We know that all we have discussed can be greatly discouraging, especially when we remember that we are so imperfect and filled with weaknesses.  We can look at these lofty spiritual goals and throw our hands into the air in despair, certain that we will never make it.  Both of us feel that way regularly.  But allowing such an attitude to remain with us would be a mistake, for these goals are within our reach.  We may need to develop great patience with our own and others' imperfections, but we can receive the blessings the Lord desires to give us.  That is why he sent us here.  As the Lord says, we must "continue in patience until (we) are perfected."  (D&C 67:13).

 It is likely, however, that most of us are doing much better than we think.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie stated:

 "I'd like to append to them the fact--and this is a true gospel verity--that everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he's on the straight and narrow, he's going to go on to an eternal reward in his Father's kingdom.

 "You don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved.  You don't.  There's only been one perfect person, and that's the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path--thus charting a course leading to eternal life--and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship.  I'm not saying that you don't have to keep the commantments.  I'm saying you don't have to be perfect to be saved.  The way it operates is this:  you get on the path that's named the 'straight and narrow.'  You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism.  The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life.  If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path.  There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity.  Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life--though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do--you're still still going to be saved.  You don't have to do what Jacob said, 'Go beyond the mark.'  You don't have to live a life that's truer than true.  You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and unbalancing.  What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path.  If you're on that path when death comes--because this is the time and day appointed, this is the probationary estate--you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure."
 

 (The Probationary Test of Mortality," address given at the  University of Utah, Jan 10, 1982, p. 11).