May 10, 2021
Attributes of Academic Success: Learning From the Savior
How can spiritual improvements help in our academic and professional lives? As you learn about Jesus Christ and attributes of His character, you might look for ways you can follow His example and develop those attributes yourself to help you in your academic and professional life.
Here are a few attributes you could start with:
Diligence: Success is possible through persistence
To be diligent means to continually press forward, regardless of the challenge.
Before being crucified, the Savior was spit on, mocked, and adorned with a crown of thorns. Despite these agonies, Jesus Christ diligently finished what His Father asked Him to do.
Christ prayed diligently as He performed the Atonement.
Sometimes it can be hard to stay motivated to do simple things like completing coursework, but if we are diligent in our studies, we will undoubtedly accomplish more. Having habits of diligence will provide opportunities for employers to recognize and reward dedication and hard work.
When we are diligent, we receive strength beyond our own to support to provide for our families and serve God.
Humility: Strength in recognizing where our success comes from
“[The] Savior is our supreme example of the power of humility and submissiveness,” said Richard C. Edgley, a former First Counselor in the Presiding Bishopric. “After all, His submitting His will to the Father brought about the greatest, and even the most powerful, event in all of history. Perhaps some of the most sacred words in all the scriptures are simply, ‘Not my will, but thine, be done.'”1
Humility comes from recognizing where our strengths and blessings come from.
To be humble doesn’t mean we should deny our strengths, talents, or gifts — being humble can simply mean that we recognize where those strengths and blessings come from. When we recognize God as our provider and express gratitude for our blessings, we can also receive the peace and strength that comes when we rely on Him.
Bishop Edgley continued, “He will take care of you and make more of you than you can make of yourself…. Humility and gratitude are truly the twin characteristics of happiness.”
Asking for help from classmates, instructors, or friends takes humility, but God often supports us through the people around us.
Integrity: Honesty and trust no matter the circumstance
President James E. Faust explained, “An honorable man or woman … [is] honorable in their inner core. Integrity is the light that shines from a disciplined conscience. It is the strength of duty within us.”2
Christ always remained true to who He was and what He taught.
A person with integrity makes the same choices in private as he or she would in public. The Savior never acted contrary to what He taught. His teachings and demeanor were the same, no matter who He was with or what His circumstances were.
What we do when no one’s watching shows the real intent of our heart and helps people to trust us. Trust is vital to be successful in relationships, in jobs, in school — always!
The blessings of having integrity include the trust of employers and family members, the opportunity to progress in our careers and in life, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing we are aligned with God and worthy of His Spirit.
Patience: With enduring patience, anything is possible
“Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature,” said President Thomas S. Monson. “There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required. If the only perfect man who ever lived — even Jesus of Nazareth — was called upon to endure great suffering, how can we, who are less than perfect, expect to be free of such challenges?”3
Christ was patient with all those He taught and served.
Patience is an essential quality in all aspects of life, and especially when it comes to pursuing higher education. The pursuit of knowledge is an eternal endeavor! Specifically, earning a degree takes years to complete and includes sacrificing time, effort, and money, which we may not naturally be inclined to give up. However, as we continue to pray for help and wait patiently on the Lord, our capacity to learn will increase and He will bless us for every effort.
As we strive to further develop these Christlike attributes and become more like the Savior, we’re promised divine assistance in our academic and professional endeavors — for “all things unto [God] are spiritual.”4
What Christlike attributes have helped you to succeed academically? Share in the comments below!
Comments on "Attributes of Academic Success: Learning From the Savior"
My dear, you are the best. Actually, this is what I was missing in life in order to be successful. Oh!! I am happy I have my destiny helpers. May God bless you abundantly and exceedingly. May you long leave to serve the Lord.
Thank you for this lesson. I love these Christian virtues. They help us to be true disciples of the Savior, so we will be models in everything we do. We will have no difficulty in reaching our school and life commitments.
Thank you dear, I love this program.
Yes! Christlike attributes are an essential part of our academic pursuit of success. The Lord cares about our academic progress. I’ve feel His love and mercy.
I also believe that the attributes can develop us and help strengthen our faith and love in the Saviour and Heavenly father and also in our families.
Grace, mercy, and lovingkindness: don’t judge ourselves or others harshly when a task or concept seems hard to grasp. Then again, patience and diligence are great attributes that encourage us to try, try, try again. Also confidence, empathy, and ministering-to-the-one.
Resilience, charity, and temperance are some of many attributes that Jesus Christ had acquired for Him to achieve much spiritually and temporally as He led by the perfect example for all of us to follow.
Integrity: Honesty and trust no matter the circumstances. Patience is an essential quality in all aspects of life, and especially when it comes to pursuing higher education.
I know that if we follow the Savior’s attributes, then we can be blessed during all the challenges that we may face in our lives.
The truth and the greatest act is to abide the love of God. Just as God loved us, we should strive to abide in love with others, and achieving this type of love is who we should seek to become.
Patience, humility, integrity, and diligence!!
Patience is the best thing that we can have, especially when we want to achieve something great. This is because whenever we are trying to put in effort to achieve our goals, we might face some challenges, and this will require us to be patient in order to find the solution to achieve something great.
Patience always helps in all the aspects of my life. With patience, we’ll not murmur against God, but we will better understand the challenges we’re now facing. Difficulties are part of mortal life, and God himself will help us resolve them in His own way and time as he did with Alma’s peoples (Mosiah 24:10-14) and the brother of Jared’s when crossing the sea (Ether 6:5-10). In the last general conference, Elder Sikahema of seventy taught that God’s Help is granted unto us in a sequential process. Only patience can help us understand that.
I think that humility, diligence, and integrity are very important for either spiritual or material aspects of our life. We can persevere in what we decide to do, and people trust us.
I am so grateful for the wonderful Quote that I have read through.It tells me the way and idear to strive for in order to achieve goals
Patience is a by product of tribulation, it isn’t granted, it is earned
Author: Claudia Minden Weisz
Thank you for this instructive article. I have been striving to apply all of the above Christlike attributes: diligence, humility, integrity, and patience in my academic and professional endeavors and I have always obtained wonderful results.
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