I remember the first time I was sitting in a car that had the “auto start-stop” feature. My colleague and I were headed to lunch in his new car. When we arrived at the first stop light, his car engine stalled. With cars all around us and the light about to turn green, he took advantage of the worried look on my face and told me to get out and push, but then quickly laughed as he explained to me this new feature which is designed to decrease engine idling time. We had a good laugh and made it to and from lunch without incident.

Since that day, this “auto start-stop” feature, has become much more common and I no longer worry when my car goes silent at a stop. Here are some of the reasons one would want to avoid idling an engine:

1. Wastes fuel – Even though you’re not moving, the engine still burns gas.
2. Produces unnecessary emissions – Idling releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter into the air.
3. Creates more wear on and can damage the engine – Idling doesn’t let the engine run at its optimal temperature or efficiency and extended idling actually causes oil and fuel to circulate inefficiently, which can lead to deposit build up.

Being idle is also harmful to us human beings. In Doctrine and Covenants 88:124, the Lord commands us to “Cease to be idle.” I used to think this meant we always had to be busy–always being productive. But I don’t think that’s what God is saying; after all, rest is important and, in fact, we are commanded to rest. So I think it’s different.

Similar to the negative impacts idling has on a car engine, idleness can have a negative impact on us.

Waste

When we are idle, what is wasted? I think the most common answer would be time.

“For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors” (Alma 34:32).

Brigham Young said: “Time is all the capital stock there is on the earth. … If properly used, it brings that which will add to your comfort, convenience, and satisfaction. Let us consider this, and no longer sit with hands folded, wasting time.”¹

Other than time, what else might idleness be wasting? Talent. Resources. Energy. Effort.

Wasting effort is particularly concerning. We know the Lord loves effort,² but that is effort on moving toward Him not effort stalling or moving away from Him.

Impact on Others

Just as an idling vehicle engine produces emissions that can harm the environment, our idleness can have an impact on our relationships. There could be many examples here, but I will just stick to one: excessive use of technology. While it can be used for much good, technology can also lead to idleness: where we waste time and other resources and where we have our mind in a constant state of unrest.

Elder M. Russell Ballard warned of the damage that can come from the idle use of technology:

“Honestly, how much time do you spend every day on your cell phone or tablet, not including school or Church work? Their use is appropriate, and they are a blessing. However, when smartphones begin to interfere with our relationships with friends and family—and even more importantly, with God—we need to make a change. For some of you, the adjustment will be slight; for others, it may be significant.”³

This video, entitled “Things As They Really Are” impacted me when I saw it years ago. I place it here as a reminder that the most important things in life are often right in front of us.

Wear and Damage

Remember, an engine functions optimally when it is actually performing its purpose–moving the vehicle from one place to another (this ties back to the points about effort above). After that, its most optimal state is at rest because when it idles, it is still burning fuel and wearing out the engine but not fulfilling its created purpose.

Idleness is not resting. I think it goes without saying that an engine that is turned off is not still running. It is off. It is also important to be “off” as a human. Obviously, we cannot function without sleep. But what other ways should we be “off”? Our “off” switch likely has many forms including hobbies, frequently disconnecting from the world (including the news, social media, and the internet), vacation, and observing the Sabbath.

Sometimes rest comes from keeping out covenants. Russell M. Nelson taught:

“The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power—power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God.”⁴

If we are running without fulfilling our purpose on earth, we will wear ourselves out having gone nowhere and done nothing.

Conclusion

Taking all this together, it seems to me, idleness might be living in the “not urgent, not important” quadrant of Stephen Covey’s time management matrix.

One definition of idleness is ‘doing nothing’. Doing things that are not urgent and not important sounds like nothing to me.

God’s work and glory is to help us achieve immortality and eternal life. That takes effort. It takes keeping the two great commandments, including love of neighbor. And it takes covenant keeping.

So, no wonder the Lord commanded us not to be idle—it’s really hard to achieve what he wants us to become if we are idle. Not always running (Mosiah 4:27) and not always resting (D&C 88:124), but rarely, if ever idle.

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Lead image Photo by Matt Boitor on Unsplash

1. Brigham Young, in Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1954), 214.
2. Russell M. Nelson as quoted in “An Especially Noble Calling“, General Conference, April 2020.
3. M. Russell Ballard, “Be Still, and Know That I Am God“, CES Devotional, May 4, 2014
4. Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest“, General Conference, October 2022