Brothers and Sisters Aloha!
Thank you Keilani for your sweet introduction. I love you very much and am so blessed to be your mother!
I am very grateful for the opportunity to speak today. It brings back memories of being a student at BYU–Hawaii, sitting in the audience and attending devotionals just like you. I have felt strongly about the message I will be sharing today and pray for the spirit to communicate the intents and feelings of my heart to yours. I sincerely hope to share something meaningful with you, in this period of opportunity, preparation, and change.
There is a Japanese proverb which states: 塵も積もれば、山となる (ちりもつもれば、やまとなる chiri mo tsumoreba, yama to naru). When translated means: even specks of dust when piled, can become a mountain, or as the Lord has said: “by small and simple things are great things brought to pass.”[1]
This proverb and scripture have very personal application. I am small and simple. There is nothing smaller than me. In fact, I need this stool so that I can talk to you and be seen over the pulpit.
And although, I am small and simple in the eyes of the world, I am of great consequence to our Heavenly Father and He loves me and has a plan for me. He loves each of you and has a plan for you too. The world may look down upon us as we are seen as the dust of the earth, insignificant and inconsequential. But to God, who sees us as we really are, we are precious, invaluable, and of greatest worth simply because we are His children.
There have been times in my life due to circumstance, health conditions, and the choices of others that I have felt of little worth. I’ve been divorced, a single mother, survived brain surgery and have lived in periods of darkness. However, I discovered that if you have faith and trust in God, He will open doors, angels will appear, bridges will emerge, and miracle workers will perform their magic! Just as the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “While one portion of the human race is judging and condemning the other without mercy, the Great Parent of the universe looks upon the whole of the human family with a fatherly care and paternal regard,” for “His love [is] unfathomable.”[2] Once I saw myself in this light, I began to see that God’s hand was in every portion of my life. He was always there for me; I just didn’t notice.
Darkness destroyed my ability to see clearly and allowed negative thoughts about myself to shackle me. But, by doing the small and simple things, keeping the faith, praying, attending church, etc., light filled my life. Angels provided encouragement, insight, and small gestures which added to this light. When I went to the temple, this light was amplified and the doubts, darkness, and distance from God disappeared. It was in the temple where I felt comforted, peace, and Heavenly Father’s distinct love for me. The temple confirmed my new way of thinking, the veil of darkness was lifted from my mind, and I began to see myself as God saw me. It was the small and simple things that brought me out of darkness and into God’s brilliant light.
Today, I want to speak about the small and simple things we can do to lift the dark “veil of unbelief” from our mind and fill our lives with the “light of the glory of God,” which marvelous light “infuses our soul with joy” and “dispels the clouds of darkness.”[3]
As I look back on my life, I see how small and simple choices have brought forth great blessings. At the time, these decisions may have seemed inconsequential, even as tiny as a “speck of dust.” I can now see with retrospective reverence the “mountains” of blessings they have become.
1. Seek to perform small and simple acts of kindness.
2. Find gratitude in the small and simple things in life.
3. See your small and simple character traits through God’s eyes.
4. Perform your small and simple acts with faith in Jesus Christ.
1. Seek to perform small and simple acts of kindness.
The Lord has said, “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for ye are laying the foundation of a great work. And out of small things proceedeth that which is great” (D&C 64:33). The Lord is teaching us that “well-doing” is built upon the small, faith filled actions we take every day. These small actions taken in totality, can have eternal consequences.
My father, Katsuhiro Kajiyama, is a humble and talented artist, professor, and an amazing father and grandfather. He is the epitome of Christlike light, love, and faith. However, my father’s life was not always filled with such light and hope. He is a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan. In this tragic event, his mother and brother, and many family members were killed. This is the last picture my father has with his family, taken eight months before the bombing.
On the morning of August 6, 1945, my father heard a loud air raid siren piercing the air, he ran and crouched by the school door. Suddenly an intense light appeared as if a “thousand flash photos had been taken.” There was a thunderous blast and a force so strong that the entire building shook. The world was filled with pandemonium and hysteria. Buildings were in flames, thick smoke engulfed virtually everything, and frenzied crying and screaming filled the air. During this fearful state, my father longed for his mother’s comfort and gentle touch. By some miracle his mother was able to locate my father through the rubble and chaos. In the midst of this devastation, even though severely injured and burned, my grandmother searched tirelessly for my father. It was his mother’s final act of love to find her son and bring him home. And, 20 pain-filled days later she died.
My father was tormented by the images of the pain and death of the bombing and losing his mother and brother. He longed to hear “the sweet, gentle call” of his mother. “It seemed that [he] would never find peace in this cruel and harsh existence.” But God did not forget him, and one day on a streetcar while headed to school, my father saw two gaijin (foreign), American missionaries. My father did not usually see foreigners, but if he did, he avoided them because they reminded him of the war and filled him with deep pain and sadness. However, on this day, a missionary, Elder Gary Roper, did something so small and simple that changed my father’s life forever—he smiled at my father. Yes, a SMILE! This act caught my father’s attention, it caused him to drop his veil of darkness and allowed the light of Christ to reach him. This simple act invited God’s light in, and my father agreed to hear the missionaries, attended church, was baptized, served a mission in Japan, attended BYU–Hawaii and BYU Provo, met my mother, Hilda Kajiyama, and was sealed in the Salt Lake Temple, then raised a beautiful family!
President David O. McKay, quoting Sir Humphrey Davey, stated that “life is made up not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things in which smiles and kindness and small obligations given habitually are what win and preserve the heart and secure comfort.”[4] A simple act changed my father’s life. Elder Roper might have been tired, rejected, homesick, and uncomfortable living in a foreign land attempting to speak an unfamiliar tongue. He might have felt alone, insecure, and inadequate. He might have felt like many of you studying in a distant country and learning in a non-native language.
How often do we disregard doing the small, simple kind acts, and allow the negative fears to prevent us from sharing God’s light? I believe that our Heavenly Father has small daily tasks that He would like us to do at BYU–Hawaii to bring “great things to pass.” President Spencer W. Kimball said:
God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another person that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom…So often, our acts of service consist of simple encouragement or of giving mundane help with mundane tasks, but what glorious consequences can flow from mundane acts and from small but deliberate deeds![5]
A kind word, a compliment, a smile can change someone’s life forever. These acts may seem ordinary to the giver, but extraordinary to the receiver. Heavenly Father wants us to be His instruments, helping to fulfill His work on earth and at BYU–Hawaii. Small and simple acts of kindness can help change someone’s life, even your own life, forever.
2. Find gratitude for the small and simple things in life.
For about five years I suffered from a condition called hemifacial muscle spasms (HFS) which resulted in severe migraines, pain to my right side of my face, and muscle distortion and spasms. At first the spasms started as a flutter to my right eye but soon progressively moved down my face, cheek, mouth, and then through my neck and shoulder. Movement of my face or mouth and stressful or high-energy situations would trigger my spasms which did not let up for several hours. Sometimes spasms would continue through the night while sleeping. Imagine having your eyelid rapidly open and close all day and night! My face was constantly tired and painful. Simple things like smiling, looking people in the eye, being in front of others, teaching, reading, singing, were challenges for me. As a teacher with an outgoing personality I had to stand up every day for hours with my face, mouth, and shoulder spasming. Every day I’d pray to have courage to teach and look people in the eye. When my spasms would get really bad, I would use my hand to cover that portion of my face as I felt very self-conscious.
One day, I saw my daughter Keilani, who was three years old, staring at herself in the mirror. She was making a funny expression closing her eyelid and drawing her mouth up and down. I tentatively asked what she was doing and will never forget her response, “Mom, I’m just trying to be beautiful like you!” Through the voice of this small and tiny child, I saw myself in a completely different light. I wasn’t someone who was hideous or ugly, but a person my daughter admired and wanted to be like. From the voice and perspective of a child, who the world might view as “small” and “insignificant,” I was taught to change my perspective and to see true beauty through her eyes.
However, my condition continued to worsen. I tried to find ways to make the spasms stop, but nothing helped. Finally, my doctor recommended MVD brain surgery. I learned of one surgeon in Hawaii who performed this surgery. However, I was unable to schedule an appointment because of the surgeon’s busy schedule.
I had run out of options and I didn’t know what to do. Physically there was nothing I could do to stop the spasms and knowing that the spasms, pain, and headaches would only worsen with time made me feel hopeless. I couldn’t even schedule an appointment with the surgeon! It seemed that I had reached the end of my known path. I worried that God might not have a plan for me, and that this condition would eventually take away my ability to see, eat, and talk.
Yet, I continued to persevere in performing small and simple acts of faith, attending church and the temple, and seeking God’s light. In the solace of the temple, I received much needed comfort and perspective that God loved me, was aware of me, and these physical trials were not a punishment from God but part of God’s plan for me. I saw that God had not forgotten or forsaken me. This experience was part of His divine design, and I needed to patiently endure.
Then the miracle happened. I was asked to give a talk in church! The night before, I had the worst HFS attack, I was up till about 3:00 AM, with no relief of my suffering. When I spoke in church, I shared briefly about my experience the previous night, and talked about how grateful I was to attend church and have the opportunity to speak.
A friend in the congregation heard my challenges. Here’s the miracle…this friend also suffered from HFS and had received the same brain surgery I sought from the very doctor I had been trying to contact for months. She understood my pains, worries, and fears. She told me how much her life improved from the surgery and encouraged me to undergo the procedure. She called the doctor’s office, who contacted me to make an appointment. After meeting the surgeon, he immediately scheduled me for surgery and I was able to have this life-changing operation.
HFS is uncommon with less than in one in 10,000 in the US suffering from this condition. What were the chances of someone with the exact same medical condition, treated by the exact same doctor with the exact same surgery? And she also lived in my small town and attended my ward too! God did not forget me! He loved me and had a beautiful plan for me.
Thankfully, this plan included being healed from my debilitating physical condition. I will never take for granted the ability I have to smile and look people in the eye. Today I am incredibly blessed to have my life back, spasm-free, and full of joy. I am grateful for the ability to see unimpaired or restrained. I am grateful for prayer and priesthood blessings. I am grateful for a loving Savior who knows my pains and carries me through my struggles. I am grateful for the power of perspective and to see my life with new eyes.
Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin said: “Sometimes we should express our gratitude for the small and simple things like the scent of the rain, the taste of your favorite food, or the sound of a loved one’s voice. Thinking of things we are grateful for is a healing balm . . . It changes our focus from our pains and our trials to the abundance of this beautiful world we live in.”[6]
Truly, finding gratitude for the small and simple things in life brings about great blessings.
3. See your small and simple character traits through God’s eyes.
The world may see me as physically small and insignificant. First is my diminutive height. I’m only 5’0”! Additionally, I have a high-pitched, child-like, Disney-princess voice.
A law school professor, a former judge, had this view of me. He critiqued my performance after giving an opening statement in class. He told me that I had two big obstacles pitted against me: I was short and my voice was too high-pitched. These characteristics made me appear young, inexperienced, and with these flaws I would not “make a good attorney.” I appeared to be “too nice”, and on top of these fatal flaws, I smiled the entire time. My height, voice, and smile, he said, would always prevent me from being an effective advocate.
Hearing I wouldn't make a good attorney from a former judge was crushing! I remember asking to be excused and running to the bathroom. There, in the confines of the stall, I sobbed. These weaknesses seemed overpowering as I realized there wasn’t much I could do to change these characteristics or my circumstance. I couldn’t magically grow taller or change the pitch of my voice. But, in that moment, the still small voice spoke to my heart these words: “Jennifer, change your perspective.” In my mind’s eye, I saw these three “obstacles” were really stepping stones toward helping me become an effective lawyer and the person God wanted me to be.
Given my height, I would never likely be a basketball player or tower over my opponents in the court room. Yet I would never be an intimidating or threatening figure. My voice, although high pitched, could be a source of cheery joy and optimism. It could invigorate, bring hope, and speak tenderness and comfort. I could also work at Disneyland! My smile, could be disarming and communicate warmth and relatability.
I learned several important lessons from this experience:
First, my perceived weaknesses, by the world’s standards, could become my greatest strengths. These were characteristics that God specifically gave me. I could not change them. I had to embrace them and discover how to make them work for me. I want you to consider what others might see as your weakness or flaw and then seek to shift your perspective. Instead of being a negative characteristic, focus on how it becomes a blessing! This is what makes you unique and sets you apart. No one else is quite like you and your “quirks” can become the “quintessential quality” that makes you stand out.
Second, don't let anyone diminish you and your spiritual gifts. You are the master of your destiny.
Finally, lawyers, leaders, and individuals come in all shapes and sizes! You may not have a commanding presence, be the loudest, tallest, etc., but you can still be a great influence for good and a leader with your God-given talents.
Your challenges can become your greatest catalysts for change! Choose to see your small and simple character traits through God’s eyes.
4. Perform your small and simple acts with faith in Jesus Christ.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband spoke about maintaining our faith during moments of fear in his October 2018 General Conference address. He mentioned several fears we mortals face. We experience fear of failure, rejection, disappointment, fear of the unknown, fear of not being chosen, fear of being chosen, fear of not being good enough, fear that the Lord has no blessing for us.[7] We can fear change and these fears can escalate into terror. There were moments in my life where I felt debilitating fear that clouded my judgment and blocked my ability to feel God’s never-ending love. As Elder Neil L. Andersen stated: "Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time."[8]
As I reflect on my life, I realize that had I succumbed to my fears and failed to perform those “small and simple” things, it would have prevented many of the great blessings in my life. One of which was meeting my eternal companion, Nick, and being sealed to him and our daughter Keilani on June 29, 2018. Nick is incredible. He is so Christlike. He is tender and caring. He is responsible and hardworking. He loves Keilani and my family. And he loves the Lord!
As for the missionary who changed my father’s life, if he gave into his fears of feeling inadequate, discouraged, and rejected he may not have smiled and invited my father to church and to listen to the missionary discussions.
If my father didn’t put aside his fears, he would have prevented himself from learning about God, the plan of salvation, and eternal families. My father wouldn’t have served a mission, studied in America, and become a professor at BYU-Hawaii. And, he wouldn’t have become my dad! J As my father always says, the greatest blessings in his life came from joining the church and serving a mission.
You might be experiencing fear yourself. You may feel inadequate, discouraged and alone. You may even be suffering in silence. But don’t give up! Believe that God hears and answers your “secret prayers.” Continue on the covenant path doing those small and simple things you know you should be doing. As President Russell M. Nelson promised, great blessings will come.[9] As for me, once I made temple attendance a regular and scheduled practice my life began to transform, my fears were set aside, answers to prayers were received, and miracles poured into my life.
One of my miracles was completing a marathon. However, running for 26.2 miles seemed like an insurmountable goal and I had many legitimate fears and concerns. Recovery from my brain surgery was very difficult. I could not hear well, had a hard time swallowing, and speaking was challenging. Sitting up for more than a few minutes caused me to feel weak and lightheaded. I couldn’t exert much physical energy without feeling pain and throbbing in my head. If I couldn’t even sit, stand, and walk a few steps without sitting down, how would I ever complete such a grueling task?
With small and simple goals of walking for five minutes, then 10 minutes, then 30 minutes, before finally running for sustained periods of time, I began to change. I scheduled a time to run each day with good friends that helped motivate me to keep going. In rain or shine, early morning or night, I kept running.
Part of my training included running a half marathon with my mom, Keilani, and a dear friend who was an experienced runner. My friend was a great source of strength as she prepared us for the race, encouraged us to pace ourselves, remain hydrated, and never give up. We relied deeply on her experience, encouragement, and perspective!
I was also blessed by the indomitable determination of eight-year-old Keilani. We ran the first nine miles without much trouble, but things became difficult at mile 10. Keilani, was in a lot of pain because her shoes were too small and she ultimately wore a hole in her sneakers. But she never gave up. Each time she wanted to stop, we took turns encouraging each other and singing, joking and telling riddles. Even when the race was most difficult and we stopped to stretch, Keilani looked me in the eye and said “I am not giving up! I am finishing this race!”
When we finally reached the finish line, Keilani through tears said “Mom, we did it! We finished as family!” We went through the highs and lows of the race together. We encouraged, supported, and sustained each other, and we finished as a team. It is my deep desire that my family, myself, and each of you will never give up on our faith, testimony, and love for the gospel and each other. I hope that at the end of our earthly race we will be together hugging, crying, and rejoicing that “We did it! We finished as a family.” I hope we can rejoice as the Apostle Paul says in Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Let us work consistently and steadfastly in performing the small, ordinary acts of faith to work miracles in your life.
I encourage each of us to remove the “clouds of darkness” and the “veil of unbelief” that bind us to our fearful and lonely stations. Let the light of the Lord into our hearts to help us see things as they really are. I hope that you will take courage in the words of the Savior when he was asked by His disciples about why the blind man was born blind. Was it the fault of the blind man or his parents?[10] As the Savior said, “Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.”[11] We all experience trials so that God can work His miracles within us. It is this purification and sanctification process that allow us to become like our Savior.
When the darkness of my past was lifted, I could see hundreds of miracles. Why? Because God loves me! God loves you too! I know it is because of my difficult experiences that I can recognize the beautiful light and goodness surrounding me. I can also see that I am worthy of God’s greatest blessings. We are all worthy when we strive to become more Christlike and follow our Savior. We are worthy because we have not given up on our God, our testimony, or our faith in Jesus Christ. We are worthy because we recognize and heed His promptings. We are worthy simply because we are His children.
As I’ve prayed and asked God what He thinks of me, I have felt complete peace and stillness. I have felt great joy and incomprehensible acceptance! I know that “I am a child of God.” I know God accepts my efforts to follow Him. I encourage each of us to perform those small and simple acts of faith. I know that He will remove the dark veil of unbelief from our eyes and provide the brilliant light necessary to see ourselves as He does and infuse our lives with joy.
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
[1] Alma 37:6.
[2] Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 39.
[3] Alma 19:6.
[4]Sir Humphrey Davey, cited in David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals: Selections from the Discourses of David O. McKay, (Salt Lake City: The Improvement Era, 1953), p. 388.
[5] Spencer W. Kimball, “Small Acts of Service,” Ensign, December 1974, pp. 2, 5.
[6] Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Improving Our Prayers,” Ensign, March 2004.
[7] Ronald A. Rasband, “Be Not Troubled,” October 2018.
[8] Neil L. Andersen, “You Know Enough,” Ensign, October 2008.
[9] Russell M. Nelson, “Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel,” October 2018.
[10] John 9:2.
[11] John 9:4.