Small and Simple Things

Today we had the familiar face of Sydnee Inman (now married) in our midst as they were down looking for possible places to live when they move back to Arizona the beginning of next year! Mamma Rachael Bonnell Inman couldn't resist doing a little happy dance! We were also able to enjoy the familiar faces of our recently released Primary presidency; Linda Hill, Jennifer Hammond, and Cherice Rigby. There were lots of changes last week and I don't remember them all but I remember Jennifer Hammond is our new RS Presidency secretary as she was sitting up front! Welcome sisters! We hope your transition will be a smooth one!"

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?

Sister Elizabeth Ewell read those questions from the familiar hymn today that President Oaks suggested we could use as "inspired self-evaluations" during our "ongoing practice of repenting". She said when she looks at her day under the microscope she is not always sure she did anything to become more Christ-like in her day. It's easy to let distractions creep in and to let discouragement settle on us upon such close review but she cautioned us against both. 

She found President Oaks talk "Small and Simple Things" both inspiring and encouraging! Upon further review, Elizabeth Ewell, recognized that as a dentist who sees many people each day, she has an opportunity to lift someone's burdens in just the few minutes she spends with them. She can give a sincere compliment, really listen and share insights with her patients. Each of us has the same opportunity to do a little each day to help someone else.

Chrystalyn Jones Trimble reminded us of the importance to not let our schedules be too full or we run the risk of not having enough time or energy to follow the promptings of the Spirit to help another. Sometimes saying "no" is okay and we need to learn to recognize the difference between what the Lord is asking of us and what the world is asking of us.

For Jen Sharp she has found that she is actually better off when she is busy. When she has more structure and more of a routine, she does better with her scripture study, and temple attendance. For her when she has less on her schedule she ends up not doing as much with a purpose. Like Elizabeth, Jen has discovered the joy of brightening the day of others through sincere compliments when she plays tennis. Her "positive court" attitude has rubbed off and now more players are striving to compliment each other. 

Elizabeth Ewell said she recognized that she is really good with personal prayers but that she struggles with scripture study. The Spirit encouraged her to change the words "I'm not good at reading my scriptures" to "I'm choosing not to be good at reading my scriptures." She recognizes that the small things (family prayer, family scripture study, family home evening etc) do make a big impact but we have to choose to have them be a priority in our life.

Alicia Call Peterson said she has adopted the attitude of "just do it" and doesn't concern herself as much about the quality. Encouraging the habit has become more important to her than making sure everyone is sitting still and paying attention.

Our personal example with habits of righteousness will influence our children. As an only child of a part-member family, Elizabeth Ewell saw her mom always turning to the temple, scriptures and prayer for guidance and help. Elizabeth didn't grow up with those daily habits in her life but she recognized as a young child where you can turn to for help. 

How can we incorporate habits of righteousness into our busy lives?

Donise Sarager Price shared the value she has found in starting her day off with personal scriptures and prayer even if that means getting up before the rest of the family. (Editor's insert: Consider the blessings of paying tithing from the "firstlings" or the "firstfruits" rather than hope that there will be enough "leftover" at the end of the paycheck--see Elder Robbin's talk "Tithing--a Commandment Even for the Destitute". Might there be similar blessings when we exercise our faith and tithe our time?)

Ellie Pace once heard a sister share that she always makes her bed every morning so she linked her morning prayers with that action to help her get into the habit of starting her day off with communicating with her Heavenly Father. There are routine things we do every day and we can use these moments to incorporate a little good into our lives.

Elizabeth Ewell's mom used chauffeuring opportunities to talk about matters of importance and gospel principles.

Modern technology offers many opportunities for incorporating scriptures study and listening to Conference talks. I know many sisters listen to Conference talks and/or scriptures as they get ready for the day or as they eat breakfast.

Cherie Bruggeman drives a lot with her children to gymnastics. She enjoys listening to Conference talks at this time. She went to turn it over to the radio and her 12 year old daughter said "If you want to listen to this, I want to listen too." 

Alicia Call Peterson's dad used to use the drive time to seminary to work on memorizing seminary scriptures together. She has continued to do this with her seminary age children and helps them learn the scriptures as they eat breakfast. With her younger children she reviews the stake scriptures and helps them memorize them in the moments before they leave for the bus.

Rachael Bonnell Inman pointed out that as her children got older and the schedules became varied she started having six prayers every morning beginning with her husband at 4 am!  LeAnn Rosaaen Risenhoover learned this concept from her daughter-in-law that you do not need to have everyone home to have family home evening or family prayer etc. 

Adjusting to our season of life and our current family schedule is key! Elizabeth Ewell pointed out that it doesn't take a lot of time to add more meaning into our day. But at the same time, we need to recognize that the amount of time we can offer will vary from season to season. 

Rachael Bonnell Inman urged us to be good to ourselves and to focus on our victories. (Elder Holland's talk "Be Ye Therefore Perfect--Eventually" reminds us that the Savior did not intend his sermon on perfection to be a verbal hammer for battering us about our shortcomings.").
Maddie Trimble has written a letter of encouragement to her future self to read when she is having a hard time.

Sarah Noah-Shobe has found that it's easier to depend on each other and on our Heavenly Father during the hard times and when things are going well that's when we can forget to remember Him.

We all have spiritual gifts and spiritual strengths. As we share what we are good at with others we can become more unified and help lift each other during the good and hard times.

Elizabeth Ewell's college roommate grew up going to the temple weekly and her example and willingness to invite Elizabeth to go to the temple with her helped instill a love for the temple with Elizabeth.

Meagan Bird ("Meg") had a roommate at BYU-Idaho who was faithful at reading her scriptures and writing in her journal. Meg was a journal writer previously but had fallen out of the habit. Her roommate's example motivated her to start again. They didn't discuss it but ended up reading scriptures and reflecting on their day often at the same time. She acknowledged the habit continued until she got a new roommate (her husband). Now she is realizing that she can be that example to him. 

Through her service in the temple, Susan Fuhriman Farley, has witnessed many sisters bringing others to the temple and that the ministering efforts are really great. 

Molly Lichlyter Marks pointed out that we are not in this alone! We can enlist the help of our husbands and our children to remind us to have and to help with family home evening, family scriptures and family prayers.

"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)

Sarah Noah-Shobe pointed out that one of the blessings of doing good is the sustaining power we are given to continue. (President Nelson just turned 94 and is an excellent example of this!)

Ellie Pace used to think that if they were faithful in having family prayer, family scriptures, family home evening etc. that her children would not have struggles. This, of course, has not been the case. The influence of the world is real and powerful. But, this scripture is what encourages her to continue. When we diligently strive to do these acts of righteousness in our homes we are laying a foundation of faith for our children to rely on.

President Oaks used the example of the tree whose slow, small growth of one of the roots had the eventual power to crack and lift the concrete. "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...This occurs because each of these small and simple things invites the companionship of the Holy Ghost..."

Elizabeth Ewell concluded by encouraging us to recognize what we are doing good at; to look at how we can share our spiritual strengths with others; and to work on one area where we can improve.