Do: the Little Understated Word in the English Language

Do is such a common word, yet rarely is the significance pondered. To many it is simply a word used to command or explain. However, there is much more to the word than that. It is a word that goes hand and hand with many other words, especially faith. “Faith is not only the principle of action, but of power also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven or on earth.”[i] Faith is the driving power behind action. Faith is necessary to progress to perfection as we are commanded to do. However, “Obedience is the first law of heaven.”[ii] Thus we need the faith to fuel the action and the action to return to heaven As the New Testament prophet John said, “…Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”[iii]

Nephi was a “doers of the word.”[iv] He went forward doing things even when he knew not b the things which he should do. However, one of the roots of the word “do” is accomplish. Nephi was steadfast, he used his faith saying, “…I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”[v] Nephi did more than just believe; he acted.

Nephi did not just act upon his faith this one time. Act by act, big and small prepared him to make that commited statement. This brings us to another root to the word do, prepare. Following the word of God each day of his life prepared him, so he was ready for whatever circumstances God gave him, trusting that God would not give him anything he could not do. In my life I know it is often the little everyday actions which have brought me to where I am today.

My family, too, has been blessed by doing simple things daily that have ended up blessing us richly.Two years ago my aunt was killed in a car accident involving a drunk driver. In this time of sorrow, my family could have turned bitter and cold, blamed the inebriated woman or even God. However, our day to day actions in the past had already brought us close to God. So although many tears were still shed, it was a time of peace and comfort. It helped us gain appreciation for the plan of salvation and brought our family on earth closer together. Our small deeds led to great comfort and blessings. Like Alma says in chapter 37, verse 6 "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass."

The word do is much more important than often seen at first glance. It is the drive, the power that helps us learn, accelerate, progress and become truly Christlike. President Eyring said it best when he said"It will take unshakable faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to choose the way to eternal life. It is by using that faith we can know the will of God. It is by acting on that faith we build the strength to do the will of God. And it is by exercising that faith in Jesus Christ that we can resist temptation and gain forgiveness through the Atonement." Faith spurs the action, but without any action we cannot progress and progression is one of the key things in this life.


[i] Lectures on Faith, 3
[ii] Preach my Gospel, 122
[iii] John 2:18
[iv] James 1:22
[v] 1 Nephi 3:7
[vi] Henry B. Eyring, “Spiritual Preparedness: Start Early and Be Steady,” Liahona, Nov 2005, 37–40