President Lorenzo Snow on gradual and steady progress in life

Lorenzo Snow (1814-1901) was an early convert to the Church along with his sister Eliza R. Snow. He was called as an apostle by Brigham Young in 1849. He served as the 5th president of the Church from 1898 until his death in 1901.

"Do not expect to become perfect at once. If you do, you will be disappointed. Be better today than you were yesterday, and be better tomorrow than you are today. The temptations that perhaps partially overcome us today, let them not overcome us so far tomorrow. Thus continue to be a little better day by day; and do not let your life wear away without accomplishing good to others as well as to ourselves."

- Lorenzo Snow, Improvement Era, July 1901, 714.

We are often in a hurry to become perfect—to overcome our challenges and limitations and feel like we are making rapid progress. President Snow reminds us that growth and change often occur more slowly and gradually.

The key is to make our growth and progress "slow and steady" by ongoing small increments. If we are doing just a little better each day, by and by we will achieve the significant growth we seek. That includes dealing with our "temptations" or shortcomings; it is far better to be making small, incremental gains than to just be wishing for dramatic changes that continue to fail and fall short. This is a wise and measured perspective that will bless us as we grow in our discipleship. "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" (D&C 64:33).

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)