Procrastination

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood session of the October 2007 conference.

I think I've struggled to overcome procrastination my entire life. I can do really well for a while then I backslide and fall right back into bad habits of putting off doing this, that, or the other thing.

Elder Donald L. Hallstrom tells the funny story of his 11 year old son putting off choosing a family recipe for submission to the school's cookbook. On the day it was due he wasn't ready and told his friend who gladly supplied an extra that he had. The result was published for all to see: the "Hallstrom Family Favorite Recipe--Bacardi Rum Cake."

Many of us place ourselves in circumstances far more consequential than embarrassment because of our procrastination to become fully converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. We know what is right, but we delay full spiritual involvement because of laziness, fear, rationalization, or lack of faith. We convince ourselves that "someday I'm going to do it." However, for many "someday" never comes, and even for others who eventually do make a change, there is an irretrievable loss of progress and surely regression.

 

Elder Neal A. Maxwell spoke of this also in his talk titled "Why Not Now" which was one my mission president asked us to study. 

As mortals, natural men and women, we tend to want to pursue an easy path, I know I do. But that is not what mortal life is supposed to be. It is a test--and tests are by nature hard! But this is an open book test with lots of help and encouragement from our Headmaster and teachers. 

Elder Hallstrom says, "One of President Spencer W. Kimball's effective encouragements was the succinct "Do it." He later expanded this to "Do it now" to pointedly teach the need for timeliness." 

Procrastination may seem the easy way, as it momentarily removes the effort required to accomplish something of value. Ironically, in time, procrastination produces a heavy burden laced with guilt and a hollow lack of satisfaction. Temporal and, even more importantly, spiritual goals will not be achieved by procrastination. 

What have I procrastinated spiritually? Lots that has to do with ministering. It's so hard for me to respond to promptings and act immediately. It's embarrassing to admit that I have a fear of being wrong (as I have been so many times in the past!)

Elder Hallstrom invites, "Now is the time to do whatever is required to resolve our undesired circumstances. . . . It may not be easy, but our afflictions can be swallowed up in the joy of Christ."