Spiritual To Be Lists

I often make To Do lists of things that I need get done, whether that is around the house or at work. Usually these are things I am working to just check off as done so I can move on to the next task. I realized this morning that the scriptures also give us lists of things to work on, but they are much different and much more important. We might call them “To Be” lists. Here is one example from Mormon (and Paul): “And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things” (Moroni 7:45). We are invited to be all of these things, to be able to suffer long and be kind and not envy and be humble. And these are not items we can simply get done and check off; rather, we must work on becoming these attributes all of our lives.

               Another “To Be” list is found in Alma’s teachings to the people of Gideon. He encouraged them, “And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times” (Alma 7:23). This is another list of traits that require a lifetime (or more) of seeking to develop. Each day we should be working to be more submissive and gentle, more patient and temperate, more diligent in keeping the commandments of God. A similar list is found in Peter’s second general epistle: “Ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” If we do not develop these traits, we are “blind” according to Peter “and cannot see afar off” (2 Peter 1:4-9). The Lord in our dispensation admonished us to remember this list from Peter: “Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:6). This was one of the very first revelations given and the Lord chose to focus on those spiritual qualities we need to develop. Surely we will also need to work on this list our whole lives to try to begin to become as the Lord is inviting us to become.

              When the Lord gave the Sermon on the Mount, He also gave us a sort of “To Be” list in the Beatitudes that He described. He declared, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3-10). We are to be humble, contrite, and meek; to be yearning for righteousness; to be merciful and pure in heart. These are similar traits to the other list that invite us to work on our spiritual development. These lists and others in the scriptures are really an injunction to become like the Savior, to be patient, humble, submissive, gentle, kind, diligent, merciful, and loving in our day to day activities as He is. And surely successfully working through these kinds of spiritual To Be lists throughout our lives is of far more importance than any temporal To Do list that may be pressing down upon us.