One thing that I've realized is that living the gospel isn't hard; living the gospel in this world is hard. I've heard the argument many times that sometimes it's harder for people to live the gospel when they grow up in a primarily LDS (Mormon) community. In a way, that's very true, though everyone's experience is different. In junior high and high school, I often wondered, as have many other kids, "If we belong to the same religion, why are our standards different?" It is easy to lower your standards this way.
But something I have to remind myself is, I have many strengths and many faults, and everyone is different. Rather than being a people who have gained testimonies and keep the commandments, we are a people working toward these things. Or in other words:
"The church is not a museum for saints but a hospital for sinners." ~Morton T. Kelsey
In the Book of Mormon, Alma 39-42 teaches this principle over and over again. In these chapters, Alma teaches his son, who has committed very serious sins, about the Atonement and the Plan of Salvation. It is the most hopeful message for every one of us who's done wrong. And the most beautiful part of the story is, like his father Alma, Corianton becomes a faithful missionary and a very good man after repenting of his sins.
Part of having faith in Christ is having faith that He can help us and others out of our worst times. Experiencing imperfection is the only way that we are able to become perfect.
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