Diligence

By Cortney Black

Samuel Johnson once said, "What we hope ever to do with ease, we must learn first to do with diligence." The Webster's Dictionary defines diligence as, "a constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent, exertion of body or mind." It is an ongoing effort that we must constantly be working on. I have thought of, what I think to be, the most important reasons for us to be diligent in our lives, I will discuss those.

Diligence is necessary in all that we do, if we have a desire to be successful. Without diligence we would not accomplish many things and would always be looking for something different to do. An example of this in the scriptures is when Nephi, with his brothers-Laban and Lemuel, went to get the plates from Laban. Nephi, Laban and Lemuel were very diligent in their efforts to get the plates. They were not being asked to perform a small and simple task, they had to be diligent and have faith that things would work out. In 1 Nephi 3:15 it reads, "But behold I said unto them that: As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us." This demonstrates such courage and diligence on their part; to continue what they are doing, without kowing what will happen, what will be expected of them or what the outcome will be. They are not willing to go back until they have accomplished what was asked of them.

The second thing that diligence is very important for is in learning. In D&C 107:99-100 the Lord counsels us by saying, "Wherefore, now let every man (and woman) learn" and learn "in all diligence, "for he or she that learns not shall not be counted worthy to stand." If we do not learn what we can, we will not be worthy to stand, this requires a great deal of diligence. As we are in school right now, we must have diligence throughout the semester in order to reach our goals of grades, future career and school. As we become better learners through diligence, we will become better teachers like the Savior. Jay E. Jensen says, "I want to follow the example of the Savior, a master teacher. But what made Him a master teacher? He was first a master learner." We must go through the learning in order to reach our final goals.

Diligence is something that the Lord will reward us for if we have domonstrated it. In Hebrews 11:6 it reads, "But 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." In this scripture it says very plainly that God will reward us if we are diligent in seeking him. In D&C 6:20 it reads, "Be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love." What better reward could we ask for than being encircled in God's arms of love? Although diligence is very hard at sometimes, I don't think there is a better reward than that.

As I have pointed out that diligence is very important in learning, it is also inportant in the Gospel. The most important aspect is in receiving promptings from the Holy Ghost. If we are diligent in the commandments and our church duties, we will be more open to promptings from the Holy Ghost. There are many times in church and other cases where the teacher cannot teach everything that you need to know. The Spirit is always there to teach us what we specifically need to learn. Joseph Smith said, "Hopefully, you are always sensitive to what is not said by the teacher. If you are, the Holy Ghost will tailor the message to your needs." What an amazing promise, that the Holy Ghost will give us the message that will fit our needs, through diligence on our part. In 2 Nephi 33:1, Nephi says, " When a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."

The final thing that diligence is important for is in enduring to the end. This life is not a simple thing, we will be tried and tested, but if we have diligence in all things, we will make it. Through what I have learned, I know that whatever we go through in this life, will be well worth it when we pass on. Two scriptures that I feel demonstrate this idea perfectly are found in 2 Nephi 31: 16, 20. They read, "And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he cannot be saved." "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." What an amazing promise we have, if we do our part by having diligence and pressing forward, we will have eternal life.

I know that through my experiences thus far in my life, and hearing of other's experiences, that this life is not easy, it was not meant to be. If we can be strong enough, and have diligence throughout our life, the rewards will far outweigh whatever we went through in this life. Ruth H. Barrus explains the importance of diligence and the rewards by saying, "To be diligent, we must be obedient to wise counsel and truth, faithful in their execution, and consistent and enthusiastic in their repetition. Diligence requires our complete involvement in an orderly pursuit of our goals. The rewards of diligence, we are told, are knowledge, intelligence, victory, and even glory." It requires much to be diligent, but in the end it will be well worth it. As Christ says, "I didn't say it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it."

Sources:

1) Book of Mormon
2) Holy Bible: King James Version
3) Ruth H. Barrus: A Teacher's Gift-April 1972
4) Jay E. Jensen: The Power of Diligent Learning
5) Doctrine & Covenants