"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).