"...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." (Alma 37:6)

Day #20

I am so grateful for this scripture because I sometimes try and do just a little too much or think I am not doing enough... Here's the scripture:

"Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise." (Alma 37:6)

I love how Alma begins by saying one might think he is sharing foolishness. Sometimes I catch myself thinking that my small effort is foolish, or won't make a "big" difference, so I hold back. I'm working on doing it anyway.

In our society of "more is better" I sometimes get tripped up thinking I am not doing enough as I take care of our family and myself. This scripture helps me remember that every effort counts. It's not about how much I can or can't do. But rather, it's about doing the small things that "bring about great things." (1 Nephi 16:29)

I have a couple of  small seeds that I keep to remind me that God starts a tree from a small seed. We have a lot of "seeds" to plant as we go about doing the "small and simple things". Perhaps if we plant enough seeds we will "confound the wise".

"And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29)

On one of my trike rides I couldn't get my front derailleur (the rings in front that help you change gears) to stay in place. I actually had to hold it in place so that it would stay in a harder gear. I thought for sure it was going to cost me a fortune to fix. I rode 35 miles holding it in place, and cut my ride short because I couldn't do brakes and hold the gear in place at the same time without some difficulty. So, a few hours after my ride, and having looked things up on the internet and trying to figure it out, I showed my son the problem. He said, I think it's really simple, got out a small bike tool and simply tightened up a screw! It was such a simple solution and now I can ride again!

I thought this is exactly like the gospel. Sometimes, we want to make things really complicated and hard- perhaps it feels more comfortable when we make it complicated? I don't know. But what I do know is that it's always the simple things that make a difference. Like when Nephi's bow was broken, his family "did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness" (1 Nephi 16:20).  They blamed Nephi and complained and did nothing. Unfortunately, there are times in my life that I do the exact same thing. I "hold the gear in place" rather than find the simple solution of tightening a screw...it seems "easier" to just go forward with things awry and not take the time to fix a small problem.

Nephi wasn't sucked in by the negativity, instead, Nephi went about doing the simple task of making another bow and then arming himself with these simple tools to obtain food (see 1 Nephi 16:23). As I thought about how Nephi armed himself, I realized that there are things we can do to arm ourselves as well, and keep the "screw" tight. These simple things are reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, attending church so that we can partake of the sacrament and renew our covenants with God and be filled. I know that all too often we want something "more"- more than the simple answers of "say your prayers, attend church, read your scriptures". Well, I'm here to say that those are the "small and simple things" that will actually bring about "great things" and "confound the wise" (Alma 37:6-7). It is the simple solution that has changed my life and opens me up to receive more. 

After obtaining direction from the Lord through the Liahona on where to obtain food, Nephi makes this statement: "And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29). I like the words, "And thus we see". When I take off the "natural" (see Mosiah 3:19) or "carnal" (see Alma 36:4; Romans 7:14) spectacles that I so frequently wear, I do "see" that God works "by small means [and] can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29). Just like with the small screw that needed to be tightened and made a big difference in my gears and ability to ride my trike safely again. I have found the small things of reading the words of God, praying, and attending church opens our hearts and minds to the things of God. And we can also say, "And thus we see" as we make these small changes, or simply said, tighten a  screw so that we can keep moving forward.

The little screw that needed tightening and made all the difference

"Out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33)

I have been doing physical therapy (or PT-for pain and torture, as one friend called it) to aide in the recovery of my shoulder surgery these past couple of weeks. There is a lot of very small movements involved with PT. These small movements actually, when properly and regularly done, make a great difference. A month ago I could only move my arm about two inches from my side, and it was horribly painful. Well, I have made progress. I can almost lift my arm to shoulder height, almost, with not quite as much pain. Those small movements do make a big difference! This, of course, led me to thinking about the power in doing "small and simple things" (Alma 37:6).

Small and simple things...what exactly does that mean when it comes to living the gospel and being a disciple of Christ daily? For me, it has come to mean that I make time to do the things that everyone sometimes thinks as "the same old answers". This would include: praying (see D&C 31:12; D&C 88:126; 3 Nephi 18:19; Luke 18:1; 3 Nephi 18:18; ), personal scripture study (see 2 Nephi 32:3; 2 Nephi 31:20; D&C 26:1), acting in faith (see Romans 1:17; James 2:18; D&C 8:10; Moroni 7:25-26; Alma 44:4), or repenting (see 3 Nephi 11:17; Moses 6:50; D&C 19:4; Mosiah 4:10; Ezekiel 18:30-31; Matt. 3:2) to list just a few of those "same old answers". These small and simple things that are taught over and over in church, and by our parents and leaders, well, these are what bring "great things...to pass" (Alma 37:6).

Doing my PT exercises daily has made great improvements in my physical ability to move my arm. This is the same with doing the small things that God has given us to do. When we exercise faith by doing the small things over time we "see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29). I'll be honest, it took me a little bit of time to understand this concept with PT. I wanted to see incredible changes overnight. And I really wanted to do just one big thing, not a bunch of small things (see 2 Kings 5:13). I may get weary of doing the exercises, the same small things over and over, but Wow! they make a great difference. Therefore, this I testify that as we "be not weary in well-doing" we will truly come to know that "out of small things proceedeth that which is great" (D&C 64:33).

"And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29)

My husband gave me a very generous gift for Christmas. It is called a bike trainer. With it I am able to bring my bike inside the house, hook it up to the trainer and ride it. It is a great way to keep in shape. It acts like a stationary bike, but I am on my own bike and can therefore, prepare for longer rides. As I was riding today, I realized that I get bored riding inside the house and it is hard to stay on the bike for over an hour. It is doing the same thing over and over without going anywhere. It would be easy to talk myself right out of not getting on the bike at all. Then it hit me that this attitude was just like life and living the gospel. I could easily get bored with doing the basics, over and over. But doing the basics is important. The basics are the things that keep one from dropping out of the race when the race gets tough. And life and living the gospel does get challenging, guaranteed (see 3 Nephi 26:11). What's interesting is that I actually am going places while riding a stationary bike, but the results aren't seen until later, on a long ride, when I am back outside.

The Lord wants us to be prepared for this long ride called life, and eventually eternal life. We have to exercise and keep going forward, day by day. He said of us, "That they themselves may be prepared, and that my people may be taught more perfectly and have experience, and know more perfectly concerning their duty, and the things which I require at their hands" (D&C 105:10). He gives us instruction and guidance on how to be prepared. He doesn't want us to go blindly, riding around in circles, or even stay stationary. He wants us to move forward and keep making progress (see Mosiah 1:17). Sometimes it may feel like we are staying stationary when we are only taking small steps, but we are moving forward or even just staying in shape and preparing for "come what may" (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin).

One of the greatest principles of the gospel was taught to Nephi and his family through the use of  "a round ball of curious workmanship" (1 Nephi 16:10), a "director- or [they]called it the Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it" (Alma 37:38). The Liahona had "two spindles" (1 Nephi 16:10) or "pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which [Nephi and his family] did give unto them" (1 Nephi 16:28). Through the Liahona the Lord would communicate with them: "And there was also written upon them...which was plain to be read, which did give [them] understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which [they] gave unto it"(1 Nephi 16:29). Notice, that is was "according to the faith and diligence and heed" that the Lord would give them direction. This is the same with us. When we receive instruction from our leaders or from the Holy Ghost, or even from our own personal scripture study and act in faith, and diligence, and give heed to promptings or instruction we receive, we are being directed by the Lord. Things will happen in our lives, a step at a time, or a pedal at a time. "And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things" (1 Nephi 16:29).

There are times when I think that riding my bike in the house and going no where isn't really helping. But, it brings me right back to being prepared. I have to ask myself, what am I preparing for? Just like asking, why do I go to church when it could be boring, or someone has offended me? Because it is more than just a meeting. We are preparing ourselves spiritually each week..."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). If we are serious about the long ride, we must prepare for it now. We must get in shape daily by doing the basics. Some of the basics that have helped me are: "daily prayer and scripture study" (Elder L. Tom Perry), regular church attendance (D&C 59:9-10; Elder Dallin H. Oaks), paying a full tithe (Malachi 3:10; Elder Neal A. Maxwell), and temple attendance (President Thomas S. Monson; D&C 95:8-9). These are small means that have made a great difference in my life. These are some of the basics that will help keep you in shape spiritually, preparing for the long ride we are doing now, and will be doing in the future.

The Lord wants us to "draw near" unto Him, and He will "draw near" unto us (D&C 88:63). As we prepare daily for the long ride by doing the basics, we can endure the the challenges ahead, because the challenges won't be challenges, but blessings. They will be what lead us and draw us closer to Him. We won't just be stationary, but the Lord is bringing about "great things". This I testify.