When Newel Knight faced significant challenges in his leadership role, the Lord encouraged him to stay focused and committed:
Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, my servant Newel Knight, you shall stand fast in the office whereunto I have appointed you.
Doctrine and Covenants 54:2
About a month later, the Lord gave the same guidance to Sidney Gilbert and Edward Partridge as they started new responsibilities in Missouri. (See Doctrine and Covenants 57:6-7.)
The word “fast” comes from the Old English word fæst, meaning fixed, secure, and constant. To stand fast is to stay put: to keep doing what you’re doing without distraction or discouragement.
It’s easy when things get tough to let our minds wander. We might imagine other responsibilities or other circumstances within our current responsibilities. We might be tempted like Alma to wish that we had angelic powers, enabling us to easily overcome obstacles and accomplish our objectives. But we would be wise to check ourselves with the question Alma asked:
Why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
Alma 29:6
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf counseled church members to “lift where you stand.” He explained:
No calling is beneath us. Every calling provides an opportunity to serve and to grow. … Whatever your calling, I urge you to see it as an opportunity not only to strengthen and bless others but also to become what Heavenly Father wants you to become.
“Lift Where You Stand,” General Conference, October 2008
This principle is applicable to every aspect of our lives, including:
- Parenting: Loving and serving the children you have, instead of comparing them to an unrealistic ideal.
- Work: Doing your job well, instead of focusing on other people’s jobs or on a desired future role.
- Teaching: Helping your students make the next step in their progression instead of talking about your interests.
- Homeownership: Enjoying the home you have and making the next reasonable repairs and improvements, instead of spending time and energy imagining your dream home.
Obviously, there’s a time to dream. I’m certainly capable of setting big goals, and sometimes those goals bear fruit over time. But most of the time, we maximize our productivity and happiness by having our feet firmly planted on the ground and by working within our current roles on tasks that we can complete right away.
Today, I will stand fast in my appointed offices. I will set and achieve goals which are relevant to my current responsibilities and avoid the temptation to daydream when there is important work to be done.
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