Keeping it SIMPLE

This was the visiting teaching message this month. I would like to share my favorite parts.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin (1917–2008) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“Faithful members of the Church should be like oak trees and should extend deep roots into the fertile soil of the fundamental principles of the gospel. We should understand and live by the simple, basic truths and not complicate them. Our foundations should be solid and deep-rooted so we can withstand the winds of temptation, false doctrine, adversity, and the onslaught of the adversary without being swayed or uprooted. …

“Spiritual nourishment is just as important as a balanced diet to keep us strong and healthy. We nourish ourselves spiritually by partaking of the sacrament weekly, reading the scriptures daily, praying daily in personal and family prayer, and performing temple work regularly. Our spiritual strengths are like batteries; they need to be charged and frequently recharged” (“Deep Roots,” Ensign, Nov. 1994, 75).

The gospel is simple. Sometimes we as members make it more complicated that it needs to be and we find outselves questioning every corner and aspect of what we believe. We might also find ourselves so overwhelmed with everything that we are supposed to be doing.

Women especially. We are particularly hard on ourselves. We think we need to be everywhere, doing everything, and not just doing it but doing it perfectly. And we lose ourselves. We lose sight of what is most important. We make it too complicated.

My friends, if we just take a step back and uncomplicate our lives. Cut out the unneccessary daily time wasters and focus on what is most important we can accomplish this goal. The gospel is based on simple principles and doctrine. If we stick to those, our lives will be less complicated.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:

“We must live the gospel in such a way that we will have the Spirit to ever be with us. If we live worthily, the Spirit will always be with us…. The reason we pray, study the scriptures, have good friends, and live the gospel through obedience to the commandments is so that when—not if, but when—the trials come, we are ready” (“Teaching by Faith,” Liahona, Sept. 2003, 10, 14–15; Ensign, Sept. 2003, 20, 24–25)