I Will Go and Do...For I Know

I Will Go and Do…For I Know

From the 1965 movie Shenandoah, we glean this poetic statement: “If we don’t try, we don’t do; and if we don’t do, then what are we on this Earth for?”[1] What greater statement could Hollywood ever give us? It simply explains the divine commandment to “go and do.” As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this marvelous principle is widely known and accepted. Through our callings in church leadership, extending a helping hand, and following the promptings of the spirit, members of the LDS church are constantly going and doing. To go and do is to accomplish—accomplish the things that the Lord has asked of us.  And we do this because we know Christ is our Savior and died for us so that we might live again with our Heavenly Father. We do this because we know Heavenly Father loves each of us individually, and wants us to be happy. I go and do, for I know that this is Christ’s church. I go and do, for I know that I can live with God again one day.

Many others have chosen to accept this commandment of “go and do.” In the Epistle of James we read, “But be ye doers of the world, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”[2] It is not enough to just listen to the council of the Lord—though it is not to be mistaken that we shouldn’t always have an open ear for the Spirit and the still small voice. But being constantly engaged in doing the will of the Lord goes hand in hand with this concept. Perhaps the most widely known example of this principle is found in1 Nephi of the Book of Mormon.  Nephi told his father Lehi, “I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." [3] Here we see that Nephi was willing to go and do anything the Lord asked of him. Through my personal study, prayer, and contemplation, this scripture has become one of my favorites, especially with one simple change. This change is to look at two separate parts of the verse as one, so that the scripture then reads, “I will go and do…for I know.” Nephi knew and had a firm testimony of God, Jesus Christ, and the gospel. He knew to such extent that he would go and do anything the Lord asked of him. On the other hand, his elder brothers Laman and Lemuel were not so willing. In other personal study, I found the exact opposite verse of “I will go and do…for I know.” It is found in the pervious chapter in 1 Nephi. Laman and Lemuel were not happy with their departure in the wilderness from Jerusalem, leaving all their worldly possessions behind. We read, “And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” [4] In complete contrast to their brother Nephi, Laman and Lemuel knew not and, therefore, would not act willingly. Nephi chose to be a “hearer,” as well as a “doer.” Laman and Lemuel chose not to “hear” to words of the Lord and, therefore, would slowly fall further and further away from the Lord until their totally separation.  Could we say we are both “hearers” and “doers?” Or do we refuse to “hear” and, consequently, refuse of “do?” Do we have a firm testimony that God will direct our paths if we trust in him?

In the book of Proverbs is found a well known scripture stating, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths." [5]  In 1 Kings we find a beautiful story of a woman and the Prophet Elijah. Elijah, commanded by the Lord to enter into the city of Zarephath, was told he would find a widow woman who would feed him. As Elijah went to do that which he was commanded, he asked the woman for water and some bread. Her response to the Prophet was desolate as she explained she was preparing a final and meager meal for her son and herself, after which they would die.  But Elijah said to her, “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for they son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth.” And through a great act of faith on the woman’s part, we read, “And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail.” [6] This woman knew that Elijah was a man of God. She knew that if she trusted in the Lord, that she would be blest.  The woman could have easily leaned to her own understanding, wishing to be left alone with her son and the little bit of food they had left. But she chose to listen and trust in the will of the Lord, and, therefore, decided to go and do.

Though I have never been asked to feed what little food I have to a Prophet of the Lord, I have had times in life where it seemed the “right” option was not what I had originally planned.  For example, growing up, I never wanted to attend BYU. In fact I was rather against it.  I instead wished to attend Southern Virginia University (SVU) on the east coast. As it came time to start the ever-daunting college application process, I could not bring myself to apply to SVU. It honestly baffled me. I had dreamed of going there since my oldest brother had started applying for college four years previous. Along with this thought came the impression to apply to BYU. This, again, baffled me. I had not even planned on applying to BYU, let alone thinking about attending it. But, having a rather intense feeling that this was the way to go, I never even applied to SVU, never again even pulled up their website. Instead, I spent much of my time researching, writing essays, and filling out BYU application forms. When my acceptance letter came, I felt the smallest pang of doubt that I had done the wrong thing, having then missed the deadline for SVU.  However, I knew the intensity of the feeling I had had that fall when I was applying. I knew this was my path to take at this determining part of my life.  For the next two weeks, even after I had accepted BYU’s invitation, I spent much time in earnest prayer, asking my Heavenly Father to bless me with the desire to go and do.  At the end of this two-week period, I had felt the love of my Heavenly Father, telling me that this was where I needed to be, that something great was to come my way. I then became very excited to attend BYU, and this excitement has only grown. I am very glad to say that I not only listened to the counsel of the Lord, but that I went and did what the counsel was asking of me. I have already begun to see what I was meant for out here, and I can only imagine it will get better, though I know I can never do it alone—I need the help of my Heavenly Father.

We all need the help of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. In D&C we find, “And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angel round about you, to bear you up.” [7] From this, we can take that as long as we are doing what the Lord would want us to do, He will protect us in all our doings. He will prompt us when we need to act a certain way, make a certain decision, or talk to a certain person. In the book of Joshua we read, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; For the Lord they God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” [8] Again we see that the Lord will not leave us alone. He will be there, directing and guiding our paths for as long as we allow Him to be there.  He wants us to go and do with him by our side. Elder F. Enzio Busche spoke on this concept:

It takes courage and commitment to follow the promptings of the Spirit because they may frighten us as they may frighten us as they lead us to walk along new paths, sometimes paths that no one has walked before, paths of the second mile, of acting totally differently from how worldly people act. For instance, we may be prompted to smile when someone offends us, to give love where others give hate, to say thank you where others would not find anything to be thankful for, to accept jobs that others would be too proud to do, to apologize where others would defend themselves, and to do all the seemingly crazy things that the Spirit prompts a righteous, honest, listening heart to do. [9]

In order to fulfill this commandment of going and doing, we must be willing to follow the promptings of the spirit. We must trust that the Lord will direct our paths. I know that he will strengthen us as we strengthen others. I know that he will place words in our mouths when we need them, not of our own doing, but of His doing. Whether we are bearing testimony to others, extending a hand of service to those in need, speaking in church, or continually acting on any other prompting, He will be there to guide and help us.

            Nephi, again, is a true example of this concept of trusting in the Lord for divine guidance. Among his writings, is found the well-known scripture saying, “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless I went forth.” [10] Even though Nephi did not know what was to come, or what he should do, He still followed the commandment to go and do.  I have recently been called as my ward’s Relief Society President. It came as a complete shock to me. Having not had good experiences in the Young Woman’s program growing up, I feel somewhat intimidated, though I am not a shy person. And though I have been attending Relief Society since I turned 18 six months ago, I still do not have any real idea of how it all works in the grand scheme of things. In all honestly, I am lost. But I know that if I do all that I can, the Lord will take care of the things I cannot. I know that if I try my best, and follow the promptings that I receive from the Spirit, that everything will work out the way they are supposed to. I know that I don’t need to know everything right now. This is also explained in the book of Nephi when an angel of the Lord asks him, “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” To which Nephi replied, “I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things.” [11] I know that in the end, the only thing that matters is that I have a testimony of Jesus Christ, that I did my best, and that I know that God loves me. The stress, drama, hardships, and trials that come up in life mean nothing if I know that I must rely on the Lord, going to him in prayer, then “going and doing.”

            In a talk given by President Monson, he counseled, “Let us pray, then let us go and do.” [12] We must act with faith, trust in the Lord, and then go and do the things we are commanded and prompted of by the Spirit. We must have the testimony of Nephi, who knew with assurity that God was real, that His Prophets were His mouthpieces, that the gospel was true. We must willingly accept the Lord’s wishes, as shown in the Hymn no. 270, “But if, by a still, small voice he calls To paths that I do not know, I’ll answer, dear Lord, with my hand in thine: I’ll go where you want me to go.” [13] I know that if we go and do, the Lord will bless beyond our expectations. I go and do, for I know that this is Christ’s church. I go and do, for I know that Jesus Christ died for the sins and hardships of the world. I go and do, for I know that Heavenly Father loves me personally and individually. I go and do, for I know. 

Works Cited:

[1] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059711/

[2] James 1:22

[3] 1 Nephi 3:7

[4] 1 Nephi 2:12

[5] Proverbs 3:5-6

[6] 1 Kings 17:9-16

[7] D&C 84:88

[8] Joshua 1:9

[9] "The Only Real Treasure" New Era, December 1979, page 5

[10] 1 Nephi 4:6-7

[11] 1 Nephi 11:17

[12] "They Pray and They Go" Liahona, July 2002, pages 54-55

[13] Hymn Book, Number 270