Small and Simple Things

A while back I decided to start jogging. It was something I  have done before, and I started slowly in order to safely increase my ability and capacity. In my haste to get back to where I had been before I tried to get there a little too quickly. I sped up my treadmill. It worked…at least for a little while…until I pulled a muscle. This forced me to stop, and it took a while before I could resume jogging again. I did learn my lesson though, and took it slow and steady the next time. 

There is no quick and easy road to heaven. Taking things slowly can be applied to more than just improving our physical endurance. It can also help our spiritual endurance and prepare us for the challenges that we will face in this life, and in the life hereafter.

“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)

In thinking of small, yet significant, things that have had an impact on my life I am reminded of an experience I had with the still, small voice.

I had graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree and still had no idea what I really wanted to be when I grew up. I was happy at my job on campus, but realized that it was not where I was supposed to be. I didn’t have any plans for moving, and not knowing where to really start looking for a job I went through a “temp agency”, with the hopes of getting my foot in the door and obtaining a full-time job. 

It didn't take long to find one in my field. I was hired for a week. I loved what I did, and could see the potential for traveling (which is something I enjoyed). After 4 days I was asked if I would accept the position full-time. I was thrilled and immediately said “yes”. What could be better than getting what I was hoping for?

The rest of the day, however, I had a gentle gnawing feeling that it wasn’t where I was supposed to be. I waited until the end of the day and slowly approached the CEO and let him know that I was sorry and I could not accept the job. As I left that day I felt a feeling of freedom, even though I had no idea what the future would hold for me.

I went back to my parent’s home for the weekend, and the next week I started looking for jobs closer to home. Through a series of miraculous events I had a full-time job within two days. It was a job I stayed at for many years that I absolutely loved, and I grew so much more there than would ever have been possible at the temp job.

I have tried to listen to that still, small voice throughout my life. I have found that when I listen (and follow the feeling) things always work out; even if it doesn’t make sense.

I had another experience (around this same time) when I had decided to drive back to visit my old roommates. I had the car loaded, and started to drive away from home. My car screeched a little but because it had been doing that for a while I was used to the noise.

My parents live near the top of a steep hill and before reaching the hill I had a very strong, but gentle, impression that I needed to stay home. I turned the car around and stayed home. A little while later I felt I should check the brakes on my car. As I took the brake pads off, the brakes crumbled in my hand! I had worn them down SO thin and had not paid attention to the warning, screeching, signs. Had I also not heeded the gentle prompting of the spirit to stay home I don’t want to imagine what could have happened.

I am grateful to the Lord for the gentle guidance of the still, small voice. 

Throughout my life I have had opportunities as I’ve read the scriptures to find specific verses that have helped me during specific times in my life.

When I was going to college I struggled financially. I remember one day in particular I was feeling overwhelmed about it. As I read the scriptures that night the first verse I came to calmed my heart, and reminded me that I had been trying to handle the situation all on my own. What I needed to do was act in faith and trust in the Lord.

"And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." (Helaman 12:1)

There have been other times in my life when I have opened my scriptures and read a verse that fit a particular need at that time. What a wonderful blessing it is to have the scriptures available and so easily accessible to us. 

Prayer is another thing that is so simple that it can often be overlooked, especially in the hustle and bustle of daily life. However, the power of prayer is no simple matter. In my life I have seen prayer work miracles: winds changed, fire stopped, fears abated, hearts softened, and many other examples. 

I remember listening to a performance by the composer Hillary Weeks who said, "the Lord is influenced by our faith". I honestly believe that faith is power and with it we can make things happen (if it is in accordance with the Lord's will). Faith coupled with prayer can work wonders.

I remember one time in particular when the Lord seemed to be influenced by our pleadings.

I was in my early teens, and my family had gone on vacation to Mexico. Our flight, as printed on the tickets, would be leaving the following morning to Los Angeles at 8:00 a.m. Gathering our large family into the airport at 6:00 the next morning we found out that our flight had already left – apparently the ticket agent had an old flight schedule (1 ½ years old). All flights from Mexico to Los Angeles for the next 3 days were completely booked. We were placed on standby, but the hopes of getting all 9 of us on one flight were pretty slim. We could either spend 3 days in the airport (which was not a pleasant thought), or split up our family so that we could take whatever seats became available on whatever flights happened to have room (also an unpleasant thought).

My parents decided to pray. I remember all of us kneeling together on the airport floor – I was a little embarrassed and had my face buried in a stuffed animal. My father’s pleadings must have touched the merciful heart of the Lord, because shortly after the prayer we were informed that an entire baseball team had missed their flight! This gave us ample room to make it to Los Angeles without any further worry.

I am grateful for a loving, and merciful, God who hears and answers our prayers. Not always in the way we expect, and not always right away, but the answers do come.

Another seemingly small thing that has made a big impact on my life is the power of gratitude. Gratitude is something that can change our perspective from sorrow or despair to hope and faith.

At one point in our marriage my husband and I had a very strong impression that it was time to look for a new job, out of state. We had never even considered the idea before, but we moved forward in faith. Within a short time we had a job offer. But, much to our surprise, we didn’t feel that we should accept it.

After declining the offer, the impression to move disappeared. I felt a little frustrated because the impression had been so strong. I struggled with it but tried to be grateful for the opportunity the Lord was giving me to strengthen my faith.

Looking back at what I have learned since that time, I have been able to be much more grateful for what I have, and it has helped me have a much more positive outlook on where I am right now.

President Uchtdorf said this about the power of gratitude,

"Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.

"We can be grateful!

"It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude can find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding." (link to talk)

If you have not tried offering a prayer of gratitude, try it. It can change the way you see the world.

Just as there are small and simple things to lead us toward the Lord, there are small and simple things that can lead us away from him just as easily, if not easier. Elder Neil L. Andersen said,

“…the world will not glide calmly toward the Second Coming of the Savior…. More concerning than the prophesied earthquakes and wars are the spiritual whirlwinds that can uproot you from your spiritual foundations and land your spirit in places you never imagined possible, sometimes with your barely noticing that you have been moved.” (link to talk)

Just as this is true, I believe that we cannot glide calmly toward eternal life with God.

Throughout my life I have learned that it takes a considerable, consistent effort to keep moving forward in the gospel. There have been times where I haven’t been as diligent in my scripture study, as sincere in my prayers, or as quick to heed the still small voice. I happily go on my way without realizing that I am slowly moving down a slippery slope.

In the book “The Screwtape Letters” by C. S. Lewis, a senior devil is trying to teach his apprentice devil the tricks to trap the human soul. I feel this advice very fitting to the examples I listed above.

“You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts…” (C.S. Lewis, The Complete C. S. Lewis: Signature Classics, 220)

Just as exercising slowly and steadily can increase physical endurance, our slow and steady journey to eternal life can increase our spiritual endurance. The Lord works with us at our own pace; “line upon line, precept upon precept” (Doctrine & Covenants 98:12). He will not give us more than we can handle, but he will continue to push us to our limit. As we are able to reach that limit (which we can always do with His help) he will push us a little further and a little further. He does this, because he has walked this path before and knows what it takes to become like Him.

President Spencer W. Kimball said,

“...let us remember that it is not so much what we know that is important, as what we do and what we are. The Master’s plan is a program of doing, of living, not merely knowing. Knowledge itself is not the end. It is how we righteously live and apply that knowledge in our own lives and how we apply it to help others that describes our character.” (link to article)

As we continually seek the Lord, albeit through small and simple things, we can learn how to become like Him, and how we can best serve Him while on this earth. Earth life is so short, and what we do here really will make a difference as to where we go after this life.