Virtue-Diligence Diligence is the virtue of putting forth
constant and earnest effort to
accomplish what is undertaken;
persistent exertion of body or mind. 1: We are commanded to be diligent in all things and to avoid slothfulness. 
“Let every man be diligent in all things. And the idler shall not have place in the church, except he repent and mend his ways.” D&C 75:29  “Set in order your houses; keep slothfulness and uncleanness far from you.” D&C 90:18  1. Work has been the way of life on earth since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden. The Lord said to Adam, “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread” (Genesis 3:19). The Lord said to the people of Israel, “Six days shalt thou labour” (Exodus 20:9). 2. We must do all we can ourselves before asking God to do things for us.  Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain. ‐‐‐Alma 60:11  When our wagon gets stuck in the mud, God is much more likely to assist the man who gets out to push than the man who merely raises his voice in prayer—no matter how eloquent the oration. Dieter F. Uchtdorf‐ Two Principles of Any Economy 3. We must be diligent in our professions. 
As Latter‐day Saints, if we would be true to our religion, we must perform high‐quality work. It is a matter of integrity. Every piece of work we do is a portrait of the one who produced it. J. Richard Clarke‐ The Value of Work  Be honest with your employer. Make sure that “the laborer is worthy of his hire.” (D&C 84:79.) 4. We are commanded to be self‐reliant and to help others become self reliant.  Brigham Young declared, “It is never any benefit to give out … to man or woman, money, food, clothing, or anything else, if they are able‐bodied, and can work and earn what they need. To give to the idler is as wicked as anything else. Never give anything to the idler. Set the poor to work. J. Richard Clarke 
True Latter‐day Saints will not voluntarily shift from themselves the burden of their own support. So long as they are able, they will supply themselves and their families with the necessities of life. (Gospel Principles)  As far as they are able, all Church members should accept the responsibility to care for their relatives who are unable to provide for themselves. (Gospel Principles) 5. Our work itself must have integrity and be for worthy purposes. 
Our work itself must have integrity and be for worthy purposes. Our Heavenly Father is not happy when we receive gain from evil or idle pursuits. President Spencer W. Kimball put it this way: “I feel strongly that [those] who accept wages or salary and do not give [fair] time, energy, devotion, and service are receiving money that is not clean” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1953, 52). Pretty strong words, aren’t they? He also said that money obtained by evil or idle practices such as theft; gambling, including lotteries; graft; sale of illegal drugs; oppression of the poor; and the like is unclean money. President Kimball defined the difference between honorable work and evil work: “Clean money is that compensation received for a full day’s honest work. It is that reasonable pay for faithful service. It is that fair profit from the sale of goods, commodities, or service. It is that income received from transactions where all parties profit.“Filthy lucre is . . . money . . . obtained through theft and robbery . . . gambling . . . sinful operations . . . bribery, and . . . exploitation” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1953, 52). David E. Sorensen‐ The Blessing of Work 6. We must account for the way we use our time before God. We must not procrastinate but must be diligent in serving God. 
There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is "not this day." "Someday I will repent." "Someday I will forgive him." "Someday I will speak to my friend about the Church." "Someday I will start to pay tithing." "Someday I will return to the temple." "Someday . . . "The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrow’s which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought "Someday I will" can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity. Henry B. Eyring‐ This Day 7. We must be diligent by seeking the Lord in the morning through prayer and scriptures. 
That is as true of a day as it is of a life. A morning prayer and an early search in the scriptures to know what we should do for the Lord can set the course of a day. We can know which task, of all those we might choose, matters most to God and therefore to us. I have learned such a prayer is always answered if we ask and ponder with childlike submission, ready to act without delay to perform even the most humble service. 8. We are not required to run faster than we are able to and we are only required to do the best we are able to do. The Lord doesn’t expect us to work harder than we are able. He doesn’t (nor should we) compare our efforts to those of others. Our Heavenly Father asks only that we do the best we can—that we work according to our full capacity, however great or small that may be.‐Dieter F. Uchtdorf‐ Two principles of any economy 9. Our work within our families is most important and the pursuit of wealth should never interfere with our family life. 
Work can be ennobling and fulfilling, but remember Jacob’s warning not to “spend . . . your labor for that which cannot satisfy.” If we devote ourselves to the pursuit of worldly wealth and the glitter of public recognition at the expense of our families and our spiritual growth, we will discover soon enough that we have made a fool’s bargain. The righteous work we do within the walls of our homes is most sacred; its benefits are eternal in nature. It cannot be delegated. It is the foundation of our work as priesthood holders. 10. The law of the harvest: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) 11. The Law of Increasing returns states that rewards increase with effort exerted: If you wanted to give this idea a name, you could call it "the law of increasing returns." The simple fact is that there is a God who wants us to have faith in him. He knows that to strengthen faith we must use it. And so he gives us the chance to use it by letting some of the spiritual rewards we want most be delayed. Instead of first effort yielding returns, with a steady decline, it's the reverse. First efforts, and even second efforts, seem to yield little. And then the rewards begin, perhaps much later, to grow and grow. Henry B. Eyring‐the Law of Increasing Returns 12. We are commanded to diligently develop and use our talents to bless others. 
A talent is one kind of stewardship (responsibility in the kingdom of God). The parable of the talents tells us that when we serve well in our stewardship, we will be given greater responsibilities. If we do not serve well, our stewardship will eventually be taken from us. (See Matthew 25:14–30.) Gospel Principle 13. We are to work in order to meet our family responsibilities. 
Parents work together to provide for the physical, spiritual, and emotional well‐being of their family. They should never expect anyone to take care of this responsibility for them. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith” (1 Timothy 5:8).  Children should do their part in the work of the family. It is necessary for children to have work assignments to fit their abilities. They need to be praised for their successes. Good work attitudes, habits, and skills are learned through successful experiences in the home. (Gospel Principles) 14. We must balance out work with recreation and rest 
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We should each find the proper balance between work, recreation, and rest. Not only is it pleasant and necessary to rest, but we are commanded to rest on the Sabbath day. On other days of the week, in addition to working, we may spend time to improve our talents and enjoy our hobbies, recreation, or other activities that will refresh us. (Gospel Principles) Blessings 1. Diligence brings wealth. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. –Proverbs 10:4 2. Work is the equalizer for deficiency in native endowment. 
Work is honorable. It is good therapy for most problems. It is the antidote for worry. It is the equalizer for deficiency of native endowment. Work makes it possible for the average to approach genius. What we may lack in aptitude, we can make up for in performance. J. Richard Clarke‐ The Value of Work 3. We are less likely to waste when it is the fruit of our own labour. 
When we work we are less likely to waste things, a hard worker is also more likely to share things with those who are truly poor and needed. –Neal A. Maxwell 4. Those who seek early shall find 
As the risen Savior, He is this day and forever the Light of the World. It is He who invites us to come unto Him and serve Him, without delay. His encouragement to you and to me is this: "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." (Proverbs 8:17) 5. We will have days enough, if we don’t waste them. 
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It is hard to know when we have done enough for the Atonement to change our natures and so qualify us for eternal life. And we don't know how many days we will have to give the service necessary for that mighty change to come. But we know that we will have days enough if only we don't waste them. Here is the good news: "And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men." (2 Nephi 2:21) Henry B. Eyring‐ This Day 6. Hard as things seem today, they will be better in the next day if you choose to serve the Lord this day with your whole heart. 7. “Diligence overcomes difficulties, sloth makes them.”—
Benjamin Franklin Costs 1. Idlers shall not take the fruit of the laborers. “Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.” D&C 42:42 2. Those who aren't diligent become poor. He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. –Proverbs 10:4 3. Those who aren't diligent lose character and initiative: “Brethren, do your best to see that those … who consume, shall be among those who produce. It is a principle … that destroys character [and] initiative, to get into the frame of mind where our sustenance comes as a gift.” Synonyms 1. Perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 
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“For all things difficult to acquire, the intelligent man works with perseverance” Lao Tzu “I do not think there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature.” John D. Rockefeller  “Success is the child of drudgery and perseverance. It cannot be coaxed or bribed; pay the price and it is yours.” –Orison Marden  “Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragement, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak” –Thomas Carlyle 2. Vigor: active strength or force. 
“They who lack talent expect things to happen without effort. They ascribe failure to a lack of inspiration or ability, or to misfortune, rather than to insufficient application. At the core of every true talent there is an awareness of the difficulties inherent in any achievement, and the confidence that by persistence and patience something worthwhile will be realized. Thus talent is a species of vigor.” ‐‐‐Eric Offer 3. Zeal: fervour for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavour; enthusiastic diligence; ardour. 
“Experience shows that success is due less to ability than to zeal.” 4. Ardor: intense devotion, eagerness, or enthusiasm; zeal 
“Learning is not attained by chance; it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” –
Abigail Adams Antonyms: 1. Idleness: habitually doing nothing or avoiding work. 2. Indolence: Habitual laziness. 3. Torpidity: Inactive or sluggish. 4. Sloth: habitual disinclination to exertion. How to measure 1. Diligence can be measured as productivity‐output per unit of time. 2. It can be measured by performing required behaviors in a given calling in a reasonable amount of time. 3. Basically it's measured by the speed, frequency and effort expended in a given area of one's life.