---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We cannot and we must not allow ourselves…"
description: "\"We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.\"..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg"
---

#  We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get…

![“We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.” quote by Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg)

> “We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.”

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

## About This Quote

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

We must stay focused on sacred duties and not let distractions divert us.

**In simple terms:** Stay focused on sacred duties, avoid distraction.

Key Takeaway

Maintain unwavering focus.

Themes

faith focus discipline

Mood

determined inspirational

Type

religious advice

When to use this quote

- daily prayer
- mission work
- goal setting

Key Concepts

spirituality priorities

Questions to Reflect On

- What distractions pull you away from core duties?
- How can you reinforce your focus daily?

A Different Perspective

Distractions are inevitable; vigilance is required.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Sacred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sacred/) [Things that matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-that-matter/)

## Related quotes

> [You want less of the annoying nonsense that interferes with your portfolios and more of the significant data that allow you to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/you-want-less-of-the-annoying-nonsense-that-interferes-with-your/)

[Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/)

> [People allow themselves to get distracted; I think ultimately, probably the biggest thing that gets in the way of people doing what they ought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-allen/people-allow-themselves-to-get-distracted-i-think-ultimately-probably/)

[David Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-allen/)

> [All profound distraction opens certain doors. You have to allow yourself to be distracted when you are unable to concentrate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julio-cort-zar/all-profound-distraction-opens-certain-doors-you-have-to-allow/)

[Julio Cortazar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julio-cort-zar/)

> [But you can't focus on things that matter if all you've been is asleep for forty years. Funny how sleep rhymes with sheep. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-sheen/but-you-can-t-focus-on-things-that-matter-if-all-you-ve-been-is/)

[Charlie Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-sheen/)

> [As we turn to our Heavenly Father and seek His wisdom regarding the things that matter most, we learn over and over again the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-turn-to-our-heavenly-father-and-seek-his-wisdom-regarding-the/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Would do well to slow down a little... focus on the significant... and truly see the things that matter most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/would-do-well-to-slow-down-a-little-focus-on-the-significant-and/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Indeed we have great reason to rejoice. If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/indeed-we-have-great-reason-to-rejoice-if-life-and-its-rushed-pace/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [If life and its rushed pace and many stresses have made it difficult for you to feel like rejoicing, then perhaps now is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/if-life-and-its-rushed-pace-and-many-stresses-have-made-it-difficult/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Pause for a moment and check where your own heart and thoughts are. Are you focused on the things that matter most? How you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/pause-for-a-moment-and-check-where-your-own-heart-and-thoughts-are/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/let-us-be-mindful-of-the-foundational-precepts-our-heavenly-father/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Smuggle out the truth, pass it through all the obstacles that its enemies fabricate; multiply, spread by all means possible her message so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maximilien-robespierre/smuggle-out-the-truth-pass-it-through-all-the-obstacles-that-its/)

[Maximilien Robespierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maximilien-robespierre/)

> [“The office divinely committed to Us of feeding the Lord’s flock has especially this duty assigned to it by Christ, namely, to guard with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-x/the-office-divinely-committed-to-us-of-feeding-the-lord-s-flock-has/)

[Pope Pius X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-x/)

> [“it’s a husband’s sacred duty to take care of his family.” In Matthew Perkins’s censure of Ben, I found new”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-editors-of-true-story-and-true-confessions/it-s-a-husband-s-sacred-duty-to-take-care-of-his-family-in-matthew/)

[The Editors Of True Story And True Confessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-editors-of-true-story-and-true-confessions/)

> [“The sole sacred duty is to fear God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-sole-sacred-duty-is-to-fear-god/)

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

> [In the priesthood we share the sacred duty to labor for the souls of men. We must do more than learn that this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-b-eyring/in-the-priesthood-we-share-the-sacred-duty-to-labor-for-the-souls-of/)

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

## More by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

> [We cannot go back in time and change the past, but we can repent. The Savior can wipe away our tears of regret and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-go-back-in-time-and-change-the-past-but-we-can-repent-the/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Compared to God, man is nothing; yet we are everything to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/compared-to-god-man-is-nothing-yet-we-are-everything-to-god/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [We don't always know the details of our future. We do not know what lies ahead. We live in a time of uncertainty. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-don-t-always-know-the-details-of-our-future-we-do-not-know-what/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Daily simple, sincere, and mighty prayers lift our lives to a higher spiritual altitude. In our prayers we praise God, give thanks to Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/daily-simple-sincere-and-mighty-prayers-lift-our-lives-to-a-higher/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Sometimes a single phrase of testimony can set events in motion that affect someone's life for eternity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/sometimes-a-single-phrase-of-testimony-can-set-events-in-motion-that/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [As we contemplate with reverence and awe how our Savior embraces us, comforts us, and heals us, let us commit to become His hands,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-we-contemplate-with-reverence-and-awe-how-our-savior-embraces-us/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/i-suppose-the-church-would-be-perfect-only-if-it-were-run-by-perfect/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [This topic of judging others could actually be taught in a two-word sermon. When it comes to hating, gossiping, ignoring, ridiculing, holding grudges, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/this-topic-of-judging-others-could-actually-be-taught-in-a-two-word/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [As you take the normal opportunities of your daily life and create something of beauty and helpfulness, you improve not only the world around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/as-you-take-the-normal-opportunities-of-your-daily-life-and-create/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Developing Christlike attributes in our lives is not an easy task, especially when we move away from generalities and abstractions and begin to deal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/developing-christlike-attributes-in-our-lives-is-not-an-easy-task/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [In His plan there are no true endings. Only everlasting beginnings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/in-his-plan-there-are-no-true-endings-only-everlasting-beginnings/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Often the deep valleys of our PRESENT will be UNDERSTOOD only by LOOKING BACK on them from the mountains of our FUTURE experience. Often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/often-the-deep-valleys-of-our-present-will-be-understood-only-by/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [We sometimes confuse sin with sinner, and we condemn too quickly and with too little compassion. We know from modern revelation that ‘the worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-sometimes-confuse-sin-with-sinner-and-we-condemn-too-quickly-and/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [I am grateful that early in my life I was blessed with a simple faith that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/i-am-grateful-that-early-in-my-life-i-was-blessed-with-a-simple-faith/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

> [Latter-day Saints are not asked to blindly accept everything they hear. We are encouraged to think and discover truth for ourselves. We are expected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/latter-day-saints-are-not-asked-to-blindly-accept-everything-they/)

[Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

[Explore all 377 Dieter F. Uchtdorf quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/)

## More Distracted quotes

> [Life is Too Short to be Distracted by the Opinions of Others.. Live it the way you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/life-is-too-short-to-be-distracted-by-the-opinions-of-others-live-it/)

Senoraroy

> [One reason why my memory decays is that I have three cats, all so loving and insistent that they play cat's-cradle with every train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-townsend-warner/one-reason-why-my-memory-decays-is-that-i-have-three-cats-all-so/)

[Sylvia Townsend Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-townsend-warner/)

> [“You’ve so distracted me, your absence fans my love. Don’t ask how. Then you come near. “Do not…” I say, and “Do not…,” you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/you-ve-so-distracted-me-your-absence-fans-my-love-don-t-ask-how-then/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [We are going to die, as is everyone we adore - I hate this! But the question is, how do we live as women…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/we-are-going-to-die-as-is-everyone-we-adore-i-hate-this-but-the/)

[Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/)

> [“A distracted mind cannot build a disciplined life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glody-kikonga/a-distracted-mind-cannot-build-a-disciplined-life/)

[Glody Kikonga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glody-kikonga/)

> [He was distracted by a giggle, and turned to see a rare sight: a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/he-was-distracted-by-a-giggle-and-turned-to-see-a-rare-sight-a-girl/)

[Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/)

> [One should not be too distracted by definitions. Ideas transcend definitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/one-should-not-be-too-distracted-by-definitions-ideas-transcend/)

[Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/)

> [I would make a genuinely terrible guide. I can't remember things. I would get half way through telling a story or explaining something and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/i-would-make-a-genuinely-terrible-guide-i-can-t-remember-things-i/)

[Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/)

> [We are distracted from our greatness because are greatness is what scares us. Right where you are…God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/we-are-distracted-from-our-greatness-because-are-greatness-is-what/)

[Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/)

> [The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-more-you-focus-on-yourself-the-more-distracted-you-will-be-from/)

[John Macarthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/)

> [One of the things we've seen here is how easy it is for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to get distracted from dealing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/one-of-the-things-we-ve-seen-here-is-how-easy-it-is-for-barack-obama/)

[Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/)

> [You cannot control your own population by force, but it can be distracted by consumption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/you-cannot-control-your-own-population-by-force-but-it-can-be/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [“She thinks I am easily distracted when I drive. There were a few fender benders, but she doesn’t actually realize I was playing bumper…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-ann-lunsford/she-thinks-i-am-easily-distracted-when-i-drive-there-were-a-few/)

[Leigh Ann Lunsford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-ann-lunsford/)

> [I dipped into his brain. He wasn't happy that I wasn't wearing a bra, because my boobs distracted him. He was thinking I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlaine-harris/i-dipped-into-his-brain-he-wasn-t-happy-that-i-wasn-t-wearing-a-bra/)

[Charlaine Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlaine-harris/)

> [It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-crosby/it-seemed-intended-by-the-blessed-providence-of-god-that-i-should-be/)

[Fanny Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-crosby/)

Browse all 593 Distracted quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not lose focus on the things that matter most.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Dieter F. Uchtdorf"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselves-to-get-distracted-from-our/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Distracted"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselves-to-get-distracted-from-our/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d81/dieter-f-uchtdorf-762_distracted_we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselve_2834868.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We cannot and we must not allow ourselves to get distracted from our sacred duty. We cannot and we must not…” — Dieter F. Uchtdorf",
                "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": "Dieter F. Uchtdorf",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We cannot and we must not...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselves-to-get-distracted-from-our/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/we-cannot-and-we-must-not-allow-ourselves-to-get-distracted-from-our/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
