Line upon Line

In the Book of Mormon a prophet by the name of Alma is counseling his son Helaman.  In the process he says, "by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.  And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls." (Alma 37:6-7)  This principle of small and simple things or baby steps is an eternal principle.  The Lord knows this.  Satan knows this as well.  We see both using this to destroy or exalt us.  Let me share with you some examples from both sides which are found in the scriptures. 

Lets start with Christ's usage of this principle.  In the Book of Mormon we read about a young man named Alma who went around with his friends seeking to destroy the church of God in the land.  While doing this an angel came to them and told them they either stop what they are doing or be destroyed.  They chose to change their lives and repent.  Alma later comes to be a prophet of God.  While going around and teaching the people he shared with them how he was converted.  He said, "Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me." (Alma 5:46)  I find it fascinating he did not say it was by this angel which commanded him to repent, but instead it was done by "small and simple things."

Know the opposite side of the spectrum, that being Satan.  In the Book of Mormon again we find how Satan destroys and degrades an individual one decision at a time.  Lehonti was from the people of Laman.  A man from the people of Nephi had come into his land and convinced the king to make him leader over the Lamanite army.  He did this with the intent to take this army and make his people, the Nephites, subject to him.  Lehonti with some of the army fled to a hill to escape the consequences of this man named Amalickiah. 

Amalickiah took the portion of the army that is still around to the base of the hill.  He sends up messengers to tell Lehonti to come down to the bottom of the mountain so they could talk.  Know this group including Lehonti was, "fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites." (Alma 47:6)  Because of this determination Lehonti declines Amalickiah's offer.  Amalickiah sends two more messages both coming back denied, so Amalickiah goes up the mountain almost to the camp of Lehonti and asks him to come down just a little and that he could bring his guards with him.  Lehonti did and a plan was created where Lehonti would bring his soldiers down and encompass Amalickiah's army and they would in turn surrender and Lehonti would have the whole army; Amalickiah would become second in command as a part of this trade.  Lehonti liked this and the plan worked just as it was laid out.  Lehonti got control of the whole army and Amalickiah became second in command.  Once Amalickiah became second in command he, "caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died."(Alma 47:18).  Amalickiah just had to get Lehonti to move down little by little and before Lehonti knew it he was died.  

We also see this principle with the story of King David.  Satan got David to commit adultery.  He did not tempt him right away with that, but he got him down to that level a little at a time.  An apostle of the Lord, Elder Holland, quotes a proverb when he said ,"a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,  so watch your step."(Lao Tzu, in John Bartlett, comp., Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations, 14th ed. (1968), 74.)

Let us watch our step.  For that step decides what direction we are going in.  Remember if we do make a mistake there is always a way back through Jesus Christ.  He lives!  He loves us!