An Antonym to Idleness - Sarah F. Langford

An Antonym to Idleness – Sarah F. Langford
Carelessness, laziness, and most disheartening idleness are all undesirable traits looked down upon by the majority of religious beliefs. Slothful behavior, dull or passive attitudes, and lifestyles of procrastination are indeed the very opposite of what God above would desire for any of us. That is why for most successful, positive practices of worship it is the very Antonym of Idleness that is so universally important to religion: Diligence. The word "diligence" comes from a root that means esteem highly, love, and take delight in. We see religions all around us that embrace this act of diligence. For instance, in Buddhism, Buddha himself teaches one must ‘Work out your own salvation with diligence’ [1]. For Jehovah’s Witnesses, their missionary efforts are one of the most zealous and diligent practices amongst all organized religion. Catholicism teaches about moral diligence [2] and even Hindu teachings rely on the practice of diligently reciting the Vedas to lead a meaningful life [3]. In addition to other world religions, Christian doctrine uses the canons of scriptural text to constantly remind us of our duty to diligently seek after the Lord. Within the realm of Christianity, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, bind the crucial and essential word “diligence” with every single aspect of our religion, primarily our faith, our testimonies, and our commitment to sharing the Lord’s gospel. Diligence no longer serves as a simple word, but as we live our religion, we become diligent disciples of Jesus Christ.
As Latter-day Saints, we believe the first principle and ordinance in the Gospel is faith in the Lord Jesus Christ [4]. Faith is the absolute necessary ingredient to becoming His disciple. How can you follow the Lord if you don’t believe in Him? And how does one acquire a belief without putting forth an effort in seeking after that belief? With faith, that effort becomes a diligent effort, which seals faith and diligence together. Putting forth a diligent effort to understand doctrine or become like Christ, only increases one’s faith. Throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon there are many scriptures that instill the importance of both faith and diligence, working side by side. In Hebrews, Chapter 11, we are taught about the faith of the ancient prophets, such as Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham. With their obedient and diligent desires to serve the Lord, they were able to stand as righteous examples and be instrument’s in the Lord’s hands. By their faith, miracles were made possible, for “…without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” [5]. If we really believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are reminded in the modern day revelation given in the Doctrine & Covenants of a great reward. “Be faithful and diligent … and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love” (D&C 6:20). What better reward than to be a true disciple of Christ and find refuge in His holy embrace.
Along with the beautiful reward of faith, comes the priceless treasure of a true testimony. A testimony can not be obtained without personal, sincere, diligent effort. “In the Lord’s plan, diligent effort involves both the heart and the mind. Diligently seeking truth and living gospel principles with all one’s mind and heart open the door for the Holy Spirit to transform us. We put off the natural man or woman because of the truths we value” [6]. The truths we value become the testimony we hold dear. Moses even reminds us that we “… shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). There is no room for being careless, lazy, or idle in gaining a testimony. To use our entire hearts and entire souls to come closer to God should be our greatest desire.
Both faith and diligence play important roles in enriching one’s testimony.
Elder Rex D. Pinegar stated “Diligence and faith enable us to perform at our highest level, bringing about the most good, growth, and blessings to ourselves and others” [7]. We can struggle and suffer through life by being lazy and doubtful. However, diligence brings the most good and the most blessings to our lives. This concept is reiterated throughout the scriptures of Deuteronomy, as we are constantly reminded to be diligent, to keep the soul diligently (4:9), to ask diligently (13:14), to enquire diligently (17:4), to observe diligently (24:8), and to hearken diligently (28:1). We are expected and required to give special care and attention to increasing our testimonies.
That increase to our testimonies rewards us with a greater confidence in our ability to go to the Lord with whatever we stand in need of. A perfect example of the positive effects of diligent is found in the account of First Nephi and the story of the broken bow [8]. Nephi was diligent in finding a solution to the problem with his own intelligence, and was self motivated by his faith and testimony in the Lord. Nephi took the problem into his own hands, and created a new bow, then went to the Lord to direct him. Nephi was committed then rewarded. As Ruth H. Barrus once said, “Diligence requires our complete involvement in an orderly pursuit of our goals… and the rewards of diligence, we are told, are knowledge, intelligence, victory, and even glory” [9]. We are constantly rewarded by our diligence in growing closer to our Savior.
With faith and testimony, both obtained by the universal idea of being diligent, we carry a responsibility to share the importance of the Gospel teachings with others. We cannot be lazy with the blessings that we are given nor the knowledge that we gain. The insight and enlightenment that we gain often creates a desire within us to share the truths we value with the world. There are other religious teachings that focus on individual diligence that achieves strictly personal rewards. In addition, other methods of worship do reach out and strive to convert an individual to the rewards that they have witnessed. However, in our faith, we are instructed to teach each other the true principles and doctrine of Christ’s Gospel.
We are counseled in Doctrine & Covenants 88 to “Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand". What a beautiful promise of receiving more complete understanding if we are willing to be instruments the Lord. We hope to honor that sacred responsibility in bringing the joy of enlightened understanding through accurately teaching His Gospel. We should not be lazy, or selfish, or sloppy with the truths that we have acquired. Rather, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is our sincere desire to share the blessings of joy and happiness which are direct results from diligently seeking the Savior and bringing him into the center of our lives.
With the Savior as the center of our lives, happiness is promised to come. Diligence and endurance are key concepts in acquiring this eternal happiness. Religions around the world are united in teaching this constant and earnest principle of diligence. It provides the means for all beings to individually come closer to our God, our salvation, and our pursuit of happiness. As we continually endure and diligently mold into who we will be for all eternity, it is God’s hope, and our hope as members of the Church of Jesus Christ that through a special sacred commitment to diligence we may increase our faith in our Savior, improve upon our testimonies, and invite all the world to learn of our sweet message of finding joy in our journey to happiness.


Sources/Foot Notes

1. “The Twelve Principles of Buddhism: The Buddhist Society of London, England.
2. Delany, Joseph. "Error." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 23 Sept. 2008
3. “Vedas Play a Crucial Role”. The Hindu: India’s National Newspaper, 13 May 2004.
4. The Forth Article of Faith. The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Book of Mormon.
5. Hebrews 11:6. Holy Bible, King James Version.
6. Bateman, Elder Merrill J., “Becoming a Disciple of Christ”. Ensign, April 2006.
7. Pinegar, Elder Rex D.,“The Message: Measuring Up”. New Era, June 1999.
8. 1 Nephi 16, Book of Mormon.
9. Barrus, Ruth H., “A Teacher’s Gift”. Ensign, April 1972.