Jesus Christ and sincerely trying to keep the commandments. We all make mistakes, but we can repent and be clean again.”
Henry sat up a little straighter.
“I’m sure Heavenly Father is proud of you for trying to be good,” said Brother Rass.
Henry thought about some of the good things he had done that week. He cooked dinner with Mom, helped his sister with her homework, and said hi to a new boy at school.
The weight of Henry’s worries began to lift. He knew the Holy Ghost was helping him feel peace.
When it was Henry’s turn to share, he smiled and stood up. “I want to keep repenting and becoming more like Jesus Christ so that one day I can enter the temple,” he said.
Henry felt happy as he sat down. One day, he would be able to make sacred covenants with God inside the temple. He wanted to try his best to prepare!
Illustrations by Gail Armstrong