Lessons on Missionary Service
Lesson No. Twenty-Five

Diligence by Josh Bradley

Diligence is a consistent, valiant effort, especially in serving the Lord and obeying his word.  One of the most important qualities of a good missionary is diligence, in the face of many stumbling blocks and distractions.  It is difficult to be 100% dedicated to the missionary effort at all times.  Those who most approach that are rewarded with great success for their efforts.

I have always admired my Grandpa Bradley, and have enjoyed his words of wisdom over the years.  When he was a mission president in North Carolina he taught his missionaries that obedience leads to faith, and that faith leads to power.  I found that it requires great diligence and personal effort to obey the mission rules carefully.  When done with diligence, I felt an increase in confidence, and it felt easy to grow in faith.  As my testimony increased, so did my ability to make a difference in the lives of those that I was serving.  When I served most diligently, I was rewarded with great blessings.  I pondered this phrase that was passed on to me by those who went before, and that I have passed on to those that follow:  “Serve each day of your mission as if it were your last.”

One of my favorite eras on my mission was when I served in Puntarenas, a sleepy port town with largely low-income, humble people.  I served with a diligent senior companion who taught me a lot about good missionary work, and we were soon joined by an assistant to the president that chose to join us for his last two months of his mission.  We went on splits almost every day with the young men of the local ward.  We accomplished twice the work by doing this so often.  We followed every lead and spoke with all the members to find new leads.  We taught many lessons, and many people gained testimonies, and were ultimately baptized. I strived to help people to fulfill their commitments, which required great patience and dedication to the cause.

I would come home exhausted each night physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  We must have burned thousands of calories a day in the heat on our bicycles, riding from home to home along the peninsula.  Many nights I would lie down on my bed for a quick rest and fall asleep with my clothes still on.  It was a very satisfying feeling to know that I was doing all that I could to teach and convert.  I loved my companions who were as diligent as any I encountered on my mission, and I cried when they both finished their missions the same day.  They inspired me to continue on in this pattern of obedience, faith, and power due to hard work and service throughout my mission.  The Lord blessed me greatly with opportunities to participate in the conversion of many of my brothers and sisters there.  I will always look back on the formative days of Puntarenas with fond memories and a grateful heart

I bear testimony that diligence to the gospel of Jesus Christ brings confidence in righteousness, increased faith, and spiritual power.  I was blessed to learn the benefits of consistent effort to a good cause, and those lessons have served me well throughout my education and training.  They continue to be important in raising a family and serving in the church.  My life has been blessed by those that taught me the importance of diligence in missionary service.  I have been surrounded by a faithful companion, strong and diligent families, and friends who continue to inspire and support me.  I hope to continue in diligence to the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout my life.