Diligence in the dictionary is defined as constant and earnest effort to accomplish what is undertaken; persistent exertion of body and mind. There is but one person whose diligence never faltered—Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. His life is a picturesque of unfailing diligence until today. The bible accounts many instances when he exercised diligence in fulfilling his divine mission here on earth.
When Jesus was twelve years old, he went with his parents, Mary and Joseph, to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover. When his parents returned to Nazareth, Jesus stayed behind and his parents were worried and came looking for him. When they found him, his mother asked, “Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.” And he answered his mother saying, “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:48-49) In these scripture verses, we learn that at a very young age, he was valiantly in the Lord’s errand—teaching the words of His Father to those who would listen to him.
Each event during his mortal ministry was performed with all due diligence. He went his way preaching the gospel, praying and fasting, walking with his disciples and performing miracles such as healing the sick, raising the dead, feeding the five thousand, cleansing the temple and the leper, forgiving the sinners, and many more. His consistent and valiant effort brought about many blessings unto those who listened and believed in him. His divine mission on earth was fulfilled because He was diligent in all of his Father’s business.
With Jesus Christ as our perfect example of diligence, we too, are admonished to be diligent in our daily lives as written in the following scripture passages:
“Hearken diligently unto me.” Isa. 55:2
“Teach the word of God with all diligence.” Jacob 1:19
“Let us labor diligently.” Moroni 9:6
“Be anxiously engaged in a good cause.” D&C 58:27
“Neither be idle but labor with your might.” D&C 75:3
“Give diligent heed to the words of eternal life.” D&C 84:43
“Let every man learn his duty, and to act in all diligence.” D&C 107:99
When we are diligent in these things and all things pertaining to our eternal progression in harmony with the Lord’s commandments, we are promised in Hebrew 11:6, “God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” and of them who diligently keep his commandments. Diligence is one of Jesus Christ’s attribute that contributed to the satisfaction of the very purpose of his coming upon the earth—the Atonement, which is the center of the Plan of Happiness. Our diligence in our daily toil might not result to an event as grand and divine like the Savior’s Atonement, however, it is for certain that our diligence will create tiny drops of blessings that will bring to pass eternal ripples that will reach the heavens above. And when the time comes that our God the Father will call upon the world that the purpose of mortality is finished, we will see all these eternal ripples as guiding ripples that led us back to the presence of our Heavenly Father.
