Simple Acts of Faith

What do the small and simple things have to do with the trials we find ourselves facing? 

For some reason, we balk at simplicity. As humans, anything too easy makes us suspicious. With this tendency, sometimes we overlook the building blocks of the gospel, even though these building blocks are often what we need most.

In his talk “Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It,” Elder L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy tells of a young bishop who strove to help the members of his ward by turning them back to the basics of the gospel, reminding them of the importance of studying the scriptures, paying tithing, and serving others. Time and time again, members would brush him off, asking, “What does doing any of those things have to do with the issues I’m facing?”

To be honest, this is a reasonable question, as Elder Clayton himself admits. When facing some of our greatest trials in life, how will something as simple as paying tithing help us?

When we are in the midst of a personal tragedy or setback, or even if we are struggling with our faith, sometimes we want big answers. We want God to send down beams of light and angels to give us encouragement and explain why we are suffering in the way that we are. However, Elder Clayton points out that “those who are deliberate about doing the ‘small and simple things’—obeying in seemingly little ways—are blessed with faith and strength that go far beyond the actual acts of obedience themselves.”

Simple acts of obedience bring us closer to God. In doing the simple things, we show that we love and trust him. As we do the simple things, the Lord is able to lift us above our trials and give us strength to bear what once seemed unbearable.

Read Elder L. Whitney Clayton’s talk “Whatsoever He Saith unto You, Do It” to find out how we can better align ourselves to the small and simple principles of the gospel. 

Source: LDS General Conference

—Stephanie Neher, Mormon Insights

feature image by emilia syldatk

Find more insights 

Find out more about the benefits of obedience by reading or watching President Thomas S. Monson‘s talk “Obedience Brings Blessings.”

Learn more about how faith amid trials can make us better people in Larry Richman’s Ensign article “Learning through Life’s Trials.”

Read Jennfer Johnson’s Mormon Insights article “Applying the Savior’s Atonement to My Own Life” to find out how to let the gospel of Jesus Christ change you for the better.