With the passage of time, some word definitions evolve and mutate. It just happens. Other words are changed purposefully. Current examples are woke, green, cancel, spam, karen, and gay.

Gay used to mean a cheerful, carefree mood, as used in the Flintstone’s theme:

“We’ll have a gay old time!” According to Wikipedia, gay was redefined to mean having homosexual traits or being homosexual in the mid-nineteen-sixties. The LGBTQ+ community adopted it to self-identify and as a name for their community. Older people regretted the loss of gay as a happy word of their youth. When a word-meaning is changed; outcomes change. Some redefined words are of minor significance; others can have eternal consequence.

In General Conference 1979, President Spencer W. Kimball prophesied that major growth to the Church would come because of righteous, distinct, happy women. Immediately following the prophecy, he warned: “The adversary strives, even now, to prevent this from happening…. He is undeviating in his purposes and is clever and relentless in his pursuit”.

One of Satan’s clever and relentless ways to accomplish his evil designs (Doctrine and Covenants 89:4) is to redefine words. He has a lot of experience. He started the war in heaven with words that he continues today.

Please consider that changes to charity, truth, agency, and perfection did not come by happenstance or natural evolution but by the adversary of whom President Kimball warned. He is the devil who attempted the coup d’état at the Grand Council, the founder and leader of the great and abominable church, the being whose lust for power has no bounds, “Give me thine honor” (Moses 4:1). He is the father of lies. “He abides not in truth because there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). He is the ultimate braggadocio who said: “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation… I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High” (Isaiah 14:13).

Charity

The Merriam Webster dictionary defines charity as “generosity and helpfulness… aid given to those in need,” and “an institution to give to the poor.” When charity is aid or an institution, it becomes something to check off a things-to-do list.

As defined in scripture, charity is more than speaking with the tongue of angels, prophesying, understanding all mysteries, having faith to move mountains, and giving all your goods to feed the poor. The Apostle Paul said if you do all these amazing things without charity, it profits you nothing. Why? Because charity suffers long, is kind, envies not, boasts not, is not puffed up, is not rude, uncouth, selfish, easily provoked. Charity rejoices not in iniquity, but “rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things…. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three: but the greatest of these is charity” (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

The prophet Mormon in his letter to Moroni wrote: “If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.” Why will charity never fail? Because Jesus Christ will never fail. “Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him” (Moroni 7:45-48). Charity is pure motive, something you become more than something you do.

Truth

Today, many believe Satan’s lie that truth is subjective, whatever you choose to believe. William Wolfe wrote: “My Truth, Your Truth, or The Truth? How Wokeness Undermines the Concept of Truth Itself.” He said: “Without a shared understanding of truth, society becomes fragmented and divided…. Without a solid foundation of truth, individuals are left to create their own meaning, leading to confusion and despair…. When truth is subjective, there is no longer a standard by which to judge right and wrong…. This leads to moral relativism, where each person’s actions are justified by their own “truth.”.

What is truth? “Truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; and whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning.” (Doctrine and Covenant 93:24-26). “The Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not…. Wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls” (Jacob 4:13).

Jesus said, “I am… the truth” (John 14:6).

Joseph Smith wrote: “The standard of truth has been erected.”

“O Say What Is Truth,” verse four, defines truth.

Tho the heavens depart and the earth’s fountains burst,
Truth, the sum of existence, will weather the worst,
Eternal, unchanged, evermore” (Hymns 272).

Agency

If you look for agency in a dictionary, you will find reference to governmental groups such as the Central Intelligence Agency, an insurance company, or a booking company for Hollywood. If you look for agency in scripture, you won’t find it in the Bible. The Book of Mormon, speaks of agency as “free will.” Lehi defined agency: “Wherefore, men are free… to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil” (2 Nephi 2:27). The key word is choose. Agency is found four times in the Doctrine and Covenants and twice in the Pearl of Great Price. Agency is a plain and precious truth restored.

“Free will” is a synonym for agency, but the term free agency is not scriptural. Elder Christofferson said: “… we have taken note that free agency does not appear in the scriptures. They talk of our being “free to choose” and “free to act” for ourselves (2 Nephi 2:27) …. and our obligation to do many things of our own “free will” (D&C 58:27). But the word agency appears either by itself or with the modifier moral: “That every man may act in doctrine and principle … according to the moral agency which I have given unto him, that every man may be accountable for his own sins in the day of judgment” (D&C 101:78) emphasis added)”.

Agency is unlike any other word. It is hard to think of anything more important, excepting life itself. Agency is not a gift of the Spirit as are virtues such as faith, hope, and charity. It is more. Without agency, Satan would control our minds and hearts. Without agency, the purpose of earth life would be null, the plan of salvation void.

Agency is ability to act and power to act. Wise use of agency brings happiness, confidence, self-respect, trust, love, freedom, and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. Unwise use of agency binds initially with a flaxen cord (2 Nephi 26:22), which can become the chains of hell (Alma 12:11). As agency dissipates, freedom is restricted and opportunity narrowed.

Perfection

Perfection is a hot topic in Latter-day Saint culture today. The Church News is doing a four-part series on perfectionism. BYU Studies did a complete volume on perfection.

When I talk to friends about how I think perfection is unattainable in mortality, I get push-back: “Well, you can be perfect in things like paying tithing.” “Well, I read that perfection comes from the Greek word teleios, which denotes completeness, wholeness.” “Well, it is a commandment, you know. Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect.”

Here is evidence that perfection in mortality is impossible:

  • Jesus didn’t say He was perfect until He was resurrected. Before His resurrection He said: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). After His resurrection he said: “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect” (3 Nephi 12:48).
  • Latter-day prophets have taught that perfection will come after earth life. In 1995, Elder Russell M. Nelson taught that “Perfection Pending.” In 2017, Elder Holland said, “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually.” Even Ai knows: “In LDS theology, ‘perfection’ is understood asa process… ultimately culminating in the afterlife, not in this mortal life.”
  • If Heavenly Father expected us to be perfect in mortality, why did He prepare an earth where we would be tried and tested (Abraham 3:25), use a form of repent 628 times in scripture, and provide a Savior?

I feel that Satan has weaponized perfection. He keeps us preoccupied with self. He fosters unhealthy competition. He tempts us with personal pleasure, leisure, and notoriety. He whispers that nothing matters more than physical appearance or being number one. He over-emphasizes personal weakness, while exaggerating others’ strengths. He wants us to feel out of control, fearful, worried, broken, inferior, anxious, and depressed. These conditions and so many more have Satan’s fingerprints all over them.

I have tried for many years to find a substitute word for perfection. The best match I’ve found, so far, is potential. Potential is always unfolding and never fully achieved, and no one seems to get anxious or depressed about it. I like to think of “Be ye therefore perfect” as an invitation to reach for potential—to learn, grow, change, become. Stretching toward potential is a process with no time limit. Working to meet potential unlocks latent qualities and talents. Potential is found in the power of covenants and commandments and in practicing Christ-like attributes. Potential is a word with promise. It’s line upon line. Those who seek their potential become distinct, different, and happy as President Kimball prophesied.

Elder Russell M. Nelson testified: “Perfection is pending. It can come in full only after the Resurrection and only through the Lord. It awaits all who love Him and keep His commandments. It includes thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, and dominions. It is the end for which we are to endure”.

Joseph Smith taught: “You must begin at the bottom, and ascent step by step, until you arrive at the top; and so it is with the principles of the gospel—you must begin with the first, and go on until you learn all the principles of exaltation [such as charity, truth, agency, perfection]. But it will be a great while after have passed through the veil before you will have learned them. It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave” .