(Remember that today is the first day of the 12 days of Christmas. If you’re interested in joining us in a challenge to spread kindness, click here for more information.)
I know the holidays are a really busy time. Amidst all of it, try to remember this advice we learned in last week’s talk by Sister Matsumori:
“If we provide a still and quiet time each day when we are not bombarded by television, computer, video games, or personal electronic devices, we allow that still, small voice an opportunity to provide personal revelation and to whisper sweet guidance, reassurance, and comfort to us.”
So whether it’s this book club, or time in your scriptures, let’s take the time to replenish our Spirits so we can keep our priorities strong amid all the bustle. (I slacked off last week and I felt it.)
This week’s talk is called “An Easiness and Willingness to Believe” and was given by Elder Michael T. Ringwood of the Quorum of the Seventy during the Sunday afternoon session of General Conference. Our lives can become complicated, but the gospel is quite simple; just taking the most simple, basic steps in our daily lives gives us access to the knowledge, blessings and faith we need to wade through all the complications.
“The daily living of the gospel brings a softness of heart needed to have an easiness and willingness to believe the word of God.”
“If you are like me, you will find what really brought an easiness and willingness to believe were not the circumstances but the commitment to live the gospel during [significant] periods of life.”
You can read it here, or watch it here, or listen here. It’s also on page 100 in the November Ensign. Share your insights and goals in the comments after reading the talk. I missed all your voices last week. (Go here if you’d like more information about this General Conference Book Club.)
Diapers and Divinity 
I love his statement about how easiness and willingness to believe don’t come from our circumstances, but from our commitment. I think this is the principle that determines our gospel course. If we are committed to living the gospel, the things that happen in our life (good and bad) are secondary to that commitment. I’ve seen good people fall away from the Church when the circumstances of their lives became difficult or less than what they wanted.
I liked how Elder Ringwood stressed the importance of those basic “Sunday School” answers–reading our scriptures, prayer, having FHE, etc. These things are repeated so much because they DO matter–they DO make a difference in us on a daily basis. Sometimes I don’t notice this so much until a difficult trial–then I can really feel how those simple things sustain me and get me through the day.
Great, inspiring talk.
I agree with Jan about our basic “Sunday School” list of things to do to receive this easiness and willingness to believe. As Elder Ringwood stated about Naaman, we often want to do the great and significant thing and receive a great and significant manifestation. The Lord does not work that way. He allows our hearts to be softened one FHE or scripture reading or Sacrament Meeting at a time. Our continued obedience to the commandments demonstrates our commitment to the Lord. He will bless us with the gift of the Holy Ghost and our hearts can be soft. We will receive guidance and be instruments in the Lord’s hands for doing good. This talk gives us hope that the Lord notices our righteous efforts. A great talk for this Christmas season and our 12 days of service. Don’t we feel closer to the Lord as our hearts are turned to others and we do little things to lighten their burdens? “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matt 25:40)
I also agree with the previous comments, as I was reading the talk one scripture came to mind over and over “…by small and simple things are great things brought to pass…”(Alma 37:6) By doing the small daily things we will show him how committed we are to the gospel and the great things will come later, if we continue in faithfulness.
I like the part where he said that daily living the Gospel will make it easier to live. I’ve found that in those times where I’ve slacked on my scripture reading or whatever, life isn’t easy! Things are easy as you make them a part of your life – not something on your to-do list that you “have” to check off.
All I want to say is that my life is sometimes a living testimony of this talk, and/or of the failure to live it. I’ve been allowing myself to be too “busy” for some of my personal worship lately, and (as evidenced by my recent meltdown post), it has taken it’s toll. It’s so true that our willingness to believe (or have faith or hope) greatly diminishes when we turn away– even for a little bit– from the sources of truth and light. I’m finding that there is so much burden and stress in the details of life that I simply can’t afford to skip the basics or I get too quickly weighed down.
Just checking in to say I read it (during the right week, no less!) I appreciate all the thoughtful comments you sisters leave on these posts. 🙂
As always, I’m a few weeks behind but vowing to get caught up. I enjoyed this talk very much. I am reading after having the first lesson in the new Gospel Principles manual where we are taught that the first step to knowing God is believe that he is real – this talk seems to go right along with that. If we beleive in God we will feel an outpouring of His spirit. Like Elder Ringwood, I want that. I have to take those steps to have that happen and that is something that I am really working on. I must do better than I have.