Notwithstanding the Greatness of the Task

I was struck by this phrase from Jacob that he said when preparing to speak words of chastisement to his people: “But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God” (Jacob 2:10).  I think this is a pattern that we see in the great prophets of the scriptures: they placed obedience to God’s commands above any desire to shirk in performing difficult responsibilities.  Jacob clearly did not want to speak to his people about their moral sins, but his desire to please God was greater than his desire to be comfortable, and he did what the Lord commanded. 

We see a similar example in Mormon, who lived at a very difficult time of wickedness among the Nephites.  In one of his letters that he wrote to Moroni, he encouraged his son to continue keeping the commandments and serving the people despite their depravity: “And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay” (Moroni 9:6).  Mormon—and Moroni—stayed true to God despite the overwhelming tide of evil that surrounded them.  Nephi was another example of one who placed God’s will always before his own.  When his brothers found out that he was going to build a ship, they said to him, “Thou canst not accomplish so great a work” (1 Nephi 17:19).  But Nephi did not let any fear that he may have had stop him from performing this great work the Lord had for him to do.  He said, “If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them” (1 Nephi 17:50).  Paul was also one who did not let the dangers of a task stop him from doing the will of the Lord.  When Agabus correctly prophesied to him that he would be bound and delivered “into the hands of the Gentiles” if he continued on his journey to Jerusalem, many of the disciples tried to stop him from going.  Paul’s response was this: “What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:11-13).  Paul knew and accepted that going to Jerusalem was the will of the Lord for him, even though it was going to result in imprisonment and great suffering.  After showing this determination the people stated, “The will of the Lord be done” (Acts 21:14).  Paul did not let the fear of personal suffering deter him from accomplishing that which he knew was what God wanted him to do.  Of course, as always, the Savior was the perfect example of following the will of the Father despite “the greatness of the task.”  When He was kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane and coming to understand the magnitude of the burden to be placed upon Him, He said, “Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).  For Him, the will of His Father was always His first consideration, even when the personal suffering for doing it was extraordinary and He may have desired to shirk.  In our own lives, we can’t let the fear of difficult tasks stop us from accomplishing the commandments of God.  We should say with Jacob, whatever the challenge confronting us may be, “But, notwithstanding the greatness of the task, I must do according to the strict commands of God.”