2.268 To Act, In All Diligence

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends.

It's great to have you with me. Today, let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. We've covered and talked about power and authority this week.

How about we dive into duty a little bit? We're reading this week Doctrine and Covenants sections 106 through 108, with a focus on section 107 and the priesthood, as well as Helaman chapters 13–16. Today, I wanted to dive into another part of Doctrine and Covenants 107.

You know that I like to use the citation index as a kind of assistant for me studying the scriptures. I noticed inside of there that Doctrine and Covenants 107 has almost 1,913 different references to General Conference talks. And so I hope that you have an opportunity this week to perhaps just pick one or two of those and dive into.

And then as I got to our verse for today, I realized that this verse must have been quite a personal study verse for President Thomas S. Monson. Because he has, by my count, 18—I think almost 20—references over General Conference talks specifically to this verse we're going to talk about today.

And while I like to try and pick one from President Monson, I actually landed on a talk from Elder Bednar. And I'm not going to put the link in here because the talk that I'm going to use actually references two other Presidents of the Church. So, isn't it great to dive in and have living apostles and prophets that we can look to as an example in our lives and as a place of resource and reference?

Our verse for today is Doctrine and Covenants section 107, verse 99. It gets done with explaining some of the literal administrative order aspects of the priesthood. The 99 is kind of this 'I'm not letting you off the hook' piece from the Lord.

And it says this, "Wherefore, now let every man learn his duty, and to act in the office in which he is appointed in all diligence." Now that puts a burden on all of us to study and know the roles that we play in the priesthood. I spent some time reflecting on the role that my dad played in my life as developing in my understanding of the priesthood. I can remember him taking time to explain some of my duties.

I remember my Young Men leaders as I was growing up taking time not just to talk about what the sacrament duties were or what the paths that the deacons were supposed to walk or whatever it may be, but actually taking time to teach us and instruct us on the different duties. I remember asking questions. I remember opportunities that I had in the Young Men to try and encourage young men to understand what they can do, as I mentioned earlier, with the ministering of angels.

And as I reflected on all those aspects, I thought, you know, there's really not much that's passive when it comes to the priesthood of God. And as I landed on this talk here by Elder Bednar, he gives two different quotes. I'm going to read through both of them at the same time.

One from President Ezra Taft Benson and the other one from President Spencer W. Kimball. He says this, "'And anxiously engaged in promoting the cause of righteousness in the earth.' Because the Lord says, 'He that doeth not anything until he is commanded and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.'" President Spencer W.

Kimball also pointedly emphasized the active nature of the priesthood. "One breaks the priesthood covenant by transgressing commandments, but also by leaving undone his duties. Accordingly, to break this covenant, one needs only to do nothing." My friends, I am grateful for the leaders that I had in my life to help me realize the active part of bearing the priesthood of God. I know that I stand in several cases looking in the mirror in this last little piece of this verse where it says, "in all diligence." I certainly had moments and times in my life where I look and I say, 'you know what, I am not doing that with all the diligence that I could do that.' And it certainly is an opportunity for me to look in the mirror and to get a little bit better.

I hope that for you and your study of the priesthood this week that you realize, regardless of office that you hold, regardless of whether you are male, female, child, adult, that you realize that the power and authority of the priesthood in our lives is one that is actively meant to be used. It is one that is to be used to build the kingdom and ultimately, through the lens of President Nelson's talk earlier this week, to focus on the most important thing we possibly can right now: the gathering of scattered Israel. May you and I take a deeper understanding and opportunity to learn our duties, to act in the offices that we are appointed to act, and to do so in all diligence.

That's all for today, my friends. Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave to the covenants you have made and together we will be savory salt.