Moving Beyond the Checklist: Embracing Love and Mercy in Our Faith

When I first started taking my faith seriously, I approached it much like learning to play an instrument. I diligently focused on the basics, ticking off each commandment and task as if they were scales and notes. Over time, I realized that this checklist approach, while important for foundational understanding, was not the full expression of what it means to live a Christlike life. Just as simply playing scales is not truly making music, a checklist life is not truly living the gospel.

The Checklist Mentality

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we are encouraged to live by God’s commandments. These guidelines are crucial for building a righteous life, much like scales are crucial for mastering an instrument. However, when our spiritual practice becomes solely about completing tasks, we miss the essence of discipleship: love, mercy, and humility.

I learned this the hard way. There was a time when I was so focused on ticking off each commandment that I began to feel a sense of pride. I thought that by adhering strictly to the “rules,” I was superior. But just as a musician who only plays scales lacks the soul of true music, my faith lacked the depth and warmth of true discipleship.