Elder Cecil O Samuelson -
For over 20 years I was a professor and practitioner of medicine, and I have a concern that I know is shared by other General Authorities. A matter of great concern for some of you is the issue that mental health professionals describe as “perfectionism”. Interestingly, often those who struggle the most with issues of perfectionism are among the most talented people. They have often been excellent students, model children, and outstanding young people. Some, however, become so obsessed or consumed with their every thought, action, and response, that they may become far too extreme in their own perceptions of what is expected of them.

What is perfectionism?
Perfectionism is a medical condition characterized by severe self-criticism and self-doubt, often accompanied by anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive behavior. It can lead to appetite and sleep disturbances, confusion, problems in relationships, inability to concentrate, procrastination of important tasks, and if left untreated, major depression, anxiety disorders, and suicide.

Elder Russel M Nelson gave a talk in Conference in October of 1995 here

In Matt. 5:48, the term perfect was translated from the Greek teleios, which means “complete.” Teleios is an adjective derived from the noun telos, which means “end.” The infinitive form of the verb is teleiono, which means “to reach a distant end, to be fully developed, to consummate, or to finish.” Please note that the word does not imply “freedom from error”; it implies “achieving a distant objective.” In fact, when writers of the Greek New Testament wished to describe perfection of behavior—precision or excellence of human effort—they did not employ a form of teleios; instead, they chose different words.
Teleios is not a total stranger to us. From it comes the prefix tele- that we use every day. Telephone literally means “distant talk.” Television means “to see distantly.” Telephoto means “distant light,” and so on.
With that background in mind, let us consider another highly significant statement made by the Lord. Just prior to his crucifixion, he said that on “the third day I shall be perfected.” Think of that! The sinless, errorless Lord—already perfect by our mortal standards—proclaimed his own state of perfection yet to be in the future. His eternal perfection would follow his resurrection and receipt of “all power … in heaven and in earth.”

When I realized that the perfection described in Matthew was “achieving a distant objective” and that it was something that could not be completed in this life it was like a burden was lifted. I could strive for perfection and there were things that I could be perfect at here in this life (like baking the best mint brownies ever) but I did not have to worry about being the kind of perfect that was commanded because it is a process that I will not complete in this life.

and I think the “Church” should strive to be “equal and perfect”

I meant, “I think we in the ‘Church’ should strive to be ‘equal and perfect’ with respect to one another as though we are the ‘points equidistant around the perimeter of a perfect circle’.”

Most of the prophetic time periods in Scripture are based on the star polygons that result from placing “points equidistant on the perimeter of a perfect circle”. The sums of the interior angles of the resulting 5- & 6- and 8- & 9-pointed regular polygons equals “time, times, and half a time”.

In this regard, the “Church” is founded upon “perfection”, and I think the “Church” should strive to be “equal and perfect”, taking the above geometries as a similitude.

Certainly perfection is the end-result of our terrestrial and celestial progressions. Through Christ following the resurrection, we will be perfected. It is this eventual state of mankind that I think Christ was probably speaking towards. It is certainly a realistic and achievable command, and it pretty much amounts to “trust in me”, methinks.

The most important thing I learned on my mission was the distinction between knowing that God can do a miracle and that he will do it for, by, and through me. The same applies here–once we have a living testimony of the perfectibility of man, we may find much of our faith in humanity restored.