Years ago when struggling with a problem at work, I looked for some guidance from what Covey and Merrill call “Wisdom Literature” (1), and found myself in the Doctrine and Covenants, revelations revealed to Joseph Smith the Prophet in founding The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For some reason I was led to Section 66:10, the first line of which is very direct and spoke immediately to my heart: “Seek not to be cumbered.”

I found a dictionary to understand the word “cumber” better. “a : to hinder or encumber by being in the way” (2). As I reflected upon the clear insight, I knew I was worrying about things that were not important, things which did not need to be solved that day. (See also Luke 10:40) (3).

Years later, while reading the Savior’s instructions in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6:34, I realized the Savior is offering a promise to us: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (4)

A modern interpretation of this might be, “Don’t worry about the problems of tomorrow. Tomorrow you can solve all the problems that will be required by the end of the day. The time in every day is adequate to solving every problem in it.”

(1) “First Things First” By Stephen R. Covey, A. Roger Merrill, Rebecca R. Merrill page 334. https://goo.gl/4K841U

(2) https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cumber

(3) https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/luke/10.40?lang=eng#p39

(4) https://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/6.34?lang=eng#p33