"Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question - Unto what were ye ordained? To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth."
-D&C 50:13-14

Monday, August 16, 2010

From President Summerhays

Dear Sisters and Elders,

Tonight I received an email from our former Elder Spike Cheever. He expressed his love for all of us in the best mission in the church, The Florida Tampa Mission. He encouraged us to “Have fun and hold on tight. The Lord’s pace is quite fast!”

That reminded me of a talk that Virginia Hinckley Pierce gave in the 1997 Young Women’s Conference. She spoke on the fact that “The courage of the pioneers was really just getting up every day and doing what needed to be done that day. For most of the pioneers, most of the time, the trek westward consisted of getting up, building fires, cooking breakfast, feeding and watering the animals, breaking camp walking 6 miles, stopping for lunch and to rest the animals, feeding and watering them again, making any needed repairs, stopping at rivers to gather water, wash clothes, maybe walking another five miles and then setting up camp, building fires, cooking dinner, eating, praying, singing, maybe some dancing and getting to bed to do it all over again tomorrow. They made little progress each day, but each step, each mile brought them closer to an amazing and timeless legacy. We may not see the far reaching effects of our day to day diligence, but it is being built none the less.”

The pioneers were just ordinary, good people who pressed forward day after day after day repeating with diligence simple acts of labor and courage. They made just a little progress each day, but each step, each daily effort brought them closer to their goal. Most chose not to be distracted but held in their hearts the promises they would secure for their families and the kingdom of God. Each of us must ask ourselves if we are doing our part day after day after day after day. Can our Savior count on us? Ponder these words of the Lord to Nephi, how much the Lord loves those who demonstrate daily diligence and obedience:

Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou has done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word which I have given unto thee, unto this people….but has sought my will, and to keep My commandments. And now because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever…” Hel 10:4-5

I promise you that your daily diligence and obedience, that at times seems very ordinary and fast paced, will have a lasting imprint on your hope and happiness for the rest of your life. I love you.

President Summerhays

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