1 Ne 16:29 by
small means the Lord can bring about great things.
Alma repeated the story of the Liahona
to his son, Helaman:
‘And it did work for
them according to their faith in God….
Nevertheless, because
those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them
marvelous works. …
And now, my son, I would
that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as
our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were
temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.
For behold, it is as
easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight
course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this
compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.
And now I say, is there
not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our
fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of
Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a
far better land of promise.
O my son, do not let us
be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers;
for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even
so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live
forever.’ (Alma 37:40-46, italics added)
“’A series of seemingly small but
incorrect choices,’ Elder M. Russell Ballard pointed out, ‘can become
those little soul-destroying termites that eat away at the foundations of our
testimony until, before we are aware, we may be brought near to spiritual and
moral destruction.’ In a similar way, the small acts of kindness, the tiny
deeds of Christian service, the silent but significant efforts to control our
own thoughts and feelings—these are the simple things that build character and
shape human destiny everlastingly. The world takes notice of the public
accomplishments, the spectacular victories. But who knows of the private
battles of the soul, thousands of them, waged and won by Abraham long before he
passed his greatest test on Mount Moriah to become the friend of God? Who knows
of the infinite struggles, the buffetings, the adversarial onslaughts faced and
overcome by the sinless Son of Man in the Garden of the Oilpress, finished
before his public victory over the grave on Golgotha? Truly, the ‘little
things’ form and shape the disciple of Christ.” (Robert L. Millet, An Eye
Single to the Glory of God: Reflections on the Cost of Discipleship, p.77.)
M. Russell Ballard
“Great
and marvelous events seem to motivate us, but small things often do not hold
our attention. Noting that the Liahona worked by faith, Alma stated, ‘Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small
means . . . the people of Lehi were slothful, and forgot to exercise their
faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not
progress in their journey.’ (Alma 37:41.)
“Is
our journey sometimes impeded when we forget the importance of small things?
(See Alma 37:46.) Do we realize that small events and choices determine the
direction of our lives just as small helms determine the direction of great
ships? (See James 3:4; D&C 123:16.)
“May
the Lord bless each one of us to follow the counsel of our prophets. We need to
have family and personal prayers; study the scriptures, particularly the Book
of Mormon; hold family home evenings; follow the admonition of the Savior to
love one another; and be thoughtful, kind, and gentle within the family.
Through these and other similar small and simple things, we have the promise
that our lives will be filled with peace and joy.” (Church News, Jul 6,
1996)