MOM: SIMPLE QUALITY

Feb 2011 Issue

By Nettie H. Francis
Simplify, simplify, simplify!” seems to be the cry these days. And in most cases simplifying is beneficial. It is good to reduce time-consuming, meaningless activities. As the world turns faster, prophets and leaders have warned against engaging in unnecessary activities, over-scheduling our children, or otherwise wasting our lives.

However, as important as it is to simplify, it’s also vital to remember that the term “simple” does not mean “lazy.” And “simple” isn’t necessarily a synonym with “casual.” Good activities, while maintaining simplicity, can still be “quality.”
Here are a few examples:

*A wife greets her husband at the door with a welcome kiss and hug.

*A mother takes a moment to pour milk into a pitcher before setting it on the table for breakfast.

*A Relief Society sister puts a tablecloth on a table, and arranges cookies on a pleasant tray for a meeting.

*Young women make their appearance clean and neat for Sacrament Meeting.

*A teacher brings inspiring pictures and prepares appropriate activities to teach primary children.

In these examples, it would be easier to yell “Welcome home,” from the back room, set a jug of milk on the table, serve refreshments in a hasty manner, wear flip-flops to church, and read a lesson from the manual. But, unless we are in a time crunch, such hasty simplicity should be the exception, rather than the rule. This definition of “simplify” not only sends a message that these activities are “not very important,” it also reduces quality, which can ultimately affect testimony.

Quality generally breeds commitment. Isn’t commitment to family, the gospel, and the Savior exactly what we are striving for in this life? Then maintaining quality in worthwhile activities is worth our time. We must guard against simplifying the most important things, rather than the least important things.

One example of simplicity while maintaining quality is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While recently simplifying church handbooks, the Church still maintains the trademark quality we are accustomed to. The lds.org website is beautiful, with uplifting video clips, photos, quotes and a plethora of resources for worldwide use. Church materials are always state-of-the-art, well-done and worth our time.

The Church never does anything “half-baked.” This standard can be an example for our lives and our church service.

How can we maintain simple quality in our lives? Here are a few thoughts.

Be old-fashioned. Expecting high dress standards for church and maintaining family mealtimes are practices of the past.

However, recent counsel given by our church leaders admonishes us to avoid a slide to casualness in mealtimes and dress standards. While it may be tempting to trade frozen burritos eaten on the fly for a sit-down dinner, fast meals should be the exception, rather than the rule. Taking a few minutes to put a tablecloth on the table, set the dishes on, put the drink in a pitcher, and gather for a family prayer, are minutes well-spent. In reality, preparing, eating and cleaning up one meal is much simpler than cleaning up several meals.

“If you build it, they will come,” is a famous quote from the movie Field of Dreams. It is true! Taking the time to “build” a quality event will generally bring participation, at home or at church. People want to be involved in worthwhile activities.

Both church and family activities can be prepared and conducted in a quality manner. On the other hand, when events are hurriedly planned, and quality is sacrificed in the name of “simplicity,” participation usually dwindles. We are all too busy to waste our time at a poorly-planned event.

As children of God, our spirits naturally yearn for beauty and organization. Taking time to keep those elements in our lives isn’t wasted effort. Temples are always clean, well-kept, and beautiful. Our lives can be the same. Quality is the median between “shoddy” and “gaudy.” Teaching a lesson with a bouquet of flowers nearby is simple, and adds a touch of quality. Planning an activity and using nice decorations can inspire and uplift both participants’ and organizers’ souls.

“Busy” is not always wrong. Throughout time, good people have always been busy. Prophets, including Joseph Smith, rarely rested. They were constantly in the service of the Lord. Didn’t the Good Samaritan complicate his life by giving service? He not only cared for the man, but provided a place for him to recover until he was well.

Even though Martha was “cumbered about with much serving,” her sin may not have been her meticulous efforts, but her judgment of her sister’s actions. Time spent in quality church and family service is well-spent.

Attending the temple is always time-consuming. Dressing, driving, preparing and participating all require effort. Yet, the joy which comes from visiting the House of the Lord renews every aspect of our lives. Church leaders have still not provided us a “drive through” temple option. The temple template remains the same; sacrifice, time, and effort bring blessings.

“Go the extra mile,” is not just a primary song, but a commandment. And, it is generally during the “second mile” that the greatest blessings come. An extra moment in prayer or an additional hour planning a lesson all produce results. Wasn’t it when the Lord was exhausted that the children were brought to Him? And he still took time to bless them. Additional effort produces additional blessings.

“I took the road less-traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” We all recognize Robert Frost’s poem, “Two Roads Diverged in a Yellow Wood.” Taking the road less-traveled means going the extra mile. Many are opting out of quality in an effort to “simplify,” yet when we take the high road—in our personal lives, our family service, and our church callings—it can make all the difference.