By Small Means the Lord Brings About Great Things

1 Nephi 16:29 - "And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."

Elder David A. Bednar - “As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was for Lehi and his family in their day. The very factors that caused the Liahona to work for Lehi will likewise invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And the very factors that caused the Liahona not to work anciently will likewise cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost today”

Seek this Jesus - A Book of Mormon Daily Podcast invites you to discover the joy and guidance that comes from studying the Book of Mormon everyday. This podcast would hope to just be a supplement to your studies. 

For a free copy of the Book of Mormon, click here.  https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

For more information on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, click here. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:12

Welcome to Speak this Peace. A daily podcast dedicated to drawing closer to the Savior through the powerful truths found in the Book of Mormon. Each episode, we focus on one verse that helps us walk more faithfully in his footsteps.

SPEAKER_02 0:30

As Lehi's family traveled through the wilderness, the Lord gave them a divine instrument, the Lehona. It was more than a compass, it was a living symbol of how God guides his people. Nephi helps us understand how it worked and why it sometimes didn't. The principle he teaches is not ancient, it is deeply personal and very present. Nephi 1629 reads And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord, and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things. Nephi tells us something critical about the Lehona. It did not work automatically, it changed from time to time, based on the faith and diligence Lehi's family gave to it. Direction from the Lord was conditional, not because God is unwilling to guide, but because he honors agency and spiritual laws. When we carry unresolved sin and delay repentance, something begins to dull. It becomes harder to hear the Lord's voice clearly, not because he stopped speaking, but because we are less able to receive. When repentance frees us from these burdens, clarity returns. Peace returns, direction returns. Just as the Liahona responded to faith and diligence, our ability to recognize spiritual promptings responds to the conditions of our hearts. When we are humble, repentant, and trying, really trying, to follow the Lord, he communicates with us in ways that are plain to be read, not always dramatic, often simple, but unmistakably his. The Lehna didn't force obedience, it didn't move the family forward on its own. It invited action, and so does the Spirit today. Nephi concludes with a profound truth. By small means the Lord can bring about great things. This is a hopeful principle within the scriptures. We often assume that meaningful discipleship requires dramatic gestures, heroic sacrifices, visible acts or historic moments. But the Lord works differently. Small things matter. Reaching out to visit someone who has stepped away, sending a simple note or message to let someone know they are remembered, praying by name for people the Lord places in our path. These acts may feel insignificant to us, but in the Lord's hands they become great. They soften hearts, they open doors, they heal wounds we may not even know exist. The Leahona didn't shout directions from the heavens. It gave gentle, incremental guidance step by step. That is how the Lord often leads us today. There is a revealing contrast in our discipleship. Many of us are willing to do the big things of the gospel. We speak confidently of sacrifice. We admire stories of pioneers walking back to Jackson County. We say we would die for the cause of Christ. But sometimes we hesitate at the small daily acts, driving across town to visit a ministering family, opening the scriptures when we're tired, pausing our schedule to respond to a prompting. The irony is this, the Lord rarely asks us for dramatic loyalty before he asks for daily faithfulness. The greatest of discipleship is not found in imagined extremes, but in ordinary obedience. The Leahona did not respond to grand declarations, it responded to steady diligence. And when that diligence faltered, so did the guidance. That principle hasn't changed. We live in a world that constantly pulls our attention outward. Productivity, recognition, personal gain, comfort, speed, efficiency. But the Lord often invites us to slow down, to notice, to choose kindness without expecting return. Doing something good just because it is good draws us closer to Him. Not because the act is impressive, but because the intent is pure. A few minutes of sincere prayer, a quiet act of service, a deliberate choice to listen instead of rush. These are the moments where heaven connects with earth. The Lord can take these small, unseen choices and turn them into great blessings in someone else's life. And often we won't know the full impact until much later, or maybe not until eternity. That is how God works. Quietly, patiently, faithfully. Elder David A. Bednar teaches this powerful connection. Let's listen in.

SPEAKER_00 6:33

As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was for Lehi and his family in their day. The very factors that caused the Liahona to work for Lehi will likewise invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And the very factors that caused the Liahona not to work anciently will likewise cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost today.

SPEAKER_02 7:08

That statement deserves careful reflection. The Spirit does not abandon us, but we can distance ourselves from Him. Faith invites guidance, diligence sustains it, neglect weakens it. Just like the Leona. The Lord is not waiting for us to do something dramatic before he guides us. He is watching how we respond to the small invitations already given. When we repent, when we act in faith, when we are diligent in simple obedience, direction becomes clear again. By small means, the Lord still brings about great things. So here is today's challenge. Choose one small, deliberate act of discipleship today, something quiet, simple, and sincere. Do it with faith and diligence, and then watch how the Lord begins to write new understanding into your life. Thank you for listening to Seek This Jesus. I hope this message helps you draw a little closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. Please, don't let this podcast be your only scripture time today. I encourage you to open your scriptures, because when you study God's word personally, the Spirit will teach you things no podcast ever could. I invite you to come back tomorrow for another verse and message to help you keep focused on Jesus Christ. Until next time, keep seeking this Jesus.