Let's Discuss: "Small and Simple Things," by Dallin H. Oaks

"Small and Simple Things"

By President Dallin H. Oaks, First Counselor in the First Presidency
1 April 2018, Sunday morning session

Hymn recommendations:
This was easy, because President Oaks quoted two hymns:
195  How Great the Wisdom and the Love
223  Have I Done Any Good?
But should you want or need additional suggestions:
216  We Are Sowing
224  I Have Work Enough to Do

Favorite quote:

We are surrounded by media influences and cultural deteriorations that will carry us downstream in our values if we are not continually resisting. To move upstream toward our eternal goal, we must constantly keep paddling. It helps if we are part of a team that is paddling together, like a rowing crew in action. To extend that example even further, the cultural currents are so strong that if we ever stop paddling, we will be carried downstream toward a destination we do not seek but which becomes inevitable if we do not constantly try to move forward.

Something to put on the board:

"None of these desirable small and simple things will lift us to great things unless they are practiced consistently and continuously."  -- President Dallin H. Oaks

One-sentence Synopsis:
It's the little things we do that make the biggest difference, ultimately strengthening our commitment to stay on our covenant path.

Talk and Discussion questions:
(Emphasis mine unless otherwise indicated.)

President Oaks's talk is split (presumably by him) into only 2 sections.  The first is short, and includes an introduction, gratitude, nod to Easter.  The second goes into his topic.  Let's dive right in.

I.

My dear brothers and sisters, like you, I have been profoundly touched and edified and inspired by the messages and music and the feelings of this time together. I’m sure I speak for you in expressing thanks to our brothers and sisters who, as instruments in the hands of the Lord, have given us the strengthening effect of this time together.

I liked the idea of "the strengthening effect of [our] time together."  Do you feel strengthened from general conference?  How can we feel more strengthened from general conference?  Are there other places you feel the strengthening effect of time together?  You ward, quorum/society, or family, perhaps?  I was reminded that we, as human beings, are designed to need and strengthen one another.  Zion is not a city of hermits.  :)

I am grateful to speak to this audience on Easter Sunday. Today we join other Christians in celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a pillar of our faith.

I thought that was an interesting statement.  I started to wonder what he meant.  What does it mean to be a pillar?  I decided it might mean that some of our doctrine "rests" on it.  In fact, President Oaks is going to list 5 doctrines that rest on the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I'll list the doctrines here, then you'll see them bolded in the next paragraph.

1. Similar resurrection will come to all mortals
2. The promise of resurrection gives us "a lively hope"
3. Death is not the end, but a step onward
4. The plan also calls for a transition from mortality to immortality
5. Our glorious morning is made possible by His

Because we believe the accounts in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon about the literal Resurrection of Jesus Christ, we also believe the numerous scriptural teachings that a similar resurrection will come to all mortals who have ever lived upon this earth. That resurrection gives us what the Apostle Peter called “a lively hope” (1 Peter 1:3). That lively hope is our conviction that death is not the conclusion of our identity but merely a necessary step in our Heavenly Father’s merciful plan for the salvation of His children. That plan calls for a transition from mortality to immortality. Central to that transition is the sunset of death and the glorious morning made possible by the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior that we celebrate on this Easter Sunday.

Thus he ends his intro.  Next we get into his subject matter.  At the end of this discussion, I have two lists.  One is a list of small and simple things President Oaks mentions.  The other is a list of what promises we get in return that he mentions.

II.

In a great hymn whose words were written by Eliza R. Snow, we sing:

How great, how glorious, how complete
Redemption’s grand design,
Where justice, love, and mercy meet
In harmony divine!1

In furtherance of that divine design and harmony, we assemble in meetings, including this conference, to teach and encourage one another.

I thought it was interesting that he chose to quote this hymn.  This is verse 6, and seems to be rarely sung, however I feel like I've heard it in several conference talks.  (For examples, here, here, and a classic here.)  This almost doesn't seem to relate to the rest of his talk.  But as soon as I thought about it more, I realized it has everything to do with the rest of his talk.  By small and simple things, even redemption is brought to pass.  Let's see if we can tie it in by the end.

This morning I have felt to use as my text Alma’s teaching to his son Helaman, recorded in the Book of Mormon: “By small and simple things are great things brought to pass” (Alma 37:6).

We are taught many small and simple things in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to be reminded that in total and over a significant period of time, these seemingly small things bring to pass great things. There have been many talks on this subject by General Authorities and by other respected teachers. The subject is so important that I feel to speak of it again.

I was reminded of the power of small and simple things over time by something I saw on a morning walk. Here is the picture I took. The thick and strong concrete sidewalk is cracking. Is this the result of some large and powerful thrust? No, this cracking is caused by the slow, small growth of one of the roots reaching out from the adjoining tree. Here is a similar example I saw on another street.

See the crack in sidewalk pictures here, by the way.

I have to say that it is interesting to me that inspiration comes to the apostles in different and sometimes random ways, too.  We may expect the same.  Have you ever been taught by the Spirit as you were walking?

The thrusting power that cracked these heavy concrete sidewalks was too small to measure on a daily or even a monthly basis, but its effect over time was incredibly powerful.

So is the powerful effect over time of the small and simple things we are taught in the scriptures and by living prophets. Consider the scripture study we’ve been taught to incorporate into our daily lives. Or consider the personal prayers and the kneeling family prayers that are regular practices for faithful Latter-day Saints. Consider attendance at seminary for youth or institute classes for young adults. Though each of these practices may seem to be small and simple, over time they result in powerful spiritual uplift and growth. This occurs because each of these small and simple things invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the Testifier who enlightens us and guides us into truth, as President Eyring has explained.

Do you feel the Holy Ghost in your life?  Do you want to feel the Holy Ghost in your life?  President Oaks is spelling it out for us in simple terms!

Another source of spiritual uplift and growth is an ongoing practice of repenting, even of seemingly small transgressions. Our own inspired self-evaluations can help us see how we have fallen short and how we can do better. Such repentance should precede our weekly partaking of the sacrament. Some subjects to consider in this process of repentance are suggested in the hymn “Have I Done Any Good?”

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone’s burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?2

Teaching tip - ask everybody in the class to read it looking for one that stands out to them - challenge them to pick something from this song to work on this week!  (or you could tailor it to be something from the talk)

How do we repent of seemingly small transgressions?  Why is this important?  What difference does this really make?  I truly believe it makes all the difference.  Sometimes I think of the sacrifices of the pioneers, of the ancient prophets like Abraham and others, and I think ... what can I give to the Lord?  Repenting of things like bad habits - or even changing lesser habits into better habits - is a great way to baby-step our way closer to Jesus Christ.  Especially if we are not guilty of egregious sins.  The little sins may be the only ones left (and they aren't that little - a single one keeps us out of God's presence).

Surely these are small things, but surely they are good examples of what Alma taught his son Helaman: “And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord … bringeth about the salvation of many souls” (Alma 37:7).

I love that implication.  Small means (for example, repentance of small things) bring us to salvation.

President Steven C. Wheelwright gave an audience at Brigham Young University–Hawaii this inspired description of Alma’s teaching: “Alma confirms for his son that indeed the pattern the Lord follows when we exercise faith in Him and follow His counsel in small and simple things is that He blesses us with small daily miracles, and over time, with marvelous works.”3

President Howard W. Hunter taught that “frequently it is the commonplace tasks … that have the greatest positive effect on the lives of others, as compared with the things that the world so often relates to greatness.”4

Can you think of a time when something small inspired you greatly?  Share in the comments!

A persuasive secular teaching of this same principle comes from former Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, who wrote: “The only preparation for that one profound decision which can change a life, or even a nation, is those hundreds and thousands of half-conscious, self-defining, seemingly insignificant decisions made in private.”5

It seems that practicing choosing the right in small things will help us have the capacity to choose right in profound things.

Those “seemingly insignificant” private decisions include how we use our time, what we view on television and the internet, what we read, the art and music with which we surround ourselves at work and at home, what we seek for entertainment, and how we apply our commitment to be honest and truthful. Another seemingly small and simple thing is being civil and cheerful in our personal interactions.

Wow.  There are a lot of areas where we can repent in small things.  I used to have a long commute, and sometimes I would feel ... road rage.  I bought a Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD and started listening to it in the car.  I did not get it to help me be calm ... but I was amazed that I had a new calm!  I no longer had road rage, and it was THAT SMALL AND THAT SIMPLE.  What small and simple things have made a huge difference in your life?  Is there a tv show you could sacrifice for family history?  Would a picture of Christ gracing your home change the atmosphere of a room?  What ideas do you have?  Let's help each other!

None of these desirable small and simple things will lift us to great things unless they are practiced consistently and continuously. President Brigham Young was reported as saying: “Our lives are made up of little, simple circumstances that amount to a great deal when they are brought together, and sum up the whole life of the man or woman.”6

The power of the small and simple things is practicing consistently and continuously.

We are surrounded by media influences and cultural deteriorations that will carry us downstream in our values if we are not continually resisting. To move upstream toward our eternal goal, we must constantly keep paddling. It helps if we are part of a team that is paddling together, like a rowing crew in action. To extend that example even further, the cultural currents are so strong that if we ever stop paddling, we will be carried downstream toward a destination we do not seek but which becomes inevitable if we do not constantly try to move forward.

This last paragraph was one of my favorite quotes from this talk.  We must keep pressing forward.  It reminded me of President Uchtdorf in Oct 2017: 

"You cannot just float in the waters of life and trust that the current will take you wherever you hope to be one day. Discipleship requires our willingness to swim upstream when needed."

I just thought I'd throw that one in there.

After reciting a seemingly small event that had great consequences, Nephi wrote, “And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things” (1 Nephi 16:29). The Old Testament includes a memorable example of this. There we read how the Israelites were plagued by fiery serpents. Many people died from their bites (see Numbers 21:6). When Moses prayed for relief, he was inspired to make “a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole.” Then, “if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived” (verse 9). Such a small thing for such a miraculous result! Yet, as Nephi explained when he taught this example to those who were rebelling against the Lord, even when the Lord had prepared a simple way by which they could be healed, “because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished” (1 Nephi 17:41).

That example and that teaching remind us that the simplicity of the way or the easiness of the commanded task cannot mean that it is unimportant to achieve our righteous desire.

Do you ever get promptings from the Holy Ghost or from your conscience (the Light of Christ) to do something simple?  Like do the dishes, or brush your teeth?  What if we started following all the good ideas/instructions that "pop" into our heads?  To what great place will the Light of Christ eventually lead us?

Similarly, even small acts of disobedience or minor failures to follow righteous practices can draw us down toward an outcome we have been warned to avoid. The Word of Wisdom provides an example of this. Likely the effect on the body of one cigarette or one drink of alcohol or one dose of another drug cannot be measured. But over time, the effect is powerful and may be irreversible. Remember the cracking of the sidewalk by the gradual small expansions of the root of the tree. One thing is certain, the terrible consequences of partaking of anything that can become addictive, like drugs that attack our bodies or pornographic material that degrades our thoughts, is totally avoidable if we never partake for the first time—even once.

Oh the warning!  If small things can do great things for good... small things can effect great things for bad, too.  More warning quotes:

Many years ago, President M. Russell Ballard described to a general conference audience “how small and simple things can be negative and destructive to a person’s salvation.” He taught: “Like weak fibers that form a yarn, then a strand, and finally a rope, these small things combined together can become too strong to be broken. We must ever be aware of the power that the small and simple things can have in building spirituality,” he said. “At the same time, we must be aware that Satan will use small and simple things to lead us into despair and misery.”7

President Wheelwright gave a similar caution to his BYU–Hawaii audience: “It is in failing to do the small and simple things that faith wavers, miracles cease, and progress towards the Lord and His kingdom is first put on hold and then begins to unravel as seeking after the kingdom of God is replaced with more temporal pursuits and worldly ambitions.”8

To protect against the cumulative negative effects that are destructive to our spiritual progress, we need to follow the spiritual pattern of small and simple things. Elder David A. Bednar described this principle in a BYU Women’s Conference: “We can learn much about the nature and importance of this spiritual pattern from the technique of … dripping water onto the soil at very low rates,” in contrast to flooding or spraying large quantities of water where it may not be needed.

He explained: “The steady drips of water sink deep into the ground and provide a high moisture level in the soil wherein plants can flourish. In like manner, if you and I are focused and frequent in receiving consistent drops of spiritual nourishment, then gospel roots can sink deep into our soul, can become firmly established and grounded, and can produce extraordinary and delicious fruit.”

Continuing, he said, “The spiritual pattern of small and simple things bringing forth great things produces firmness and steadfastness, deepening devotion, and more complete conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel.”9

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this principle in words now included in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Let no man count them as small things; for there is much … pertaining to the saints, which depends upon these things” (D&C 123:15).

In connection with the earliest attempts to establish the Church in Missouri, the Lord counseled patience for “all things must come to pass in their time” (D&C 64:32). Then He gave this great teaching: “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33).

Can you think of any "small" things from the days of Joseph Smith that have yielded or been a foundation for bigger things?  What first came to my mind was the initial publication of the Book of Mormon.  How many copies have now been distributed in how many languages?  I couldn't tell you!

I believe we all desire to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s challenge to press forward “on the covenant path.”10 Our commitment to do so is strengthened by consistently following the “small things” we are taught by the gospel of Jesus Christ and the leaders of His Church. I testify of Him and invoke His blessings on all who seek to keep on His covenant path, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Two things.  First, I love that President Oaks reveals that some of his inspiration for this talk was President Nelson's message in the April Ensign!  It is here at the end, because he probably did not want to draw attention to it.  President Oaks is a wonderful example of meekly following the prophet.

Second, I hear "the covenant path," over and over recently.  Have you done a self-evaluation recently of where you are and where you are headed on the covenant path?  Just thought I'd throw that in there, too!


Small and Simple Things specifically mentioned by President Oaks:

1. Scripture study
2. Personal prayers
3. Family prayers
4. Seminary/Institute attendance
5. Ongoing repentance of even small things
1. Inspired self-evaluations
2. Should precede partaking the sacrament
3. Consider ideas from Have I Done Any Good?
1. Do good
2. Help someone in need
3. Cheer up the sad
4. Make someone feel glad
5. Share
6. Lighten others' burdens
7. Help the sick and weary
4. Bring about salvation (even our own)
6. Exercise faith
7. Follow His counsel in small things
8. Commonplace tasks
9. How we use our time
10. What we view on tv and internet
11. What we read
12. Art and music surrounding us
13. Entertainment choices
14. Honesty and truthfulness
15. Civil and cheerful interactions
16. Continually resisting media influences and cultural deteriorations
17. Following the prophet (like Moses)
18. Not partaking of ONE cigarette or ONE drink of alcohol or ONE dose of another drug
19. Receiving consistent drops of spiritual nourishment

Promises in Return specifically mentioned by President Oaks:

1. Powerful spiritual uplift and growth
2. The companionship of the Holy Ghost
3. The Holy Ghost testifies and enlightens and guides us into truth
4. Small daily miracles
5. Marvelous works (over time)
6. Great positive effect on the lives of others
7. Healing (from the snakes)
8. Achieve our righteous desire
9. Small things combine to become too strong to be broken
10. Building spirituality
11. Gospel roots sink deep into our soul - established and grounded - produce fruit
12. Firmness and steadfastness
13. Deepening devotion
14. More complete conversion to the Lord and His Gospel
15. Lay a foundation for a great work
16. Follow the covenant path