Probably not typically shared with new converts, I suspect it was more of a targeted comment to the unique attributes of my husband. He’s a big, strong, no-nonsense, scientifically oriented pragmatist. He’s particularly down on stupidity. He says that “Ignorance can be cured. Stupidity is terminal.”

The principle behind the advice is sound for everyone. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and this is Christ’s Church, despite how flawed, flaky, and unrepresentative some of its members are.

One of the trials many of us must put up with is the inadequacies of its members as we all attempt to do the Lord’s work. As Church leaders have pointed out, flawed people is all the Lord has ever had to work with.

The flaws and limitations of members can be hard to endure. We’ve been told that we must respond with love, patience and long-suffering.

We CANNOT let it affect our testimonies. Jesus Christ dealt with flawed and inadequate followers during his mortal ministry. Perhaps Matthew 17:17 suggests this well:

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

Frustration can plague us. It’s disheartening to have one’s efforts in the Church thwarted or sabotaged by someone or something else.

How do we continue to serve as well as maintain our commitment to serve in this sort of environment?

My husband insists that our success is irrelevant. Heavenly Father notes our effort, not whether we succeed at it. He’s often said, “I’m where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do.”

No matter how well we serve or try to serve, we can be thwarted by jerks. Despite what Heavenly Father tells us to do, he knows many of us will not succeed. This is illustrated by what he said of Oliver Granger in D&C 117:12-13 and 15:

And again, I say unto you, I remember my servant Oliver Granger; behold, verily I say unto him that his name shall be had in sacred remembrance from generation to generation, forever and ever, saith the Lord.

Therefore, let him contend earnestly for the redemption of the First Presidency of my Church, saith the Lord; and when he falls he shall rise again, for his sacrifice shall be more sacred unto me than his increase, saith the Lord….

Therefore let no man despise my servant Oliver Granger, but let the blessings of my people be on him forever and ever.

Granger was one of the few people named in scripture and one of the few who was extolled for his contributions. However, he largely failed in what he was charged with doing. What he did succeed with was praised, even by non-Church members.

His sacrifice was more important to the Lord than his increase. Perhaps that is a lesson for us all.