Everything Good
By Vickey Pahnke-Taylor

“Good job!”  “That looks good!”  “Some good things are happening.” 

“Good” things happen.  Not-so-good things happen as well. We do good things.  Sometimes, we may choose to do something that is not-so-good. Part of mortality is learning to tell the difference, then seeking for the good, and then making sure to recognize from whence the good comes.

From time to time, when we have done our best and it has been recognized as “good,” are we quick to offer thanks to Father for His assistance in allowing us the perform something that is good in nature? If so, good for us!  With that understanding, we are free to continue to develop and improve — something our Father in Heaven wants us to do — without getting caught up in the cycle of “seeking for the honors of men.”  And with this kind of understanding, we are more free to offer encouragement and praise when someone else does something “good.” 

Because “human development … consists of both refusing to do evil and choosing to do good” (Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, July 1976, p.72.), we show our growth in testimony of righteous things as we more consistently look for good things to do and be part of.  We may not do something nearly as well as another.  If we are caught in the ‘human’ cycle, that will upset us and cause negativity.  If we are looking forward to continual improvement, recognizing that Father in Heaven appreciates every single little step forward we take, it will bring us contentment and gratitude. And a continuing desire to keep on improving — to make ourselves better tomorrow than we are today.  Always with the clear understanding that good things come from God.

Is it possible that we have a lot more good in us than we have discovered?  I believe that is absolutely the case.  Do we have a lot more opportunities to do good than we ever use?  Surely so. 

President Brigham Young once said that we should, “Begin at a small point; can you not live to the Lord for one minute?  Yes, then can we not multiply that by sixty and make an hour, and live that hour to the Lord?  Yes; and then for a day, a week, a month, and a year?  Then, when the year is past, it have been spent most satisfactorily” (Journal of Discourses, 8:59-60).

What if we decided, like the Prophet Joseph, to “offer the world a good heart and a good hand”?  And what if, by doing so, we found ourselves in a world where — though there is much wickedness, pride and ugliness — things just felt better?  What if we gave up on wanting credit for what we do?  What if we appreciated someone telling us we did a good job (which never hurts, by the way), but did not hang our hat on that compliment?  What if, instead, we were continually seeking to do good for goodness’ sake?

We have hands and hearts that are ‘on call’ when we need them.  What a blessing it would be for us — and our neighbors — if we were intent on doing ‘everything good.’  Now that is something about which we could say “Good job!”