After all you can do --- six questions [Archive] - Walter Martin Ministries Forum

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Grandma

10-03-2015, 12:19 AM

The Mormon Plan of Salvation sounds like a daunting task.

1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to p*** that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Do you think it's possible to keep all the commandments?

Alma 11:37
And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

Are Mormons sinless?

Moroni 10:32
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Isn't this saying that if you haven't denied yourself of all ungodliness, that God's grace won't cover/cleanse your sins?

D&C 25:15
Keep my commandments continually, and a crown of righteousness thou shalt receive. And except thou do this, where I am you cannot come.

How many commandments do Mormons need to keep continually?

D&C 58:
42 Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.

43 By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them.

How many sins should a Mormon forsake? Have you repented of all your sins? If not, does this mean that you aren't forgiven?

D&C 1:
31 For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance;

32 Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;

If you were to die tomorrow, will God overlook the sins you're struggling with?

Grandma

10-12-2015, 05:53 AM

Apparently, this is a topic not favorable to Mormons.

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 06:17 AM

Apparently, this is a topic not favorable to Mormons.

Oh boy I'm I going to answer this, this is one of my favorite topics. I had been avoiding your posts because you say you have me on ignore, but I'm going to answer anyway.

This is addressing your last comment about when we leave this earth
You do not have to be COMPLETELY perfect AS PERFECT AS THE SAVIOR...WHEN YOU LEAVE THIS EARTH..only one human being on this earth was THAT perfect. You have to be striving to be like the Savior in all things, which only becomes a "daunting" task when you let things of the world pull you away (societal standards, media, PRIDE etc...) But you use the atonement DAILY. You don't chalk all your sins on a little notepad and then go to confessional and lay them all out. Our imperfections are a daily effort, through the atonement and personal worship. The following are comforting quotes about opportunities beyond the veil if we fall short of absolute perfection before we die.

Dallin H. Oaks “Another idea that is powerful to lift us from discouragement is that the work of the Church…is an eternal work. Not all problems…are fixed in mortality. The work of salvation goes on beyond the veil of death, and we should not be too apprehensive about incompleteness within the limits of mortality” (“Powerful Ideas,” Ensign, November 1995, 26).

Marvin J. Ashton “It occurs to me that there are probably hundreds or even thousands who do not understand what worthiness is. Worthiness is a process, and perfection is an eternal trek We can be worthy to enjoy certain privileges without being perfect.

I am also convinced of the fact that the speed with which we head along the straight and narrow path isn’t as important as the direction in which we are traveling. That direction, if it is leading toward eternal goals, is the all-important factor” (“On Being Worthy,” Ensign, May 1989, 21)

Joseph Fielding Smith “Salvation does not come all at once; we are commanded to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect. It will take us ages to accomplish this end, for there will be greater progress beyond the grave, and it will be there that the faithful will overcome all things, and receive all things, even the fulness of the Father’s glory."

There are many quotes that expound on this. We are not expected to do more THAN WE ARE ABLE.

Again, as far as when we die...

For those striving to be perfect in Christ, who do their best to uphold their covenants and keep the commandments, but have not completely achieved perfection, are given more opportunities to grow in the spirit world, that's what the quotes above confirm.

For those who have knowledge of and who have accepted the Gospel, but have turned away from their covenants and promises they made and have not come back and repented before they die...those would be the ones who can still repent in the Spirit World but not enjoy the full blessings of exaltation. But they don't go to hell either.

Others who did not get a fair opportunity to hear and understand the Gospel in this life will get a FULL chance to receive the FULL blessings in the Spirit World.

Why would God have sent the perfect example for us to follow if He didn't expect us to follow it???

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 06:47 AM

But if you're having a hard time understanding the topic from The Book Of Mormon, I will direct you to one simple Bible verse that sums it up

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Do you believe that to be a daunting task...or do you not believe it??

Grandma

10-12-2015, 07:05 AM

Here is what Spencer W. Kimball wrote regarding perfection:

"The gospel is a program of action --- of doing things. Man's immortality and eternal life are God's goals(Moses 1:39). Immortality has been accomplished by the Savior’s sacrifice. Eternal life hangs in the balance awaiting the works of men. This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and ***ures one of exaltation through that perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us. In his Sermon on the Mount, he made the command to all men: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:48.) Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 208-209).

I'm sure President Kimball was familiar with the following:

1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to p*** that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Love,

Grandma

Erundur

10-12-2015, 08:43 AM

Do you think it's possible to keep all the commandments?
Yes.

Are Mormons sinless?
Not sure how to answer--can you be more specific?

Isn't this saying that if you haven't denied yourself of all ungodliness, that God's grace won't cover/cleanse your sins?
No. It's saying that if you deny yourself of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then God's grace will make you perfect in Christ.

How many commandments do Mormons need to keep continually?
All of them.

How many sins should a Mormon forsake?
All of them.

Your turn:

Do you think it's possible to keep all the commandments? If not, which commandments are impossible to keep?
How many commandments do Protestants need to keep continually?
How many sins should a Protestant forsake?
If a Protestant were to die tomorrow, will God overlook the sins he hasn't forsaken?

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 09:09 AM

Here ia what Spencer W. Kimball wrote regarding perfection:

"The gospel is a program of action --- of doing things. Man's immortality and eternal life are God's goals(Moses 1:39). Immortality has been accomplished by the Savior’s sacrifice. Eternal life hangs in the balance awaiting the works of men. This progress toward eternal life is a matter of achieving perfection. Living all the commandments guarantees total forgiveness of sins and ***ures one of exaltation through that perfection which comes by complying with the formula the Lord gave us. In his Sermon on the Mount, he made the command to all men: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matt. 5:48.) Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal.” (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 208-209).

I'm sure President Kimball was familiar with the following:

1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to p*** that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Love,

Grandma

Okaaay....what are you seeing here? They are BOTH saying that God does not expect anything of us that we cannot do, they completely agree with each other. And I completely agree as well.

I think you may be getting caught up in a definition of "perfect" as being without any error or blemish. Or being EXACTLY like God or Christ in perfection. We are not God or Christ, we cannot be THEIR divine perfection, we can only achieve a mortal perfection...which also means ."whole, complete, finished" But we are required to strive for and attain that mortal perfection that is in our grasp. Plus God knows what you are striving for...I gave quotes above that expound on the fact the God is fair and just...if we are still working on our progression when we die, He knows that, and gives us those opportunities to further progress while we are in The Spirit World, if He didn't, He wouldn't be fair, because everybody is at a different level of progression and have had different opportunities.

Here is an excerpt from BYU's Harold B Lee library that explains the "perfection" that God knows we can achieve, the author is Carol Hawkins

"Through all generations, God has commanded his children to be perfect. His mandates to Abraham, "Walk before me, and be thou perfect" (Gen. 17:1), and to the Israelites, "Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God" (Deut. 18:13), were one with his charge, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48; cf. 3 Ne. 12:48).

Although the Savior's injunction is an unequivocal call to perfection, Latter-day Saints recognize that only he was totally without blemish or stain and was perfect in an infinite and absolute sense. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" (Heb. 5:9).

Human beings are required to seek perfection in certain respects that are attainable in mortality only through Christ.The New Testament refers to "them that are perfect" (1 Cor. 2:6; cf. Matt. 19:21; James 3:2; Heb. 12:23), and the Greek word teleios, meaning "perfect," also means "complete, whole, fully initiated, mature."

Latter-day prophets have taught that men and women can become perfect "in the spheres in which [they] are called to act…[and that] we may become as perfect in our sphere as God is perfect in his higher and more exalted sphere" (Smith, p. 252; cf. JD 6:99; 2:129; 10:223). Mortal beings have the comforting ***urance that God "giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them" (1 Ne. 3:7)."

This is the "perfection" that we are to be striving to attain. But both authors President Kimball and Nephi are quite clear that God will not expect us to achieve ANYTHING that is out of our grasp. Is it harder than doing nothing...yes. But we teach are children that by hard work, learning and following rules, they will progress to become the best they can be as adults. Why wouldn't our Father In Heaven expect anything less?? He wants what's best for OUR progression. But just like a child can't see from a parent's perspective and thinks things can be so HARD...so do we as God's children cannot see from an eternal divine perspective here on earth, that's why faith is so important, that we TRUST that all things required are a) attainable and b) for OUR benefit...and lastly and most importantly, that we don't have to do it ALONE.

Grandma

10-12-2015, 03:06 PM

Moroni 10:32
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

[B]Isn't this saying that if you haven't denied yourself of all ungodliness, that God's grace won't cover/cleanse your sins?
No. It's saying that if you deny yourself of all ungodliness and love God with all your might, mind, and strength, then God's grace will make you perfect in Christ.

Have any Mormons denied themselves of all ungodliness? If they have they're perfect, right? If they haven't God's grace won't make them perfect, will it?

Love,

Grandma

Grandma

10-12-2015, 03:21 PM

What can a Mormon do? Can he keep his second estate?

Abraham 3
24 And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

25 And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

26 And they who keep their first estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second estate shall have glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.

Alma 34
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

1 Nephi 3:7
And it came to p*** that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

Love,

Grandma

Grandma

10-12-2015, 03:24 PM

I'm curious as to why Grandma never answered this.
The Lord commands us to keep all the commandments. We don't get to pick and choose which ones we want to keep. Are we sinless? No. Is it possible to keep all the commandments? This statement is going to be a bit controversial but I truly believe it's possible, through Christ's help, to be perfect. 1, Jesus said to do so and He never gives us anything we can't achieve. 2, the Old Testament says *** was "perfect". If one person who wasn't Christ could be perfect, why can't we be?

I see disagreements among the Mormons who post here. Whose answer is the correct one?

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 03:28 PM

I see disagreements among the Mormons who post here. Whose answer is the correct one?

What disagreement? I never said we shouldn't follow all the commandments...I didn't say we couldn't be perfect...I actually said we absolutely can be.

So why didn't you answer my question....that's what childofgod wanted to know.

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 03:35 PM

Have any Mormons denied themselves of all ungodliness? If they have they're perfect, right? If they haven't God's grace won't make them perfect, will it?

Love,

Grandma

Is this like the dress thing...do you have something against denying ungodliness now?

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 03:39 PM

Grandma

10-12-2015, 04:03 PM

Do you think it's possible to keep all the commandments? If not, which commandments are impossible to keep?
How many commandments do Protestants need to keep continually?
How many sins should a Protestant forsake?
If a Protestant were to die tomorrow, will God overlook the sins he hasn't forsaken?

1. I believe that Christians will be preserved blameless before God until the day of Christ; in this life we struggle against sin, but are given strength by the Holy Spirit.

2. For salvation? None. Commandments are kept to bring glory to God.

3. Our eyes have been opened. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."

4. Being Protestant saves no one. Being born again is the requirement for salvation. If one of Christ's sheep dies tomorrow, He will have eternal life. His sins have been forgiven.

Grandma

10-12-2015, 04:04 PM

Sidesteping her question I see. The mormons who have replied actually agree with one another which is more than I can say for Protestants.

We all agree that keeping all the commandments is possible and we have all said being perfect is possible. Mickey said we don't "have to", she didn't say we can't. Care to answer her question?

Mickey was put on my ignore list.

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 04:14 PM

Mickey was put on my ignore list.

Lol....but she said Mormons were "disagreeing" in a comment you made that had my quote in it...hmmmm. Selective ignore perhaps?

Erundur

10-12-2015, 04:16 PM

What can a Mormon do? Can he keep his second estate?
Yes he can.

Erundur

10-12-2015, 04:24 PM

1. I believe that Christians will be preserved blameless before God until the day of Christ; in this life we struggle against sin, but are given strength by the Holy Spirit.
This is not an answer to my question.

2. For salvation? None. Commandments are kept to bring glory to God.
You altered the question, but I'll accept "none" as your answer.

3. Our eyes have been opened. "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
This is not an answer to my question.

4. Being Protestant saves no one. Being born again is the requirement for salvation. If one of Christ's sheep dies tomorrow, He will have eternal life. His sins have been forgiven.
You're kind of side-stepping the question, but it sounds like your answer is "yes."

Grandma

10-12-2015, 04:40 PM

Why? Everyone has described perfection the same way and we have each answered your questions. However, when the tables are turned and Mickey asked you a question, you put her on ignore? Why?

My putting Mickey on ignore last month had NOTHING to do with questions that she asked.

Grandma

10-12-2015, 04:52 PM

Salvation isn't guaranteed just because someone is a Christian. Commandments ARE required, that's why they're commandments and not suggestions. How do you expect someone to get into the kingdom if they break the commandments without repenting?

Salvation isn't guaranteed just because someone claims to be a Christian. Jesus paid with His life for the salvation of those who receive the new birth.

How do you think people receive gifts they don't deserve? Why is eternal life aka salvation a gift of God and not of ourselves? Jesus paid the price!

He gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

In God's love,

Grandma

Grandma

10-12-2015, 07:53 PM

This is not an answer to my question.

You altered the question, but I'll accept "none" as your answer.

This is not an answer to my question.

You're kind of side-stepping the question, but it sounds like your answer is "yes."

John 10
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Matthew 25
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

The sheep are called "ye blessed of my Father." Sheep can't become goats.

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 11:14 PM

Salvation isn't guaranteed just because someone claims to be a Christian

Exactly! :)

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 11:40 PM

John 10
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Matthew 25
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

The sheep are called "ye blessed of my Father." Sheep can't become goats.

Matthew 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments

John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

I think Christ has made it crystal clear that we are to keep the commandments. This is not a byproduct, symptom, effect...or an esoteric doctrine...its a choice, something WE choose to do, and in doing so, show our love for Him...it's plain, simple, true

If ye love me, keep my commandments

MickeyS

10-12-2015, 11:46 PM

alanmolstad

10-13-2015, 04:14 AM

I noticed that this post came 15 minutes after mine and nobody else had posted anything here yet....but you say you have me on ignore....is that really true?

You can put people on your IGNORE list...

You can take people OFF your IGNORE list....
Its totally your call to make.

It's none of anyone else's business!

You should know however that from time to time the forum will appear to be re-set and we all might have to check out IGNORE list as that too has been re-set at times, and so some names on the list you may have of IGNORED posters will need to be updated.
I have seen this happen a few times over the years.

For me personally this is not a big deal as it has turned out that all the people that are on my personal IGNORE list just seem to go away over time due to the fact that with a membership of guests so low here and so being added to anyone's IGNORE list works out to be about the same as being BANNED for the most part as your additions to the topics are for the most part - a moot point.

I tell people over and over that they should not hesitate to use their own personal IGNORE list as it ends the pointless bickering and personal attacks right now.
No need to warn people, no need to bother the MODs.....

Just add their name until things calm down if you like too.
There is no reason why you cant add someone's name to your IGNORE list if you just simply get tired of reading their posts.
Then later you can take their name off that list if you wish....
You can do whatever you think is best for you...

And it's none of anyone;s business how you run the posts that appear on your own computer screen.

If a person thinks about it, you might consider you being lucky enough to have your comments read by others is a "privilege"...we should feel indebted to others that they allow our words on their screens as none of us has any right to expect our words will be read by anyone here....

if you think someone has treated you in a snotty manner?..just put them on IGNORE and ........ thats-that...
case-closed...
end of story.

.

disciple

10-13-2015, 05:18 AM

Paul taught to be doers of the word and not just hearers of it.

Actually it was James 1:22

Grandma

10-13-2015, 06:53 AM

And being born again isn't about just confessing Jesus is Lord. That's a step but it's not all there is to it. I'm not talking about people "claiming" to be Christians, I'm talking about those who ARE. Being a Christian doesn't guarantee salvation.
Are you going to keep ignoring the fact that Jesus said we must "do", not just say, the will of the Father to enter the kingdom of God? Paul taught to be doers of the word and not just hearers of it.

Being born again is instantaneous. We don't try to earn it, we don't work for it, we don't deserve it. It's also called regeneration. It is the moment we have faith in the blood of Jesus. Being a Christian by God's grace guarantees salvation. God doesn't abandon the work He starts. He brings it to completion.

His sheep follow Him and He cares for them and protects them.

Ephesians 2
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in tresp***es and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Colossians 2:13
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all tresp***es;

disciple

10-13-2015, 07:55 AM

Actually it was Paul and James both. Believe me, I'm well aware that James said it. The reason I bring up Paul is because he's the one modern Christians misuse the most when the New Age Christians quote him. Romans 2:13-15 is about being doers of the law and not hearers only. The law is the gospel written in the heart.

You are right Cog, I was too quick to criticize.

MickeyS

10-13-2015, 09:46 AM

You can put people on your IGNORE list...

You can take people OFF your IGNORE list....
Its totally your call to make.

It's none of anyone else's business!

You should know however that from time to time the forum will appear to be re-set and we all might have to check out IGNORE list as that too has been re-set at times, and so some names on the list you may have of IGNORED posters will need to be updated.
I have seen this happen a few times over the years.

For me personally this is not a big deal as it has turned out that all the people that are on my personal IGNORE list just seem to go away over time due to the fact that with a membership of guests so low here and so being added to anyone's IGNORE list works out to be about the same as being BANNED for the most part as your additions to the topics are for the most part - a moot point.

I tell people over and over that they should not hesitate to use their own personal IGNORE list as it ends the pointless bickering and personal attacks right now.
No need to warn people, no need to bother the MODs.....

Just add their name until things calm down if you like too.
There is no reason why you cant add someone's name to your IGNORE list if you just simply get tired of reading their posts.
Then later you can take their name off that list if you wish....
You can do whatever you think is best for you...

And it's none of anyone;s business how you run the posts that appear on your own computer screen.

If a person thinks about it, you might consider you being lucky enough to have your comments read by others is a "privilege"...we should feel indebted to others that they allow our words on their screens as none of us has any right to expect our words will be read by anyone here....

if you think someone has treated you in a snotty manner?..just put them on IGNORE and ........ thats-that...
case-closed...
end of story.

.

Thank you for the info

MickeyS

10-13-2015, 12:46 PM

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Do you believe that to be a daunting task...or do you not believe it??

I'm curious to see if anyone has an answer for this. Did the Savior not tell us to be perfect?

disciple

10-13-2015, 01:24 PM

I'm curious to see if anyone has an answer for this. Did the Savior not tell us to be perfect?

In the preceding verses Jesus is clarifying that the intent of God's commandment was for His people to love everyone, even their enemies. He then goes on to provide evidence that God exhibits this kind of impartial love by citing His care for the wicked, thereby establishing the basis for His clarification of God's commandment. Jesus then clarifies that the at***ude that you will "love those who love you" is nothing special; even the wicked do this. He then concludes with the following: "Therefore you are to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect."
In other words, having just explained how the Father is "perfect," and instructing God's people to behave similarly, He is now concluding with a summary statement. You have heard "love with partiality" but I say to you "love impartially" so you can be sons of the Father; for the Father loves impartially. If you love with partiality, you are nothing special... even the wicked do that. Therefore, you are to love perfectly as the Father loves perfectly.