If the Prophet Had Bid Thee Do Some Great Thing . . . ?

Small and Simple Things

by Elder Arnulfo Valenzuela of the Seventy     

                        

                       

WHAT?
I reflected upon the words of Alma when he commanded his son Helaman to keep a history of his people as part of the records which had been entrusted with him and to keep all these things sacred so that they would one day go forth unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

Alma then told him:

 

“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” (Alma 37: 6-7)

 .  .  .

 

 Naaman was a captain of the host of the king of Syria, an honorable man, a mighty man in valor, but he was also a leper (see 2 Kings 5:1). After being unsuccessful in receiving a cure from the king of Israel for his leprosy, Naaman went to the house of Elisha, the prophet. Elisha sent a messenger out to him, saying:  “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

 

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. …

 

“And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

 

“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean” (2 Kings 5:10–11, 13–14).

 

SO WHAT?

I've been saddened for many years that my grandson has become inactive in the Church.  Recently, his wife and little girls, ages 2 and 3, stayed with me for a few weeks while he finished some employment obligations in another state.  During that time we had prayer before we ate and at night before the little girls went to bed.  It wasn't long before the eldest began to say, "Let's have a prayer."  She would fold her little hands under her chin, close her eyes, and pray to Heavenly Father.  Sometimes I could understand what she asked; most of the time I could not.  We were all touched by this precocious little child.

 

Then on day, her little sister got sick in the car and began to throw up.  This little sweetie folded her little hands, closed her eyes, and prayed - as clear as a bell: "Heavenly Father, Bless Wee Bug that she will feel better and not be sick.  Amen."  Her sister did not vomit again and we arrived safely at our destination.  I found it hard to drive as my eyes were filled with tears.

 

NOW WHAT?

I often get discouraged and feel as if my life makes no difference.  At my age, all I can do are the simple things.  Even though I may never know if I have done any good in the world today or not, I will remember the simple faith of a little child following the simple example of a great-grandmother.  Perhaps then I can gird up my loins and move forward into the small and simple lot that is appointed to me.

 

Text copyright October 2013, Gebara Education

 

Pictures from:

Alma and Helaman from www.lds.org

Naaman the Leper from www.fredboom.blogspot.com