A More Determined Discipleship ______

By Elder Neal A. Maxwell An Address delivered at University, 10 October 1978 Ensign (Feb. 1979), pp. 69-73 (The sub-headings are not Neal A. Maxwell's but have been added.)

Speaking to student leaders in higher incredible ironies. Let us cite but one of insistent and its inquisitors inevitable. Its education, I have often used the analogy these ironies which is yet in its subtle paid ministry would be numerous beyond that in a university the faculty, staff, and stages: We will see a maximum, if indirect, belief. Its Caesars would be insufferably administration are like the "natives," and effort made to establish irreligion as the condescending. Its majorities--when faced the students are like the "tourists." In many state religion. It is actually a new form of with clear alternatives--will make the ways, a recurring devotional speaker is paganism-which uses the carefully Barabbas choice, as did a mob centuries more like one of the "natives." Even so, I preserved and cultivated freedoms of ago when Pilate confronted them with the thank President Oaks for once again western civilization to shrink freedom, even need to decide. extending this precious privilege to me. as it rejects the value essence of our rich Your discipleship may see the time You may conclude, however, that I am Judeo-Christian heritage. when such religious convictions are becoming more like a "tourist," since today M. J. Sobran wrote recently: discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, "A I will try to cover two topics in order to "The Framers of the Constitution ... religious conviction is now a second-class make the most of these fleeting moments. forbade the Congress to make any law, conviction, expected to step deferentially to respecting' the establishment of religion, the back of the secular bus and not to get DISCIPLESHIP thus leaving the states free to do so (as uppity about it" (Human Life Review, several of them did); and they explicitly Summer 1978, pp. 58-59). Discipleship Means Following the forbade the Congress to abridge ` the free This new irreligious imperialism seeks Brethren exercise' of religion, thus giving actual to disallow certain opinions simply because Discipleship includes good citizenship. religious observance a rhetorical emphasis those opinions grow out of religious In this connection, if you are a careful that fully accords with the special concern convictions. Resistance to abortion will be student of the statements of the modern we know they had for religion. It takes a seen as primitive. Concern over the prophets, you will have noticed that with special ingenuity to wring out of this a institution or the family will be viewed as rare exceptions -- especially when the First governmental indifference to religion, let untrendy and unenlightened. Presidency has spoken out--the concerns alone an aggressive secularism. Yet there In its mildest form, irreligion will expressed have been over moral issues, not are those who insist that the First merely be condescending toward those who issues between political parties. The Amendment actually proscribes hold to traditional Judeo-Christian values. declarations are about principles, not governmental partiality not only to any In its more harsh forms, as is always the people; and causes, not candidates. On single religion, but to religion as such; so case with those whose dogmatism is occasions, at other levels in the Church, a that tax exemption for churches is now blinding, the secular church will do what it few have not been so discreet, so wise, or thought to be unconstitutional. It is can to reduce the influence of those who so inspired. startling to consider that a clause-clearly still worry over standards such as those in Make no mistake about it, brothers and protecting religion can be construed as the Ten Commandments. It is always such sisters, in the months and years ahead, requiring that it be denied a status routinely an easy step from dogmatism to unfair play- events are likely to require each member to granted to educational and charitable -especially so when the dogmatists believe decide whether or not he will follow the enterprises, which have no overt themselves to be dealing with primitive First Presidency. Members will find it constitutional protection. Far from people who do not know what is best for more difficult to halt longer between two equalizing unbelief, secularism has them--the secular bureaucrats' burden, you opinions. (See I Kings 18:21.) succeeded in virtually establishing it.... see. President Marion G. Romney said, "What the secularists are increasingly many years ago, that he had "never demanding, in their disingenuous way, is Irreligion and Discipleship hesitated to follow the counsel of the that religious people, when they act Am I saying that the voting rights of Authorities of the Church even though it politically, act only on secularist grounds. people of religion are in danger? Of course crossed my social, professional or political They are trying to equate acting on religion not! Am I saying, "It's back to the life" (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. with establishing religion. And--I repeat-- catacombs?" No! But there is occurring a 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a the consequence of such logic is really to discounting of religiously based opinions. particularly vital doctrine in a society which establish secularism. It is in fact, to force There may even be a covert and subtle is becoming more wicked. In short, the religious to internalize the major disqualification of some for certain offices brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of premise of secularism: that religion has no in some situations, in an ironic irreligious the gospel of Christ includes not proper bearing on public affairs." (Human test for office. being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 51-52, 60- If people, however, are not permitted to Christ! 61.) advocate, to assert, and to bring to bear, in Brothers and sisters, irreligion as the every legitimate way, the opinions and Irreligion - The State Religion state religion would be the worst of all views they hold which grow out of their We are now entering a time of combinations. Its orthodoxy would be religious convictions, what manner of men and women would we be? There will also be times, happily, when second estate is and can further encourage Our founding fathers did not wish to a minor defeat seems probable, but others us in good works. This precious doctrine have a state church established nor to have will step forward, having been rallied to can also help us go the second mile because a particular religion favored by rightness by what we do. We will know we are doubly called. government. They wanted religion to be the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a In some ways, our second estate in free to make its own way. But neither did slumbering majority of the decent people of relationship to our first estate, is like they intend to have irreligion made into a all races and creeds which was, till then, agreeing in advance to surgery. Then the favored state church. unconscious of itself. anesthetic of forgetfulness settles in upon Notice the terrible irony if this trend Jesus said that when the fig trees put us. Just as doctors do not de-anestlictize a were to continue. When the secular church forth their leaves, "summer is nigh" (Matt. patient in the midst of authorized surgery to goes after its heretics, where are the 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon ask him again if the surgery should be sanctuaries? To what landfalls and us, let us not then complain of the heat! continued, so, after divine tutoring, we Plymouth Rocks can future pilgrims go? agreed to come here and to submit If we let come into being a secular DISCIPLESHIP AND ourselves to certain experiences; it was an church which is shorn of traditional and FOREORDINATION irrevocable decision. divine values, where shall we go for Of course, when we mortals try to inspiration in the crises of tomorrow? Can Have I come today, however, only to comprehend, rather than accept, we appeal to the rightness of specific add one more to the already long list of foreordination, the result is one in which regulation to sustain us in our hour of special challenges faced by you and me? finite minds futilely try to comprehend need? Will we be able to seek shelter Not really. I have also come to say to you omniscience. A full understanding is under a First Amendment which by then that God, who foresaw all challenges, has impossible; we simply have to trust in what may have been twisted to favor irreligion? given to us a precious doctrine which can the Lord has told us, knowing enough Will we be able to rely for counter force on encourage us in meeting this and all other however, to realize that we are not dealing value education aided in school systems challenges. with guarantees from God but extra which are increasingly secularized? And if opportunities--and heavier responsibilities. our governments and schools were to fail Foreordination is Not If those responsibilities are in some ways us, would we be able to fall back upon and The combined doctrine of God’s linked to past performance or to past rely upon the institution of the family, when foreordination is one of the doctrinal roads capabilities, it should not surprise us. so many secular movements seek to shred "least traveled by." Yet it clearly underlines it? how very long how perfectly God has loved Foreordination Based on Premortal It may well be that as our time comes to us and known us with our individual needs Obedience "suffer shame for his name" (Acts 5:41), and capacities. Isolated from other The Lord said: some of that special stress will grow out of doctrines, or mishandled, these truths can "There is a law, irrevocably decreed in that portion of discipleship which involves stoke the fires of fatalism, impact adversely heaven before the foundations of this citizenship. Remember, as Nephi and upon agency, cause us to focus on status world, upon which all blessing are Jacob said, we must learn to endure "the rather than service and carry us over into predicated-- "And when we obtain crosses of the world" and yet to despise predestination. President Joseph Fielding any blessing from God, it is by obedience "the shame of it" (2 Ne. 9: 18; Jac. 1: 8). Smith once warned: to that law upon which it is predicated" To go on clinging to the iron rod in spite of "It is very evident from a thorough (D&C 130:20-2 1). This eternal law the mockery and scorn that flow at us from study of the gospel and the plan of salvation prevailed in the first estate as it does in the the multitudes in that great and spacious that a conclusion that those who accepted second estate. It should not disconcert us, building seen by Father Lehi, which is the the Savior were predestined to be saved no therefore, that the Lord has indicated that "pride of the world" (1 Ne. 11:36)-is to matter what the nature of their lives must he chose some individuals before they came disregard the shame of the world. be an error.... Surely Paul never intended here to carry out certain assignments; Parenthetically, why, really why, do the to convey such a thought.... This might hence, these individuals have been disbelievers who line that spacious building have been one of the passages in Paul' s foreordained to those assignments. "Every watch so intently what the believers are teachings which cause Peter to declare that man who has a calling to minister to the doing? (See I Ne. 8:33.) Surely there must there are in Paul's writings, ' some things inhabitants of the world," said the Prophet be other things for the scorners to do. hard to be understood, which they that are , "was ordained to that very Unless deep within their seeming unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do purpose in the Grand Council of heaven disinterest.... Unless.... also the other scriptures, unto their own before this world was. I suppose I was If the challenge of the secular church destruction" (Improvement Era, May 1963, ordained to this very office in that Grand becomes very real, let us, as in all other p. 35 see 2 Pet. 3: 16). Council." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph relationships, be principled but pleasant. Paul stressed running life' s race the full Smith, p. 365.) Let us be perceptive without being distance; he did not intend a casual pompous. Let us have integrity and not Christianity in which some had won even Foreordination and Mortal Obedience write checks with our tongues which our before the race started! Foreordination is like any other conduct cannot cash. blessing--it is a conditional bestowal subject Before the ultimate victory of the forces Foreordination and the Second Estate to our faithfulness. Prophecies foreshadow of righteousness, some skirmishes will be Yet, though foreordination is a difficult events without determining the outcome, lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a doctrine, it has been given to us by the because of a divine foreseeing of outcomes. record so that .the choices are clear, letting living God, through living, prophets, for a So foreordination is a conditional bestowal others do as they will in the face of purpose. It can actually increase our of a role, a responsibility, or a blessing prophetic counsel. understanding of how crucial this mortal which, likewise, foresees but does not fix the outcome. knew beforehand the movements and where was "blind from birth," some come to bring There have been those who have failed about of fishes in the little sea of Tiberias, glory to God (John 9:1-2). We must be or who have been treasonous to their trust, should it offend us that he knows exceedingly careful about imputing either such as David, Solomon, and Judas. God beforehand which mortals will come into wrong causes or wrong rewards to all in foresaw the fall of David, but was not the the gospel net? such circumstances. They are in the Lord' s cause of it. It was David who saw hands, and he loves them perfectly. Bathsheba from the balcony and sent for The Omniscience of God Indeed, some of those who have required her. But neither was God surprised by It does no violence even to our frail much waiting upon in this life may be such a sad development. human logic to observe that there cannot be waited upon again by the rest of us in the God foresaw, but did not cause, Martin a grand plan of salvation for all mankind, next world but for the highest of reasons! Harris's loss of certain pages of the unless there is also a plan for each translated ; God made individual. The salvational sum will reflect Priesthood Foreordination plans to cope with failure over 1,500 years all its parts. Thus, when we are elected to certain before it was to occur! (See preface to Once the believer acknowledges that the mortal chores, we are elected "according to D&C 10 and Words of Mormon.) past, present, and future are before God the foreknowledge of God the Father" (I Thus, foreordination is clearly no simultaneously--even though we do not Pet. 1:2). When Abraham was advised that excuse for fatalism, or arrogance, or the understand how-- then the doctrine of he was "chosen before thou wast born," he abuse of agency. It is not, however, a foreordination may be seen somewhat more was among the "noble and great ones" doctrine that can be ignored simply because clearly. For instance, it was necessary for (Abr. 3:22-23). Through the revelation it is difficult. Indeed, deep inside the God to know how the economic difficulties given to us by the prophet Joseph F. Smith, hardest doctrines are some of the pearls of and crop failures of the Joseph Smith Sr., we read that the Prophet Joseph Smith, greatest price. family in New England would move this , Brigham Young, John special family to the Cumorah vicinity Taylor, , "and other Those Foreordained to Accept the Gospel where the Book of Mormon plates were choice spirits" were also reserved by God in Mortality buried. God's plans could scarcely have so "to come forth in the fulness of times to The doctrine pertains not only to the unfolded if--willy-nilly--the Smiths had been take part in laying the foundations of the foreordination of prophets, but to God's born Manchurians and if, meanwhile, the great latter-day work" [D&C 138:53]. precise assessment, beforehand, as to each plates had been buried in Belgium! These individuals are among the rulers that of those who will respond to the words of The Lord would need to have perfect Abraham had described to him centuries the Savior and the prophets. From the comprehension of all the military and earlier by God. They were to be "rulers in Savior' s own lips came these words, "I am political developments in the Middle East-- the Church of God," [D&C 138:55], not the good shepherd, and know my sheep, some of which are unfolding even now-- necessarily rulers in the secular and am known of mine" (John 10:14). which would combine to bring to pass a kingdoms.' rhus, those seen by Abraham Similarly the Savior said, "My sheep hear latter-day condition in which "all nations" were the Pauls, not the Caesars; the my voice, and I know them, and they will be gathered "against Jerusalem to Spencer W. Kimballs, not the Churchills. follow me" (John 10:27). Further, he battle" (Zech. 14:2). Wise secular leaders do much lasting and declared, "And ye are called to bring to It should not surprise us that the Lord, commendable good, but Paul observed to pass the gathering of mine elect; for mine who notices the fall of each sparrow and the saints in Corinth that (as the world elect hear my voice and harden not their the hair from every head, would know measured greatness and wisdom) "not many hearts" (D&C 29:7). centuries before how much money Judas wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, This responsiveness could not be would receive-thirty pieces of silver-at the not many noble, are called" (1 Cor. 1:26). gauged without divine foreknowledge time he betrayed the Savior. (See Matt. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, concerning all mortals and their response to 26:15, Matt. 27:3, Zech. 11:12.) "In regard to the holding of the the gospel--which foreknowledge is so Quite understandably, the manner in priesthood in the pre-existence, I will say perfect it leaves the realm of prediction and which things unfold seems to us mortals to that there was an organization there just as enters the realm of prophecy. be so natural. Our not knowing what is to well as an organization here, and we there The foreseeing of those who will accept come (in the perfect way that God knows it) held authority. Men chosen to positions of the gospel in mortality, gladly and with thus preserves our free agency completely. trust in the spirit world held the alacrity, is based upon their parallel When, through a process we call priesthood.' (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. responsiveness in the premortal world. No inspiration and revelation, we are permitted Bruce R. McConkie, Salt Lake City: wonder the Lord could say, as he did to at times to tap that divine databank, we are Bookcraft, 1956, Vol. 3, p. 81.) Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the accessing, for the narrow purposes at hand, Alma speaks about foreordination with belly I knew thee; . . . and I ordained thee the knowledge of God. No wonder that great effectiveness and links it to the a prophet unto the nations" (Jer. 1:5). experience is so unforgettable! foreknowledge of God and, perhaps, even Paul, when writing to the Saints in Rome, to our previous performance (see Al. 13:3- said, "God hath not cast away his people Foreordination and Those With Special 5). which he foreknew" (Rom. 11:2). Paul Limitations also said of God that "he hath chosen us in There are clearly special cases of Foreordination and Premortal Covenants him before the foundation of the world" individuals with special limitations in life, The omniscience of God made it (Eph. 1:4). which conditions we mortals cannot now possible, therefore, for him to determine The Lord, who was able to say to his fully fathom. For all we now know, the the boundaries and times of nations (see disciples, "Cast the net on the right side of seeming limitations may have been an Acts 17:26; Deut. 32:8). the ship" (John 21:6), knew beforehand that agreed-upon spur to achievement--a "thorn Elder Orson Hyde said of our life in the there was a multitude of fishes there. If he in the flesh" (2 Cor. 12:7). Like him who premortal world, "We understood things better there than we do in this lower Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977, p. 29.) responsibilities and much greater risks. world." He also surmised as to the Another helpful analogy for students is But the doctrine of foreordination agreements we made there that "it is not the reality that universities can and do properly understood and humbly pursued impossible that we signed the articles predict with a high degree of accuracy the can help us immensely in coping with the thereof with our own hands,--which articles grades entering students will receive in the vicissitudes of life. Otherwise, time can may be retained in the archives above, to college careers based upon certain tests and play so many tricks upon us. We should be presented to us when we rise from the past performances. If mortals can do this always understand that while God is not dead, and be judged out of our own with reasonable accuracy (even with our surprised, we often are. mouths, according to that which is written short span of familiarity and with finite Life's episodes may thus take on new in the books." Just because we have data), God the Father, who knows us meaning. For instance, Simon, the forgotten, said Elder Hyde, "our perfectly, surely can foresee how we will Cyrenian, wandered into Jerusalem on the forgetfulness cannot alter the facts." respond to various challenges. very day of Christ's crucifixion and was (Journal of Discourses, 7:314- 15.) Hence, While we often do not rise to our pressed into service by Roman soldiers to the degree of detail involved in the opportunities, God is neither pleased nor help carry the Savior' s cross. Simon' s son, covenants and promises we participated in surprised. But we cannot say to him later Rufus, joined the Church and was so well at that time may be a more highly on that we could have achieved had we just thought of by the Apostle Paul that the customized thing than many of us surmise. been given the chance! This is all part of latter mentioned Rufus in his epistle to the Yet, on occasion, even with our forgetting, the justice of God. Romans, describing him as "chosen in the there are inklings. President Joseph F. One of the most helpful--indeed, very Lord" (Rom. 16:13). Was it, therefore, a Smith said: necessary--parallel truths to be pondered mere accident that Simon "who passed by, "But in coming here, we forgot all, that when studying this powerful doctrine of coming out of the country," was asked to our agency might be free indeed, to choose foreordination is given in the revelation of bear the cross of Jesus? (Mark 15:21). good or evil, that we might merit the the Lord to Moses in which the Lord says, reward of our own choice and conduct. "And all things are present with me for I Foreordination and Our Allotments in But by the power of the Spirit, in the know them all" (Moses 1:6). God does not Life redemption of Christ, through obedience, live in the dimension of time as do we. Properly humbled and instructed we often catch a spark from the awakened Moreover, since "all things are present concerning the great privileges that are memories of the immortal soul, which lights with" God, his is not simply a predicting ours, we can cope with what seem to be up our whole being as with the glory of our based solely upon the past. In ways which very dark days, and with true perspective former home" (Gospel Doctrine, Salt Lake are not clear to us, he actually sees, rather about "things as they really are," we can City: Deseret Book Co., 1977, pp. 13-14; than foresees, the future because all things see in them a great chance to contribute. italics added). are at once, present, before him! Churchill, in trying to rally his countrymen In a revelation given to the Prophet in an address at Harrow School on 29 Understanding God's Omniscience Joseph Smith, the Lord describes himself as October 1941, said to them: As indicated earlier, this powerful "the same which knoweth all things, for all "Do not let us speak of darker days; let teaching of foreordination is bound to be a things art present before mine eyes" (D&C us speak rather of sterner days. These are puzzlement in some respects, if we do not 38:2). From the prophet Nephi we receive not dark days: these are great days--the have faith and trust in the Lord. Yet if we the same basic insight in which we likewise greatest days our country has ever lived; think about it, even within our finite must trust: "But the Lord knoweth all and we must all thank God that we have framework of experience, it shouldn' t things from the beginning; wherefore, he been allowed, each of us according to our startle us. Mortal parents are reasonably prepareth a way to accomplish all his works stations, to play a part in making these days good at predicting the behavior of their among the children of men" (I Ne. 9:6). memorable in the history of our race." children in certain circumstances. Of this It was by divine design that the (Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, P. 923.) Elder James E. Talmage wrote: marvelous Mary became the mother of So should we regard the dispensation of "Our Heavenly Father has a full Jesus. Further, Lucy Mack Smith, who the fulness of time even when we face knowledge of the nature and disposition of played such a crucial role in the! rearing of stern-challenges and circumstances. each of His children, a knowledge gained Joseph Smith, did not come to that "These are great days"! Our hearts need by long observation and experience in the assignment by chance. not fail us. We can be equal to our past eternity of our primeval childhood; a One of the dimensions of worshiping a challenges, including the aforementioned knowledge compared with which that living God is to know that he is alive and challenge of the secular church! gained by earthly parents through mortal living in the sense of seeing and acting. He The truth about foreordination also experience with their children is is not a retired God whose best years are helps us to taste of the deep wisdom of infinitesimally small. By reason of that past--to whom we should pay a retroactive Alma, when he said we ought to be content surpassing knowledge, God reads the future obeisance, worshiping him for what he has with things that God hath allotted to each of of child and children, of men individually already done. He is the living God who is, us (see Al. 29:3-4). If, indeed, the things and of men collectively as communities and at once, in the dimensions of the past and allotted to each of us have been divinely nations; He knows what each will do under present and future, while we labor customized according to our ability and given conditions, and sees the end from the constrained by the limitations of time itself. capacity, then for us to seek to wrench beginning. His foreknowledge is based on It is imperative that we always keep in ourselves free of our schooling intelligence and reason. He foresees the mind the caveats noted earlier, so that we circumstances could be to tear ourselves future as a state which naturally and surely do not indulge ourselves or our whims away from carefully matched opportunities. will be not as one which must be because simply because of the presence of this To rant and to rail could be to go against He has arbitrarily willed that it shall be." powerful doctrine of foreordination, for divine wisdom, wisdom in which we may (James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, Salt with special opportunities come special once have concurred before we came here. God knew beforehand each of our precious and personal moments of to you so very long ago. You have been coefficients for coping and contributing. discovery, there will be a sudden surge of measured and found adequate for the President Henry D. Moyle said: recognition of an immortal insight, a challenges that will face you as citizens of "I believe that we, as fellow workers in the doctrinal deja vu. We will sometimes the kingdom of God; of that you should priesthood, might well take to heart the experience a flash from the mirror of have a deep inner-assurance. Be true to admonition of Alma and be content with memory that beckons us forward to a far that trust, as all of us must, I pray in the that which God hath allotted us. We might horizon. name of Jesus Christ, amen. well be assured that we had something to When, in situations of stress, we do with our ` allotment' in our preexistent wonder if there is any more in us to give, state. This would be an additional reason we can be comforted to know that God, for us to accept our present condition and who knows our capacities perfectly, placed make the best of it. It is what we agreed to us here to succeed. No one was do." (In Conference Report, Oct. 1952, p. foreordained to fail or to be wicked. 71.) When we have been weighed and found By the way, the things "allotted" do not wanting, let us remember that we were include a bad temper or deficiencies of a measured before and were found equal to developmental variety. our tasks; and therefore, let us continue but with a more determined discipleship. Foreordination Breeds Optimism When we feel overwhelmed, let us What a vastly different view of life the recall the assurance that God will not doctrine of foreordination gives to us! overprogram us; he will not press upon us Shorn of this perspective, others are more than we can bear (see D&C 50:40). puzzled or bitter about life. Without gospel The doctrine of foreordination is, perspective, life is like trying to play a therefore, not a doctrine of repose; it is a game of billiards on a table with a rumpled doctrine for the second-milers; it can draw cloth, with a crooked cue, and an elliptical out of us the last full measure of devotion. billiard ball. Perhaps the moral of that It is a doctrine of perspiration--not analogy is that we should stay out of pool aspiration. Moreover, it discourages halls! In any event, pessimism does not see aspiring, lest we covet, like two early life or the universe as these things "really disciples, that which has already been given are." to another (see Matt. 20:20-23). The disciple will be puzzled at times, It is a doctrine for the deep believer and too. But he persists. Later he rejoices and will only bring scorn from the skeptic. exclaims over how wonderfully things fit When, as President Joseph F. Smith together, realizing, only then, that with said, we "catch a spark from the awakened God-- things never were apart! memories of the immortal soul," let us be Jacob said the Spirit teaches us the truth quietly grateful. When of great truths we "of things as they really are, and ... really can say, "I know," that powerful spiritual will be" (Jac. 4:13). Centuries later Paul witness may also carry with it the sense of said, "The Spirit searcheth ... the deep our having known before! With things of God" (1 Cor. 2: 10). Of some of rediscovery, we are really saying "I know-- these deep things we have spoken today again! No wonder so often real teaching is and of how things really are. reminding. God bless you and keep you, my Foreordination and Discipleship special friends, to the end that you will Brothers and sisters, in some of those carry out each and every assignment given