Go and Do

Archive of messages sent while serving as a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I like that Nephi’s mantra was “go and do.” The order of that phrase being very important. When he went to get the plates, he first just went, saying, “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:6).

The Savior also seemed to operate in this manner, always going and then doing. Christ was often in the middle of going somewhere when he performed his miracles. He was coming down from the mountain when he healed a leper (Matt 8:1-3), Jesus was on his way to raise someone from the dead when a woman touched his garment in a crowd and was healed (Matt 9:19-22), and many more times his instruction came while going and doing.

I take from this that it is important to be “anxiously engaged in a good cause” (D&C 58:27). If we first answer the call to ‘go’ we can be ready to ‘do’ as the Lord would want or need us to.

President Buckner has called on all of us to go and do in the months of November and December. He wants to make sure all in our stake are cared for, especially during the holidays. He has asked that every home in the ward be visited in November and December. He has asked that every home and visiting teacher visit every family with a specific assignment. The assignment is this:

1. Tell your families that you have been sent by assignment from the Stake Presidency.

2. Ask them if they are taken care of for Thanksgiving (November) or Christmas (December). 

Once needs are assessed and met:

3. Ask them if they know of anyone in need that might need some extra help for the holidays. 

There are 133 families in our ward that we would like to visit and make sure they are taken care for the holidays. To make sure we get to see everyone, we will need to start right away! 

Please reach out to your families quickly and often. We have an amazing ward with such good people. I know we can meet the needs of everyone in our ward.

Thanks for everything you do to help each other live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

Bishop Sullivan