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

Other similar scriptures:

1 Nephi 16:29 ...... by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

Doctrine and Covenants 64:33 ...... out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

Ether 12:27 ...... if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

We must never underestimate what something small and simple can do:

Doctrine and Covenants 123:16 ..... a very large ship is benefitted very much by a very small helm in the time of a storm ......

The gospel of Jesus Christ is simple but some people think they are too learned for something so easy. Think of Moses and the Israelites he was leading out of Egypt into the promised land:

1 Nephi 17:41 ..... He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten, he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

Alma counseled his son of the same:

Alma 37:46 ..... do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way ......

Let us look to God and live:

Helaman 8:15 ...... as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.

We learn the gospel by taking baby steps at first and as we continue to show forth obedience, the Lord reveals more to us:

2 Nephi 28:30 ..... I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

All the small and simple things we do are like drops of oil that we add into our lamps, much like the five wise virgins:

Spencer W Kimball: Attendance at sacrament meetings adds oil to our lamps, drop by drop over the years. Fasting, family prayer, home teaching, control of bodily appetites, preaching the gospel, studying the scriptures -- each act of dedication and obedience is a drop added to our store. Deeds of kindness, payments of offerings and tithes, chaste thoughts and actions, marriage in the covenant for eternity -- these, too, contribute importantly to the oil with which we can at midnight refuel our exhausted lamps.

Sisters, let us not be weary in well-doing:

Sister Ann M Dibb: The small and simple things you choose to do today will be magnified into great and glorious blessings tomorrow.

I know the Lord watches over us and He delights in the small and simple things that we do in faith and obedience to Him. He blesses us abundantly as He will never be indebted to us. Let us press forward with a perfect brightness of hope and endure to the end. In Jesus Christ's name, amen.

Thoughts on Scripture - Ezekiel 3:20

Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.


Ezekiel 18:24 But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die.


Ezekiel 33:12 Therefore, thou son of man, say unto the children of thy people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression: as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness; neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth.


I first came across Ezekiel 3:20 from an article I was reading. It reminded me of what President Renner once told us during sacrament meeting that it doesn't really matter what we've done in the past. What really matters is the here and now.


As I studied and looked up this scripture, I found Ezekiel 18:24 and Ezekiel 33:12. These scriptures made an impact on me. I came to realize that I need to be right with Heavenly Father each moment of my life. It doesn't really matter if I've been faithful the last 15 years, if I now decide to take a break and let my guard down.


I may be tricked into believing that I can always turn over a new leaf in a few days (that might turn into weeks or months or years) and everything will be alright again. I might even be totally convinced that this will work, based on past experiences. The questions is: What if something unexpected happens before I can salvage myself, and I'm taken from this world? I would have died ..... in my sins!


So, I am reminding myself that the "here-and-now-moment" of my life is the one that really matters. No taking breaks or detours but to stay on the strait and narrow, with an eye single to the glory of God.