Alma 37 : 1 - 8

Got my phone alarm set last night to wake me up at 4AM. I did hear it ringing and woke up on time. Thanks to this little app in my phone--the alarm clock. Even though my phone is not too great (I can say that for some reasons...), it's basic functions are working. It may not have the best fancy features but I can do four simple but important things with my phone: give and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, share its internet connection through bluetooth and wake me up with its alarm. It also has other things like a dictionary, games and stuff but those first four things are just the most important things that I need. And my phone is not failing to serve those functions.

In verses 6-7 we read, "6 Now ye may suppose that this is ^afoolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by ^bsmall and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

 7 And the Lord God doth work by ^ameans to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very ^bsmall means the Lord doth^cconfound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls."

The Institute manual beautifully explain these verses:
"Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught the importance of giving heed to small and simple things:

'We observe vast, sweeping world events; however, we must remember that the purposes of the Lord in our personal lives generally are fulfilled through the small and simple things and not the momentous and spectacular...

'Great and marvelous events seem to motivate us, but small things often do not hold our attention. Noting that the Liahona worked by faith, Alma stated, 'Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means...[the people of Lehi] were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey' (Alma 37:41).

'Is our journey sometimes impeded when we forget the importance of small things? (see Alma 37: 46). Do we realize that small events and choices determine the direction of our lives just as small helms determine the direction of great ships? (see James 3:4; D&C 123:16)...

'...We need to have family and personal prayers; study the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon; hold family home evenings; follow the admonition of the Savior to love one another; and be thoughtful, kind and gentle within the family. Through these and other similar small and simple things, we have the promise that our lives will be filled with peace and joy.' (in Conference Report, Apr. 1990, 4, 8; or Ensign, May 1990, 6, 8).

The small and simple things, not the complicated ones contribute much to our peace and joy in this life. If we just stick to the basic and not make things complicated, we will not get confused with what truly matters. It's our choice to remember the small and simple things and set them to be on top of our priorities. Then everything will fall in its proper order.