March 18, 2025, 6:02 PM MDT
When the Lord had forgotten to call him, chastised the brother of Jared, he ended with this command: “Go to work, build” (Ether 2:16).
The injunction has become a “guiding principle” for brothers Gabriel W. Reed, the second counselor for Sunday School presidency.
“These three words – “go,” “work,” and “build” – resonate deeply with me. They believe that it serves as a pattern of how we respond to revelation and guidance from the Lord,” he said.
Brothers Reed spoke the Mormon book during their prayers at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah on Tuesday, March 18th. Through biblical examples and his own experiences, he demonstrated how acting on personal revelation requires faith and trust in God.
“Know that God is listening to you. He sees you, and he is leading you,” Brother Reid said. “Go, work, build, and don’t look back.”
Invitation to go
Regarding the first part of the principle, “go” brother Reid said that this order is always given with purpose, even if the purpose is unknown, leading to greater faith and blessings.
For example, the Lord told Abraham to leave the idolatry city and enter a new land (Genesis 12:1). He ordered Joshua to lead Israel to the Promised Land (Joshua 1:1-2). He told Jonah to preach in Nineveh (Jonah 3:1-3). The Savior told his disciples, “Therefore, ye will go, and teach all the nations, and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
The Reed brothers recall the days when they were invited to “go.” In 1995, as a freshman at BYU, his goals included obtaining education, sports and playing dating, but afterwards he felt the encouragement to serve the mission.
He “shuns” impressions for a while, feeling that he didn’t know enough about the gospel and wanted to continue to focus on other goals. But no matter what he did, the message was clear: “Go.” The Reed brothers continued to serve on the Chile Santiago South Mission.
“Looking back at the mission experience, you realize that it’s not just a box to check,” he said. “It was the catalyst that set me on the path that would continue to bless my life today. So when the Lord says, ‘I’m going,’ he invites us to trust him and advance courage. ”
Invitation to “Work” and “Build”
The second and third pieces of the principle, “work” and “build” are closely connected. When individuals work to build the Lord’s kingdom, the Lord builds them into a better version of himself, Brother Reid said.
“Remember, your job isn’t just about going through classes, preparing for a career, or creating a resume,” he said. “It’s building itself in the person who God created you.”
Brother Reid said work is a necessary part of the Lord’s path wherever he is, and church members fulfill different responsibilities in different seasons of life.
And just as the Lord had “a much greater blessing” to Jared’s brothers than to the tents with sea views, he has the promised land for those who answer the call for work.
He learned this lesson in person towards the end of his college football career at BYU. The Reed brothers felt ready to cut the football cleats, he said. But then, Prompt came clearly to pursue an NFL career.
It wasn’t something he had hoped or planned, but Brother Reid said he chose to trust in the Lord. Three children born in three different states on three different teams played in three years.
“It wasn’t a career that made the ESPN headlines, but it was a journey of faith, resilience and sacrifice,” the Reed brothers said.
Brother Reid closed with testimony that Jesus Christ was a perfect example of the building, going, working, and working. He has a plan and knows each person’s desires, goals and hopes.
“If he urges you to move forward with faith, bring courage,” Brother Reid said. “Take your heart, your heart, your strength and work on it. Trust that the Lord is building you.”
