Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. SmithSmith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Religion
Gospel Doctrine: Selections from the Sermons and Writings of Joseph F. Smith
Smith, Joseph F. (Joseph Fielding)
Latter Day Saint churches
But what shall we do? Shall we quit because there are those with whom
we come in contact who are not willing to rise to the standard to
which we seek to exalt them? No! Someone has said that the Lord hates
a quitter, and there should be no such thing as quitting when we put
our hands to the plow to save men, to save souls, to exalt mankind,
to inculcate principles of righteousness and establish them in the
hearts of those with whom we are associated, both by precept and by
example. There must be no such thing as being discouraged. We may fail
over and over again, {165} but if we do, it is in individual cases.
Under certain conditions and circumstances, we may fail to accomplish
the object we have in view with reference to this individual or the
other individual, or a number of individuals that we are seeking to
benefit, to uplift, to purify, to get into their hearts the principles
of justice, of righteousness, of virtue and of honor, that would fit
them to inherit the kingdom of God; to associate with angels, should
they come to visit the earth. If you fail, never mind. Go right on; try
it again; try it somewhere else. Never say quit. Do not say it cannot
be done. Failure is a word that should be unknown to all the workers
in the Sunday Schools, in the Mutual Improvement Associations, in our
Primary Associations, in the quorums of Priesthood, as well as in all
the organizations of the Church everywhere. The word "fail" ought to
be expunged from our language and our thoughts. We do not fail when we
seek to benefit the erring, and they will not listen to us. We will get
the reward for all the good we do. We will get the reward for all the
good we desire to do, and labor to do, though we fail to accomplish
it, for we will be judged according to our works and our intent and
purposes. The victim of evil, or sin, the one whom we seek to benefit,
but who will not yield to our endeavors to benefit him, may fail, but
we who try to uplift him will not fail, if we do not quit.
If we continue to try, failing, as it were, or missing one mark, should
not discourage us; but we should fly to another, keep on in the work,
keep on doing, patiently, determinedly doing our duty, seeking to
accomplish the purpose we have in view.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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