Laboring With Might

"And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day." (Jacob 1:19)

So Jacob and those who labored with him worked hard to teach and share the Gospel. They felt the responsibility for peoples' souls upon thier shoulders. I sometimes feel as though I am nowhere near this level of faith and dedication. I'm not the best home teacher, nor have I been the best at many callings that I have held. I don't know if I could say that I have "labored with [my] might" at very many things.

I remember my mission president, President Ostler, asking that all the missionaries in our mission memorize this verse on my mission. I think he was trying to help us understand the gravity of what we were doing. People need to hear the Gospel. We were in a position to teach them the Gospel. Obviously, we were not responsible for the sins of everyone in the Canada Calgary Mission, but if there was someone there in our area who was prepared to hear the Gospel, or who could have had a seed of testimony planted in their hearts, but did not due to our lack of diligence, we would be held responsible.

This continues to apply, within my circle of influence, whether it be in my callings at church, my home teaching families, my own family, or even people I work with. If I do not do my part to be a good example, and share the message of the Gospel whenever I possibly can, then I absolutely could be held responsible in the same way that Jacob describes.

It is important to labor with my might. I definitely need to do better at this.