In Doctrine and Covenants 58:27, the Lord invites His disciples to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness.”
In today’s modern world, the word “anxious” has a lot of negative connotations. Our efforts to do good can often turn toxic when faced with rampant perfectionism and judgment. If you find it’s hard to be anxiously engaged without becoming anxious, consider these principles.
It’s Not About What You Do, But Why You Do It
The Lord cares more about our motivations than how many tasks we accomplish or how impressive our service is. It’s all about the state of our hearts and the depth of our desire to worship God as an instrument in His hands.
We can take comfort in knowing that we can change our hearts by growing in love for Jesus Christ. When we do that, we will naturally be inclined to do good and become engaged in the work of the Lord.
Trust the Lord Will Work Through You
It’s likely that the good we do in our lives won’t be broadcast to the world. We won’t often receive praise or recognition for doing the will of the Father. Even when we don’t act of our pride, it can be hard to feel confident that our efforts matter.
Trust that Jesus Christ can and does use you as an instrument in His hands as you strive to follow Him. If you desire to do good and try your best to fulfill your duties as a disciple of Christ, know you are making a difference and fulfilling your purpose.
Don’t Delay a Prompting
If you’d like something to do to feel more anxiously engaged, start by growing closer to the Spirit and acting on promptings without delay. We have opportunities each and every day to do good and bring to pass much righteousness. However, it often gets trampled on by the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Slow down, make time for the quiet voice of the Holy Ghost, and act immediately if you have a thought to do something good.
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
