In August 1831, as church leaders began to survey their new home in Independence, Missouri, the Lord provided a revelation instructing them how to approach the project. The revelation contains two contrasting admonitions:
- “It is not meet that I should command in all things. … Men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27).
- “Let the work of the gathering be not in haste, nor by flight; but let it be done as it shall be counseled by the elders of the church at the conferences, according to the knowledge which they receive from time to time” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:56; see also 3 Nephi 21:29, Isaiah 52:12).
The first passage empowers us to make independent decisions. The second cautions us not to get out ahead of our skis, but to move forward in a measured and controlled manner.
This week, I started working on a project which will take months to complete. I’ve thought about how I can apply these two admonitions to my project. Here are my thoughts:
- Seek guidance from the Lord. Alma taught his son Helaman, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good” (Alma 37:37). In the revelation quoted above, the Lord instructed church leaders to “bring their families to this land, as they shall counsel between themselves and me” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:25). He also said that the gathering should be done “as it shall be counseled by the elders of the church at the conferences, according to the knowledge which they receive from time to time” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:56). We can involve the Lord in our decision-making process without expecting Him to make every decision for us.
- Pace yourself. King Benjamin cautioned his people not to “run faster than [they have] strength” (Mosiah 4:27). And Alma reminded Helaman that we accomplish great things through small and simple things. (See Alma 37:6.) We can remain focused on the ultimate goal without being unrealistic about what we can accomplish today.
- Be fervently patient. As Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminded us, “Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can” (“Continue in Patience,” General Conference, April 2010). We can maintain momentum by doing what’s possible today and eagerly anticipating new opportunities tomorrow.
Today, I will make steady progress toward achieving my long-term goals. I will counsel with the Lord, pace myself appropriately, and maintain momentum.