Doing with Diligence -- Vallan Sherrod

Most of us have heard the saying, “I will go and do,” but exactly what are we supposed to do? In Genesis 31: 16, Rachel and Leah tell Jacob, “…whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.” We are supposed to do what God asks of us.

In coming to earth, we agreed to do what he commands us. In Exodus 19, God makes a covenant with the Israelites. In verse 5, God says, “…if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.” In verse 8, after Moses relays God’s message to the people, they agree to follow the covenant, “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” I think in the pre-mortal life, we, like the Israelites, agreed to follow God’s commandments here on earth.

Now, what exactly are we commanded to do? I think the best answer is found in 3 Nephi 12: 48. In this verse, Christ tells the Nephites, “Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.” The commandments all have the goal of making us more like Christ and our Heavenly Father.

I think one of the best ways we can become like Christ and our Father in Heaven is to look at Christ’s example, and strive to be like him. In 1 Nephi 17, Nephi tries to soften the hearts of his brethren by relating Israel’s travels through the wilderness when they were leaving Egypt. In verse 41 it says, “… he sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.” We need to soften our hearts and follow Christ’s example. After all, it is our goal to become like him. I once heard that if you do not know what your destination is, how will you know when you get there? We must strive to know more about our Heavenly Father and Christ, so we can become like them. We do this by looking at their examples, just like the Israelites had to look to be healed.

Obviously, it is not always easy to follow Christ. We may become caught up in worldly things. Also, we may become discouraged. When Nephi was commanded to build a boat, some of his older brothers began making fun of his actions. They said, “…Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters” (1 Ne. 17: 17). In verse 19 Nephi records,

And now it came to pass that I, Nephi, was exceedingly sorrowful because of the hardness of their hearts; and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

Similarly, Satan tries to discourage us when we try to follow the commandments. He tries to make us feel overburdened, or he may try to use our peers and worldly ideas to turn us away. When it does become hard we should remember what God said to Joseph Smith when he was in Liberty Jail. In D&C 121: 7-8, God says, “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all they foes.” We should keep an eternal perspective when we go through trials. If we do, we will know that if we do our best, we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Christ forever.

Christ endured sufferings and hardships throughout his life, especially in the Atonement. In Nephi 19: 9, Nephi describes some of Christ’s long-suffering.

And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his loving kindness and his long-suffering towards the children of men.

Christ was long-suffering, or diligent, in following all the commandments of our Heavenly Father. We are striving to be like him, so we too must be diligent when following the commandments even when it becomes hard.

One of the first things we can do in being diligent is to do all that we can. After Nephi completed the boat, his family was commanded to go into the ship. However, they did not just go into the ship and expect God to provide everything else they needed.

And it came to pass that on the morrow, after we had prepared all things, much fruits and meat from the wilderness, and honey in abundance, and provisions according to that which the Lord had commanded us, we did go down into the ship, with all our loading and our seeds, and whatsoever thing we had brought with us, every one according to his age; wherefore, we did all go down into the ship, with our wives and our children. (1 Ne. 18: 6)

Nephi’s family did all that they could to prepare to cross the ocean. For example, they built the boat and gathered provisions for the journey. God gave them the tools to do this. He also gives us tools to help us follow him today. Prophets, scriptures, prayer, and the Priesthood are some examples. When we use these tools to do all we can to follow his commandments, then he will help us do the rest. “And it came to pass after we had all gone down into the ship, and had taken with us our provisions and things which had been commanded us, we did put forth into the sea and were driven forth before the wind towards the promise land” (1 Ne.18: 8). God will provide the “wind” for us after we do the best we can to follow him.

When it becomes hard to follow the commandments, we should not murmur, but be optimistic instead. President Gordon B. Hinckley once said,

I have little doubt that many of us are troubled with fears concerning ourselves. We are in a period of stress across the world. There are occasionally hard days for each of us. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you. Do not let the prophets of gloom endanger your possibilities. (Hinckley)

When we are commanded to do something, we shouldn’t murmur or complain because it may be hard. Instead, we should be optimistic and try our best to do what we can. God will help us do the rest.

And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness. (1 Ne.17: 3)

Heavenly Father will always provide a way for us to follow, or do, his commandments.

Now, it may seem like a lot is required of us when we are asked to be perfect like Christ. However, we do not have to worry about becoming absolutely perfect in this life. As Nephi writes in 2 Nephi 25: 23, “For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after we do all we can do.” Once we have done our best to become like Heavenly Father through his commandments, he will help us do the rest just like in each individual trial we face.

Works Cited

Hinckley, Gordon B. “Words of a Prophet: The Spirit of Optimism.” New Era July 2001. LDS. 24 Sept. 2008 .

The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

The Doctrine and Covenants of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1981.

The Holy Bible. Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1979.