By Small and Simple Things, RS Lesson, August 8, 2011

Our president's message was shared by Sister Kerri Vannucci.

Alma 37:6-7
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.  And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

D&C 52:14
And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations—

We all have a liahona, a pattern; we have the scriptures.

Like King Naaman, who thought that washing in a river to be cured of leprosy was too simple and beneath him, we are often looking for the big things, not the small things or the small means.

We need to remember the tender mercies of the Lord; those small things that happen.  We need to remember:

D&C 64:33
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.

Elder David A. Bednar spoke at Women's Conference in May of this year, of the small and simple things that we do and used the example of a drip irrigation system to illustrate the importance of consistency in seemingly small and simple things.  The simple things we do are like those irrigation drips, they slowly fill us up and slow and steady is the best way.

Sister Vannucci asked us, "What are the small and simple things we do everyday?"

Smile
Pray
Be a cheerleader, be happy in your family
Pretend you're happy even when you're not!
Service
Sometimes you just endure with a smile

But, each of those things not only helps to build us up, it helps build up our families and those around us.  Like Elder Bednar said, "I believe many, if not all, of the most satisfying and memorable accomplishments in our homes, in the Church, in our jobs and professions, and in our communities will be the product of this important spiritual pattern—of simple and small things.  Brothers and sisters, we should find great comfort in the fact that ordinary people who faithfully, diligently, and consistently do simple things that are right before God will bring forth extraordinary results."