Small and Simple Things

The Reframe

Before: "I need a big goal and a heroic push." After: "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. I just run today's system."

Scripture Anchor

"By small and simple things are great things brought to pass." — Alma 37:6 (Book of Mormon) In plain terms: Great outcomes are not produced by great moments. They're produced by small things, repeated.

"Out of small things proceedeth that which is great." — D&C 64:33In plain terms: Same law, restated in modern revelation. The great thing is downstream of the small thing, every time.

Adams argues systems beat goals: a goal keeps you in continuous failure until the finish line, while a system lets you succeed every day you run it. Alma 37:6 is the doctrinal version of the same law. Consider how the gospel is actually structured: daily prayer, daily scripture, weekly sacrament, small acts of service. No heroics anywhere — just small and simple things, compounding.

This reframe rescues you from the tyranny of the dramatic. You don't need a spiritual breakthrough, a 90-day transformation, or a burning-bush moment. You need today's small thing, done. The greatness is not your department; it's what "proceedeth."

How to Apply

Convert each goal into its daily small thing: "read scripture" not "become spiritual"
Grade the day on one question: did I do the small things? Outcomes come later
Shrink anything you keep skipping — five minutes done beats an hour planned
Trust the compounding you can't see yet (Be Not Weary in Well Doing)

Mantra

"Small and simple things. I run today's system; God brings the great things to pass."

Original Reframe

Adapted from Systems Over Goals (Scott Adams, How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big).