---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Do your duty that is best; leave unto the…"
description: "\"Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.\" — David O. McKay"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg"
---

#  Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.

![“Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg)

> “Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.”

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

One should fulfill one's best effort and trust a higher power with the outcome.

**In simple terms:** Do your best, then let the divine handle the rest.

Key Takeaway

Focus on effort, release attachment to results.

Themes

faith responsibility trust

Mood

hopeful serene

Type

motivational spiritual

When to use this quote

- personal projects
- community service
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

theism moral duty

Questions to Reflect On

- What tasks can you commit fully to?
- How does surrendering outcomes affect anxiety?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/)

## Related quotes

> [“It is your duty to do your best. It is not, however, your birth-right to prevail.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idries-shah/it-is-your-duty-to-do-your-best-it-is-not-however-your-birth-right-to/)

[Idries Shah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idries-shah/)

> [Dear Lord, Rest in my heart. May others sense Your serenity in me. Amen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dear-lord-rest-in-my-heart-may-others-sense-your-serenity-in-me-amen/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/let-the-beloved-of-the-lord-rest-secure-in-him-for-he-shields-him-all/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

> [“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. . . . That they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them. – Revelation 14:13”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-j-morgan/blessed-are-the-dead-who-die-in-the-lord-that-they-may-rest-from/)

[Robert J. Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-j-morgan/)

> [“The devil frequently fills our thoughts with great schemes, so that instead of putting our hands to what work we can do to serve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/the-devil-frequently-fills-our-thoughts-with-great-schemes-so-that/)

[Santa Teresa de Jesús](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/santa-teresa-de-jes-s/)

> [“There is perhaps no single thing that could better help us recover Jesus’ lordship in our frantic, power-hungry world than to allow him to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-crouch/there-is-perhaps-no-single-thing-that-could-better-help-us-recover/)

[Andy Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-crouch/)

> [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [It is for us to do those things which the Lord requires at our hands, and leave the result with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/it-is-for-us-to-do-those-things-which-the-lord-requires-at-our-hands/)

[Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/)

> [Be sure to do your duty today, and let God Take care of the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-sure-to-do-your-duty-today-and-let-god-take-care-of-the-outcome/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It is made the duty of every Commanding Officer in the Department, to arrest and send to these Headquarters, under guard, every officer or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-made-the-duty-of-every-commanding-officer-in-the-department-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [If God is first, and you kind of center everything else around Him being the main focal point, you really can make decisions that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aj-michalka/if-god-is-first-and-you-kind-of-center-everything-else-around-him/)

[AJ Michalka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aj-michalka/)

> [Sometimes your plan doesn't work.out because God has better ones..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-your-plan-doesn-t-work-out-because-god-has-better-ones/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Believe to the end, even if all men went astray and you were left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/believe-to-the-end-even-if-all-men-went-astray-and-you-were-left-the/)

[Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/)

> [Always have the fear of God in your heart, and remember that God is always with you, everywhere, whether you are walking or sitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennadius-of-constantinople/always-have-the-fear-of-god-in-your-heart-and-remember-that-god-is/)

[Gennadius of Constantinople](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennadius-of-constantinople/)

> [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

## More by David O. McKay

> [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/adversity-itself-may-lead-toward-and-not-away-from-god-and-spiritual/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The basis of all sin is selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-basis-of-all-sin-is-selfishness/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [“When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/when-you-are-tempted-to-stay-away-from-that-seventies-meeting-from/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

[Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## More Duty quotes

> [I pray that wherever we are and whatever duties we have in the priesthood of God, we will be united in the cause to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/i-pray-that-wherever-we-are-and-whatever-duties-we-have-in-the/)

[Henry B. Eyring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-b-eyring/)

> [Few political debates have been as divisive as the European one. I fought as hard as I could on the Remain side, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damian-green/few-political-debates-have-been-as-divisive-as-the-european-one-i/)

[Damian Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damian-green/)

> [I'm a strange mixture of my mother's curiosity; my father, who grew up the son of the manse in a Presbyterian family, who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/i-m-a-strange-mixture-of-my-mother-s-curiosity-my-father-who-grew-up/)

[Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/)

> [“Is that what they teach you at the convent? That the gods demand the hearts from our bodies?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-lafevers/is-that-what-they-teach-you-at-the-convent-that-the-gods-demand-the/)

[Robin LaFevers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-lafevers/)

> [The less we show our love to a woman, Or please her less, and neglect our duty, The more we trap and ruin her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pushkin/the-less-we-show-our-love-to-a-woman-or-please-her-less-and-neglect/)

[Alexander Pushkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pushkin/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [Consideration is the soil in which wisdom may be expected to grow, and strength be given to every up-springing plant of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/consideration-is-the-soil-in-which-wisdom-may-be-expected-to-grow-and/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [“You have a right to be sad, and a duty to move on. Only wins who wipes the tears, gather strength and move forward.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/you-have-a-right-to-be-sad-and-a-duty-to-move-on-only-wins-who-wipes/)

[Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/)

> [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/)

[Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [Regardless of how you feel about war and peace those serving military are doing a duty for the rest of us and they're protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-cardellini/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-war-and-peace-those-serving-military/)

[Linda Cardellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-cardellini/)

> [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [Politics...You see, it depends on what kind of politics. What we did during my father's generation was a duty. And it was beautiful because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/politics-you-see-it-depends-on-what-kind-of-politics-what-we-did/)

[Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/)

> [I do not so much rejoice that God hath made me to be a Queen, as to be a Queen over so thankful a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-i/i-do-not-so-much-rejoice-that-god-hath-made-me-to-be-a-queen-as-to-be/)

[Elizabeth I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-i/)

> [The whole duty of man is summed up in obedience to God's will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/the-whole-duty-of-man-is-summed-up-in-obedience-to-god-s-will/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

[Browse all 5,178 Duty quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David O. McKay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the-lord-the-rest/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Duty"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the-lord-the-rest/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ec0/david-o-mckay-2062_duty_do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the_2767733.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Do your duty that is best; leave unto the Lord the rest.” — David O. McKay",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David O. McKay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Do your duty that is best;...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the-lord-the-rest/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/do-your-duty-that-is-best-leave-unto-the-lord-the-rest/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
