I recall being quite struck by Elder Holland's talk as I listened to this last conference (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng). I happened to re-read it this week during my regular study and was provoked to thought once again.
Particularly, I was taken aback at how much he expounds on a section of scripture I must have heard/read hundreds of times. Peter, following Christ's resurrection, is asked by the Savior three times if Peter loves the Lord. Each time Peter answers in the affirmative. Each time the resurrected Lord says "feed my sheep."
It's these three words "feed my sheep" on which Elder Holland expounds. The Savior is asking Peter why, if he loves Jesus, is he fishing? If he truly loved Jesus then he should be about the Saviors work. He is in essence asking him "aren't there people that need to be administered to?" "Aren't there souls who need to hear the good news of the gospel?" "Isn't there something more pressing for the head of Christ's church on the earth to be doing rather than fishing?"
The gospel is obviously a gospel of hope. The beauty of a testimony of Christ is the peace it brings to the souls of those who posses it, knowing that we can be delivered from our imperfections and weaknesses. I've long felt that one of the mistakes a person can make is to be too hard on oneself when he or she falls short. It is precisely those moments when we need to make the atonement affective in our lives and turn over our insecurities, doubts, and feelings of despair to the Lord.
That said, I feel there is a danger of going the other way. We need to also not use the atonement as an excuse to not demand more from ourselves. To stand a little taller, to be more exact and diligent. Whatever areas we are lacking, home teaching, cursing, charity, missionary work, we can't use the excuse that the Lord will excuse our shortfalls and as a result shirk our duties. Yes, we will do all of the aforementioned imperfectly, and yes, if we are truly doing all that we can the Lord will make up the rest. But we can not use that as a reason not to strive to do more, to be better than we are currently.
The words "Do You Love Me?" have echoed in my mind these last few weeks. I wonder if the Lord asked me, could I answer in the affirmative and be comfortable that my daily actions would not betray my answer?
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