Doctrine and Covenants 64: 33

 

How are you being blessed by setting in order your own house?

"33 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." (Doctrine and Covenants 64: 33)

And here's the end part of the commentary entitled: “Set in order your own house.” :

"What insights do you gain from these teachings by Elder David A. Bednar?

“In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes—none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful painting.

“Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results. ‘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’ [Doctrine and Covenants 64:33]. Consistency is a key principle as we lay the foundation of a great work in our individual lives and as we become more diligent and concerned in our own homes” (“More Diligent and Concerned at Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 19–20).

See also Henry B. Eyring, “A Home Where the Spirit of the Lord Dwells,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 22–25.

The Lord commands parents to “bring up [their] children in light and truth.”"

As I ponder on how my good habits (prayer, scripture study, physical exercise) have become consistent because of the influence of my wonderful husband, I feel so grateful that I have chosen the right person to marry--someone who was raised in a home by parents who were consistent in their good habits themselves. My husband brought into our home his own consistency and influenced me through his quiet leadership. 

We've been blessed as well by our decision to have one of us stay at home. Since my husband is the one who is a home-buddy (he's a better cook than I am and loves to stay home), while I've been used to working outside the home and been earning a good salary, when he moved here with me in Thailand after our wedding we decided that I would keep my job and he would stay at home. Our marriage has been blissful because of this set up. We're able to stay consistent with our good habits because we both are focused on doing what we're already good at, and we both don't have to do what we're not good at. We complement each other. And we've been growing and learning faster than if we're both keeping a job outside the home. If both of us have to go out daily to earn more income, we would be both tired at the end of the day. How would we support each other when we're both focused on earning a living? I'm grateful we were inspired to support each other differently than most couples are doing. We're not chasing money. We already have enough for our needs. We're supporting each other spiritually, socially, mentally, physically--in every aspect of life, not just financially. So, we've been developing wholly--in all aspects, not just in one (financially). And we're heading to that direction when we will be able to earn more money even though I'm the only one keeping a job outside the home. I'm so grateful for this blessing and the many more blessings the Lord is showering us. I'm so grateful for the guidance of the Spirit, for inspiring us that we're able to figure out exactly what to do. We're truly blessed for setting in order our house. Our house is in order according to the Lord's will, not the world's way. That's why we're abundantly blessed. Our house may not be perfect (we're still in a one-room-apartment until now) and yet we've been blessed with everything that we need to learn and to grow to become our better version, even more like our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. I couldn't ask for more.