The story of Nehemiah in this week’s lesson is encouraging as an example for us today. He refused to allow distractions to prevent him from doing what the Lord wanted him to do.
All around we see family and friends faltering in their faith. We observe others who have allowed passive distractions to rob precious time and intriguing philosophies to steal once bright testimonies. What will help us avoid the same? What helped Nehemiah?
He knew his purpose. He understood he was on the Lord’s errand. He knew who his heart and time and focus belonged to.
At a time when Joseph Smith and others who served with him were struggling to better understand their callings the Lord asked this question, “unto what were ye ordained?” (D&C 50:13). He reasoned with them to examine and not forget their purpose.
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” promises that all are created in the image of God: “Each is beloved, has a divine nature and destiny, with eternal identity and purpose.”
All. Every one of us. Our Heavenly Father needs us to “refuse to allow the trivial to hinder [us] in pursuit of the eternal. He seeks those who will not allow the attraction of ease or the traps of the adversary to distract them from the work He has given them to perform. He seeks those whose actions conform to their words—those who say with conviction, ‘I am doing a great work and cannot come down.’” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf)
We can stay focused together. Like Nehemiah let’s “not come down.”
(art: Christopher Peter)