Baby Steps (metaphorically)

Two Sundays ago I received a really nice phone call from my son’s Primary teacher. She told me how impressed she was with how well my son knew the story of Nephi and how Nephi and his brothers went back for the plates and everything that happened. Apparently he even acted it out during class. She also wanted to compliment my husband and I on how well we’ve taught our son. Now, I’m not telling you this story to boast or to demonstrate how super righteous my family is. I am telling you that I appreciated this phone call because I had no idea that my son knew the story of Nephi or even knew who Nephi was. Sure, we read scriptures as a family and my husband and I will ask my son about the stories but his patented response is, “I don’t know!” And usually it’s given while he is distracting himself with a different book or playing with a toy that we’ve asked him to put down numerous times so he can pay attention and participate. 

In the moment, sitting with our son, I often feel very frustrated because I don’t think that he’s retaining any of the information that we are trying to teach him. In the moment, I don’t believe what I am doing is affecting the future. But as those little moments build on each other, things do change. 

About 200 years ago there was a family that was trying their best to live righteously. They would  read the Bible, listening to different ministers, and sharing their thoughts with each other. At the time, none of them knew the impact these seemingly insignificant actions would have in the preparing of a Prophet. 

Eventually, one of the children, a young boy, went into the woods to ask God, in humble prayer, for knowledge. He prayed with the full intent and purpose to act upon what he received. In response to his prayer, that boy, just 14 years of age, received what is known today as the first vision. And I quote, “I saw two Personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son, Hear Him!”

The church we participate in today is a direct response to that vision. That boy was the prophet Joseph Smith. He later faced many difficulties throughout his life. Even in giving that prayer Satan attempted to stop him. Joseph was enveloped by darkness just before he was delivered by the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ. Despite everything he faced, Joseph Smith persevered until he ultimately gave his life to the enhancement of this, God’s church.

As I was preparing for this talk I read an article by President M Russell Ballard in this month’s Ensign titled, “How the Lord Prepared the World for the Restoration”. To summarize the article, the restoration of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ was not brought about by one moment but “in fact, the Lord’s preparation to restore the fullness of His gospel in the last days began before the earth was created.” Heavenly Father knew what would happen and he planned ahead and prepared for the restoration. God knew that after the gospel was lost from the earth that it would take hundreds of years to prepare the earth again. God also knew it would take countless people unknowingly performing numerous important tasks to inspire a 14 year old boy to go to a grove of trees outside Palmyra, New York and ask his Heavenly Father which church was true.  

At the end of last General Conference, President Russell M Nelson referenced that this spring will mark the 200th anniversary since Joseph Smith’s first vision and said that he hopes “that every member and every family will prepare for a unique conference that will commemorate the very foundations of the restored gospel.” He then provided some questions that we may choose to use to guide us in our preparations such as, “‘How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?’ or ‘How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?’” 

From recent experience, I have witnessed the difference the knowledge of the gospel can make in our lives. I recently lost two cousins. One on each side of my family and within a month of each other. My cousin who was raised in the church, his parents, while they are deeply said for his loss and they miss him, they feel peace and comfort from knowledge born in the Plan of Salvation. My cousin who was not raised in the church, his parents do not have that same peace in the knowledge of the gospel.

Now President Nelson’s questions were just suggestions and he went on to encourage us to “select [our] own questions. Design [our] own plan. Immerse [ourselves] in the glorious light of the Restoration.” He also promised that as we do “general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.” Essentially he asked us “what can we do today to prepare ourselves for this future event?”

During the 2018 General Women’s Session of General Conference, President Nelson invited us to read the Book of Mormon between then and the end of the year. Essentially we had three months to read the entire book. At the time I only had two kids and while I wasn’t faithful about reading every night I was able to finish the Book of Mormon while also marking the verses that reference the Savior. 

After our latest General Conference I decided that I wanted to complete this challenge again. It soon became apparent that because of the addition of a third child and the change in demands and routine that his birth created that I was not going to be able to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. So I thought, “that’s ok, I’ll finish it by the next General Conference.” But by the New Year just a few weeks ago, I had only read part way through 1st Nephi. If it had taken me three months to get that far, going at that same rate I was not going to complete the Book of Mormon in the next three months until General Conference. So I decided that it wasn’t important “how” I read the Book of Mormon as long as I spent time each day listening to the Book of Mormon. I like to watch or listen to material as I wash dishes or fold laundry and I decided that I would start listening to the Book of Mormon as well. 

It’s not my favorite way to read the Book of Mormon with half my attention diverted by whatever it is I’m doing. I don’t listen to the Book of Mormon all the time and I can only concentrate on listening for a few chapters in a row; I can’t easily pause to think over verses or highlight and write notes, but I am spending more time with the Book of Mormon. And I think that’s the important part, at least right now. I am trying to show my gratitude for the Book of Mormon especially as we come upon this special anniversary of Joseph Smith’s first vision. 

Elder Michael T. Ringwood, a General Authority Seventy, recently gave a BYU devotional that taught that God’s purposes for us will not be thwarted by others [or ourselves] when hard, stressful, or unfair things happen in our lives.

In 2nd Nephi 2:24 we learn “all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things” and in Romans 8:28 “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.”

I love setting goals but I also understand that it’s ok if goals change. We’ve passed the point in the New Year that those of us who had made New Year’s Resolutions have probably already broken most of them. And that’s ok. Like with my attempts to find time to read the Book of Mormon, I had to review what the purpose of my goal was and adjust and fine tune it to meet my present circumstances. It’s ok if things don’t follow your original plan, there’s a larger picture that only Heavenly Father can see and we are in his hands. At times we may feel overwhelmed or that the little efforts we are making to change or draw closer to Heavenly Father are fruitless - especially when it seems like our resolutions have failed. But, I know our efforts are blessed even if we don’t recognize the effect or blessings received. 

President Howard W. Hunter stated that, “developing spirituality and attuning ourselves to the highest influences of godliness is not an easy matter. It takes time and frequently involves a struggle. It will not happen by chance, but is accomplished only through deliberate effort and by calling upon God and keeping his commandments.” He again went on to say that, “part of our difficulty as we strive to acquire spirituality is the feeling that there is much to do and that we are falling far short. Perfection is something yet ahead for every one of us; but we can capitalize on our strengths, begin where we are, and seek after the happiness that can be found in pursuing the things of God.”

I know for myself, that when I have that feeling that there is so much to do and that I am falling short it is overwhelming and is as if there is a great weight upon my chest. But Elder Ringwood taught during his devotional that Heavenly Father has given us all the tools that we need even: The Light of Christ, Commandments, Agency, Jesus Christ, Grace, the Holy Ghost, and a Living Prophet.

President Nelson’s council is to “select [our] our questions, design [our] own plan, and act on any of these invitations to prepare [ourselves] for sharing the important messages of the ongoing Restoration.” Our Prophet also promised that “as [we] seek Jesus Christ in these efforts, God will prepare [us] to receive further light. It is [our] personal preparation that will help April’s general conference become for [us] not only memorable but unforgettable. The time to act is now.”  

Like teaching my son the story of Nephi and his brothers, our small efforts now may not seem like they will have much impact on the future but they do. Our Heavenly Father sees our efforts. He knows the impact and he loves each of us and he blesses those efforts. I am looking forward to hearing from the Prophet this coming Spring and I know that as we each heed his council our lives and our righteous actions will be blessed. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that he saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I know that the Book of Mormon is scripture that was brought forth for our time.