The Principles of Duty
To some the word 'duty' has an unpleasant ring, because to them it represents restraint against freedom of action. In any organization or society where there is a loss of the sense of duty, there results disunity and disorder and a complete breakdown in the moral.
In our calling as missionaries there is imposed upon us a certain divine duty to seek out with all diligence the honest and the sincere and to teach them the principles of salvation, and we are to do this with all of our energies, talents and abilities. Thus in the discharge of this duty we quickly learn that to do it well we must become organized. That is we must work out an effective schedule that will enable us to use to an advantage all the 17 hours in our working day.
Many missionaries get sick because they seek to run away from their duties. It is easy enough to remain in bed past the hour appointed to arise. It is easy to create something to do that is unimportant to avoid doing that which is a little distasteful -- like contacting. Hours slip by quickly and with them days and months and years and soon you are being released from a sacred calling - having not fulfilled your sacred duty.
Each time you do your duty, your reward is there waiting -- it is the power given you to fulfill another.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When Duty whispers low, Thou Must,
The youth replies, I Can.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
The Lord has never required from His children anything that they could not do. He always prepares a way, but we have to exercise our faith in Him to find it. Just as we have to keep His commandments in order to keep our feet firmly planted on the 'straight and narrow path'. Our first thought should be to take care of first things first and then the second things will become clearer. Goethe encouraged, "Duty is carrying on promptly and faithfully the affairs now before you. It is to fulfill the claims of the day."
It is said that love makes us do things beautifully but duty makes us do them well. There has been great progress evidenced in this mission as there are many missionaries who have sensed their duty and have done their work well, but unfortunately there are a few among us who shirk their duty and seek after selfish interests first. They are disloyal to themselves and to their callings, thus they are disloyal to God.
How long would a winning team remain as such if a few of the key players failed to conform to training rules? Not long. They would soon be losing to those more rigorous and serious in their training and playing. And the same applies to us. We can't let down one day on our training rules and expect to keep winning the converts to the Church. So today do what your duty requires you to do and tomorrow you'll do better.
Sincerely your brother,
Asael T. Sorensen
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