My Soul
Delighteth in Plainness
I
once was told a story of a woman who couldn’t do her visiting teaching because
she hadn’t finished embroidering the cloths that were to go with her homemade
bread that went along with her lesson. She missed the whole month. She also
missed the simple principle of visiting teaching. The simple acts of listening,
discussing gospel principles in solving life’s problems, and building trusting
friendships are what visiting teaching is really about. Having someone to go to
when we need help, having a friend to laugh with, and sometimes having someone
to cry with are all parts of the miracles of small and simple things.
The
Lord gives us solutions to our problems and ways to accomplish our goals. He
has shown us the way through His words and inspiration to our prophets. These
ideas may be simple and plain and ones that the world may think foolish, but if
we lack the obedience to try them out, we are the ones who lose out. Much like
Naaman of old, we may not truly understand the power of simplicity.
As
explained in 2 Kings, Naaman was captain of the armies of Syria, “a great man
. . . , and honourable, . . . but he was a leper” (5:1).
His wife had a Hebrew maid who suggested that he go to see the prophet to be
healed from his affliction. He went first to the king of Israel and then to the
home of Elisha, the prophet. He came with his riches—horses, chariots, gold,
and silver—for he was a very wealthy man.
(5:11). But Elisha did not. He chose simplicity. Naaman’s servants went
out to him to console and plea: “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?” (5:13). Naaman was
humbled.
“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” (5:14). Are we sometimes like Naaman? Would we
do anything if only President Hinckley would ask us personally or if we were
called to some great position in the Church? Do we have a preconceived notion
of how it should be? Do we expect the Lord or His prophet to come and do great
things in our honor? Is that what it takes for us to obey or understand? Or do
we follow the simple authority and instructions given by his messengers?
