The Ripple Effect

About midway through the week, I was driving to the store, and suddenly in my musings a strong impression came to mind--the "Ripple Effect" is ever more salient than any of us can ever understand. We gain glimpses into understanding it as we grow older, and as I grow older I am beginning to recognize ripples for what they are, consequences of past actions. But I feel to say that our awareness of the consequences that our actions have over time is an imperfect result of the Fall and our probationary state (see Alma 12: 24, Alma 42), and that we gain self-awareness "line upon line, precept upon precept". (Isaiah 28: 10, 13; D & C 98: 12)

One of these tender mercies for me was the knowledge that most often it is not a single act but a combination of acts that cause the biggest ripples. Although I had been told this many times over the years (and surely I told it to others, as well), I didn't internalize it until seeing the same principle in the behavioral sciences.

Because human behavior, emotion, cognition, and personality are extremely complex domains of scientific measurement, it takes a multitude of different tests measuring different domains to authoritatively speak to what a person is like. Taking personality as an example, the most scientifically respected personality tests are usually surveys that ask hundreds of questions, with each specific question getting at a certain facet of personality. Each question in isolation means practically nothing, but when combined with similar questions draws an accurate map of personal nuances. We can't usually tell what each question is getting at when we see it by itself, but the test scorer, with a key, can look at the answers from a broad perspective. He makes connections between small details, and creates meaning through their combination.

I believe that it is likewise in our lives, that we often do not understand the consequences of our small acts of good or ill until, when combined with many similar acts over time, draw a map of the type of person we have developed into. Readily available are examples from the scriptures, both of the positive and negative effects of making small, similar decisions in succession over time. Even the most miraculous and most devastating accounts show this pattern.

Take, for example, Alma the Younger. Along with the Sons of Mosiah, Alma went about persecuting the church and its members, which was likely devastating to his father, Alma the Elder, who was the prophet at the time. Nevertheless, Alma and the other believers fasted and prayed for Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah. They did the same as Alma the Younger lie in a coma for three days, after he and his cohorts received a heavenly wake-up call. During this time of "torment" (Alma 36: 17), Alma the Younger arrived at a point of self-awareness, and he "remembered also to have heard [his] father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." Alma the Elder had caused a ripple, and in my mind, the true miracle was that his son was able to ride the top of it to dry ground, not sinking further in despair. Alma the Younger learned that small things in succession can truly have great effects, evidenced by his words to his son Helaman:

Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

And the Lord God doth work by means to bring about his great and eternal purposes; and by very small means the Lord doth confound the wise and bringeth about the salvation of many souls.

--Alma 37: 6-7--

Let us not revile the small things, but treat them as they truly are, stepping stones to future behavior, feelings, and thoughts in our personal lives, as well as in the lives of our posterity. Let us internalize an attitude of going against the grain of the natural man, choosing to fill our lives with good, and recognizing filth for what it truly is. President Spencer W. Kimball said:

“Substitute habits, change environment. Change comes by substituting new habits for old. You mold your character and future by thoughts and actions.

“You can change by changing your environment. Let go of lower things, and reach for higher. Surround yourself with the best in books, music, art, and people” (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 172).

I know that as we follow this counsel we will be "laying the foundation of a great work." (D & C 64: 33) Let us not be weary of are well-doing, rather let us be cognizant of the long-term effects of small and simple acts of good, and the eternal ripples which will bless our lives for all of existence.

Have a great week!