I think about this verse often; what does it mean to "do [something] heartily, as to the Lord?" And does it really mean we do everything we do that way?
Well, I believe "[doing something] heartily, as to the Lord," means you are inspired by a cause, a.k.a a why, that 1) resonates deeply in your heart and 2) is directly associated with building the kingdom of God.
This doesn't mean an individual task must resonate deeply in our heart to be worth doing. To hope that every necessary task we undertake will do so may be unrealistic; I say may because it seems unrealistic to me currently, but perhaps we can reach such a place -- I don't know. At any rate, what it does mean is that the cause for which you are doing the task resonates deeply in your heart.
That same principle applies to building the kingdom of God. Sometimes tasks we know are good and important certainly don't feel like building the kingdom of God. Changing a poopy blow-out comes to mind! And yet the tasks of maintaining and running a positive family are some of the most important tasks we can do in building His kingdom.
I bring this all up because I recently read these verses:
"Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
"And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God;"
(Alma 43:45-46)
The Nephites were at war. We read that Moroni was not a blood-thirsty man; the task of war was woeful and undesirable. The cause, however, ran deep.
On our path through life we will reach roadblocks. We will have tests and trials; we will run into traps. As we do, remembering our cause will be the powerful boost we need to endure and overcome. This is why our why must both resonate deeply with us and be directly associated with building God's kingdom.
"When we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help" said President Monson. But to be on the Lord's errand, we must first obtain His blessing.
And so, with a Heaven endorsed cause resonating deeply in our hearts, we can perform every task "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men." Our focus becomes that divine cause, not the challenging task. The approval or disapproval of men becomes irrelevant, for we "lift up [our] eyes" toward the kingdom of God.
This is not to say that such a cause may not benefit us as well! After all, President Joseph F. Smith said "that a religion which has not the power to save people temporally and make them prosperous and happy here, cannot be depended upon to save them spiritually, to exalt them in the life to come." (As quoted by Joseph B. Wirthlin.)
All of the resources necessary for us to provide for ourselves and our families, as well as to perform our mission or errand from Heaven, will be provided to us. There
Thomas Payne illustrates a principle that is applicable here: "What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated." While our context may be different, does the same principle not apply?
Moroni's people were given the boost they needed as they were inspired to "lift up [their] eyes," to refocus on their cause and thus on their reliance on God.
"When the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage.
"And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.
"And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power;"
(Alma 43:48-50)
Thanks to the powerful cause with which they were inspired, the Nephites turned to their task with the definiteness of purpose spoken of by Napolean Hill. They were thence aided by God and their success was assured.
"In that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.
...
"Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi.
"[and the Lamanites] were struck with terror."
(Alma 43:50, 52, 53)
The Nephites were "three feet from gold" when they were "about to shrink and flee." In that moment so nigh unto victory and so close to giving up, they were able to perform their task "heartily, as to the Lord." How? By clinging with definiteness of purpose to their cause and their God. I do not believe this would have been possible had their cause not resonated deeply within them or had they doubted they were on the errand of God.
I've heard it said, "if your why doesn't make you cry, it's not strong enough." So what is your cause? What is your dream? What is your quest?
Buddha has been oft quoted as saying "Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it." In David O McKay's words, "Find a purpose in life so big it will challenge every capacity to be at your best." And as President Monson just quoted Thomas Carlyle, "the man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder."
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