Diligence; Nephi's example

Diligence; Nephi's Example

Rubie Huber

In learning any musical instrument, you can't just start off playing beautiful concerto's and pieces.  In order to get to a high level you have to put in countless hours of study and practice.  You have to learn theory and test it and apply it.  You have to practice diligently and intensely and slowly get better bit by bit.  You can't just practice once a week, or when it's convenient, you need to be constantly working in order to get to the level of understanding and skill to play the beautiful arrangements and masterpieces that bring you joy and peace.  The key to learning is diligence.  This is the same case with anything in life.  In order to master something you must work diligently at it.  Nowhere in life is this more important than your own personal progression in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The only way to gain a strong testimony, and become more like our savior Jesus Christ, and ultimately reach exaltation is by working daily at it and never giving up.  The harder you work the faster you will progress and you will have ". . . so much the advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130: 19).  

We have some wonderful examples in the scriptures of people who worked diligently in serving our Heavenly Father.  One of these great Prophets is Nephi of 1st Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  Nephi was a man who understood the will of the Lord because he diligently sought it.  Nephi probably studied the scriptures daily, we know that he had many of them memorized because he was always quoting them in an effort to to teach and admonish his brethren Laman and Lemuel.  Nephi knew the importance of searching the scriptures diligently, he expressed his view of it's importance in 1 Nephi 10:19 which reads: "For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round."  Nephi says that as you Diligently seek the word of God his mysteries will be unfolded unto you.  What a marvelous promise!  One that Nephi knew was true probably from experience.  What wonderful mysteries could be unfolded to us if we diligently study the word of God daily?  I know there have been many times in my life where I have felt overwhelmed by the power of the scriptures.  These "a-ha!" moments of mine have never come though from random or casual scripture study.  The true scriptural gems come from searching deeply and consistently, showing Heavenly Father your dedication and true desire for knowledge.  Elder L. Lionel Kendrick of the Seventy said in an article in the May 1993 Ensign, "It is not enough to read the scriptures. Random reading results in reduced retention...Schedule a time to search the scriptures daily. Scripture study is such an essential part of our spiritual development that we must take time and make it a priority in our daily schedule. Our spirits should never be deprived of the much-needed spiritual nourishment which comes from scripture study. Without this spiritual food our spirits become starved and weakened to temptation."  

Nephi was also diligent in his prayers.  He didn't pray with repetition or casually.  He went to Heavenly Father with questions and desires.  He studied out those questions in his mind beforehand and then asked in faith.  We know these things from reading about his preparation to pray for understanding of his father's vision.  In 1 Nephi 11: 1 Nephi describes how he was desirous to know and understand the vision.  So he believed in the Lord and pondered carefully those things he wanted answers to.  As a result he was carried away in the spirit and learned not only the interpretation of his father's vision, but also saw the virgin Mary, our savior Jesus Christ, and many other wonders.  Nephi knew how important it was to pray to God over every thing he did.  He prayed about Laman, about his bow, about the ship he was asked to build.  He prayed for his family and especially for his two brothers, Laman and Lemuel.  We all should follow Nephi's example of humble, thoughtful, and constant prayer.  He knew as we all should know, the great need we each have of our Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ.  We cannot succeed in this life without their help.

Nephi also taught us the importance of being diligent in preaching the gospel.  Tho he wasn't a missionary in the terms we often think of, he was a missionary to his family and all those who came in contact with him.  I can't think of many investigators who would have been harder to teach than Laman and Lemuel.  Nephi was constantly teaching his brother and sometimes even his father and mother the importance of obedience and faith through his actions and words.  Chapter fifteen of first Nephi is so touching and tender when you read of the care and diligence with which Nephi taught his brothers about the interpretation of his father's dream.  He patiently answered all their inquiries without judgement or chastisement because he loved them.  Just as the sons of Moroni and Ammon spent countless hours working diligently with the Lamanites, giving up many years of their lives to teaching to them.  They did so because they loved them and wanted to spread the gospel to all the inhabitants of the land because they knew how important it was.  We cannot afford to just be missionaries when there is a "golden Opportunity" or when the timing is just right.  We need to strive to be constant teachers and give constant service to those around us.  If we are always on a lookout for missionary opportunities then we will be given so many more.  

The last main way that Nephi was diligent was in his obedience to the Lords commandments.  He obeyed all in exactness and gratitude.  He was obedient when his family was commanded to leave, he was obedient when asked to go back for the plates, build a ship, and take a wife.  He only once in the scriptures doubted what he was commanded of the Lord, when he was asked to kill Laban.  He didn't doubt the Lord in this situation, he just questioned, as many of us do and as even our savior and Redeemer did when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Though Nephi may have questioned in this one thing he was still more than willing to do whatever the Lord asked of him.  How many times are we not diligent like Nephi in our obedience to our Heavenly Father's will?  How many times do we obey some commandments but seem to ignore others?  We need to be striving to keep the big and little commandments.  

Of coarse we're going to make mistakes, even as Nephi in the end of second Nephi felt like he had made mistakes and prayed for forgiveness.  That is the beauty, we're always going to falter and stumble, but if we repent and strive to be diligent again those things can be forgiven and forgotten.  Nephi's exemplary life has been a testament to each of us of the importance of diligence.  Now the task is set to Latter-Day Saint members everywhere to make their lives the same type of example to all the world.  I pray that we can each diligently work in all of our endeavors, but most especially as we strive to come closer to our Father in Heaven and be more like our savior, in the name of that beloved savior and elder brother of us all, Jesus Christ, amen.