I found the video shown below this paragraph recently. It’s a flash mob my friend witnessed that happened in Salt Lake City at the Mormon Temple Square. There were hundreds of teenagers and young adults gathered there. They had choreographed dances and sang songs about being part of the Army of Helaman (a Book of Mormon story about very righteous young men protected by God). And it was quite clear they were having a blast as they sang and danced, surprising all the bystanders watching. It was so inspiring!! I watched it many times.
I loved the energy and obvious happiness shining on the faces of these young people. I could tell they really meant what they were singing, that they loved God and wanted to serve Him. The video broke away a few times to let us hear individuals share their personal witness. It was very uplifting and encouraging. I loved watching it. It reminded me of the joy I feel singing the hymns and the way my heart flies as I sing about my love for God. It was awesome!
And then (my third viewing) my worried Mom heart kicked in. What would really happen to these young people? Would they be able to maintain their happy energy and stay dedicated to God? Or would they become one of the many who are deceived and leave the path of right? We have all seen people who were equally full of light and promise who turned from God and His ways, and took paths that led to heartbreak. I worried that these beautiful youth would fall into dangerous habits and lose their way. I worried that as the storms of life raged they would lose their happiness and determination to serve God. To calm my heart I decided I needed to do some research. I searched the internet for inspiration. I looked at my life, and how I got to where I am from those tender early days. Over and over again I began to realize that it was in the small moments that life is shaped. It isn’t one huge event, but a thousand little ones that build a lifetime.
Neil A Maxwell, a Mormon leader, said:
“Moments are the molecules that make up eternity! Years ago, President Hinckley counseled: “It is not so much the major events as the small day-to-day decisions that map the course of our living. … Our lives are, in reality, the sum total of our seemingly unimportant decisions and of our capacity to live by those decisions” (Neal A. Maxwell, The Tugs and Pulls of the World, October 2000).
Living the Christian Life.
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I reflected on the seemingly unimportant things that became major turning points in my life. It was usually in the examples of others that I was strengthened. I remember being 14 and hiking with a group of girls from church. We got to a spot in the trail where it narrowed and clung to a cliff. I was freaked out, and my muscles froze in my terror of heights. I really could not move! When one of the youth leaders came to help me, I’ll never forget when she told me she was scared too. Somehow seeing this woman I admired who seemed to climb without hesitation, and knowing she was scared, gave me the strength to fight through my own fears. I completed the hike and felt wonderful about it. There have been thousands of these little “moment” discoveries in my life. And I’m thankful to the Lord for every one of them.
Like everyone else, I have moments I regret. I’ve made mistakes that only Christ through His mercy can erase from my soul. And those mistakes are usually fueled by a forgetfulness that moments have consequences. I’m so grateful that even though He lived a perfect life, He is willing to cover our sins. It’s through His example that we are shown the way to peace. I pray that we will be able to remember that the moments of our lives matter. That we will seek for the lessons each of them can bring us. I pray we will remember that we are children of God, and that we matter. And I pray we will all be able to find the joy that comes from Christ and keep it in our hearts forever.
About Patty Sampson
Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.
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