In the Sermon on the Mount, beloved by Christians all around the world, the Savior commanded his disciples: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Such a lofty goal not only feels out of reach for many, but it can also be demoralizing for all who are imperfectly striving to live a Christ-like life. As Elder Jeffrey R. Holland put it in the...

When any trusted local or general leader in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints falls away from gospel truths or standards, it may cause faithful members who are aware of the situation to feel unsettled, uncertain, or confused. Why would God, who knows both the past and the future, allow someone who is secretly unworthy (or who will become unworthy during the course of his or her...

Recorded in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the Sermon on the Mount has made a big impact on both Christian faith as well as broader Western culture. Even non-Christians are familiar with, and often use, language and concepts from Jesus’ sermon. Phrases such as “the salt of the earth,” “the light of the world,” “a city on a hill,” “love your enemies,” and other expressions have become part of...