Small and Simple Preperations:
It is easy to set aside the simple things for things that seem of much greater importance. But what could hold greater importance than those things that God has commanded us to do?
The Lord makes His purposes very clear in Moses 1:39, saying, “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”1
Our Heavenly Father’s love for us is immeasurable and is the foundation of His divine purpose. His greatest desire is for each of His children to return to His presence and become like Him—immortal, perfected, and partakers of eternal life. In His boundless love, God created a plan of salvation that would make this transformation possible. The plan is built upon the principle of agency, allowing us to choose to follow Him and progress toward eternal life. At the heart of this plan is our Savior, Jesus Christ. His life showed us the path to follow, His death and resurrection ensured immortality for all, and His suffering in the Garden allowed Him to be the ultimate advocate to the Father when the time comes for us to enter the Father’s presence.
Preparation
Preparation is essential for when the time comes for us to stand before God. In Alma 34:32, Amulek teaches us that this life is the appointed time for our spiritual preparation. He states, "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."2 This powerful declaration reminds us that our time on earth is not merely a waiting period, but an active, purposeful opportunity to prepare ourselves for the next stage of our eternal journey. We are here to grow, learn, and develop Christlike attributes, and fulfill the purposes God has for us.
God, in His infinite love and wisdom, has not left us to navigate the journey of life alone. He has provided us with a wealth of resources—spiritual tools and guidance—that can help us stay on the covenant path and prepare to meet Him face to face. These resources are not only abundant but also accessible, allowing us to draw closer to Him on a daily, weekly, and even monthly basis. The scriptures, prayer, temple and church attendance, and even institute classes are all gifts that enable us to prepare to meet God face to face.
3 Resources
The Bible and the Book of Mormon point us towards truth and helps us to understand the plan that God has for our lives. Through the words of prophets, both ancient and modern, we get insight into how we can live in harmony with God's will. The scriptures provide comfort at difficult times and inspiration. We invite the Holy Spirit to instruct and remind us of the covenants and commitments God has made with His children when we read them regularly.
Another essential tool that enables us to speak with our Heavenly Father directly is prayer. We can ask for strength and guidance. We can express our gratitude through prayer. Prayer keeps our hearts open to the Holy Ghost's promptings and helps us maintain a connection to God. We can feel God's love and direction in our lives when we pray sincerely and faithfully. We can also receive comfort in the knowledge that He is conscious of our unique needs and challenges.
Attending church and the temple is also a vital tool for our spiritual development, despite the fact that it is commonly dismissed as a simple act. Our relationship with God and each other is strengthened when we gather together with other believers to worship, share in the sacrament, and learn. The sacrament serves as a reminder of the Savior's atoning sacrifice and a sacred ordinance that renews our vows with the Lord. Regular temple and church attendance invites the spirit. The spirit strengthens our testimony by its witness of truth.
A Trees Power
To illustrate the power of these things, let’s turn to President Oaks's talk, “Small and Simple Things,” in which he makes this observation: "I was reminded of the power of small and simple things over time by something I saw on a morning walk. The thick and solid 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… 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.”3
If a tree can be powerful enough to crack through concrete, imagine how powerful the resources we’ve been given are when we fully utilize them.
President Oaks talks about that later in that same talk, saying, “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.”4
The Serpent on the Rod
An excellent example of acting on small and simple things resides in the Old Testament. There, we read how fiery serpents plagued the Israelites. Many people died from their bites.5 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.”6 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.”7
It is easy to set aside the simple things for things that seem of much greater importance. But what could hold greater importance than those things that God has commanded us to do?
When we follow God’s commandments (reading our scriptures, attending church and the temple, and praying), Christ has promised that “Ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”8 Christ loves us, and His love reflects His Father's love for us. We have been given the choice to exercise our agency, keep God’s commandments, and walk on that covenant path that Christ showed. In doing so we are promised “immortality and eternal life” with God.